Chapter 1: Research Methods Part 3

Question 1

What does it mean when research procedures are non-standardised?

Answer 1

They are not the same for all the participants (except for exposure to the IV by participants in the experimental group).

Question 2

List the 2 types of order effects:

Answer 2

• Placebo effect

- Experimenter effect

Question 3

List 4 methods of collecting data:

Answer 3

• Case studies
• Observational studies
• Self-report methods
• Experiments

Question 4

What is a case study and when are they often used? Give an example:

Answer 4

An intensive, in-depth investigation of some behaviour or event of interest in an individual, small group or situation.
-Are often used when large numbers of participants are not available for a study
Eg. To study individuals with a rare or unusual disorder or ability (like the case of Genie the ‘wild child’)

Question 5

What do observational studies involve and how are they used?

Answer 5

Involves collecting data by carefully watching and recording behaviour as it occurs.

• Psychologists use observational studies in a very precise and planned way to collect data when the behaviour under investigation is clearly visible and can be easily recorded.
• They must precisely describe the behaviour to be observed, and then observe and study behaviour in a very systematic way.

Question 6

Why is the mean as a measure of central tendency used?

Answer 6

When the collective data is summarised into a single ‘average’ value to describe the general result.

Question 7

Why is standard deviation used to measure the variation around the mean?

Answer 7

Used to more accurately represent the data, as a single score (such as a mean) can be misleading.

Question 8

List an advantage and a limitation of case studies:

Answer 8

• Allow the researcher to obtain detailed and valuable info and can avoid artificiality as they provide a ‘snaptshot’ of actual or real-life experiences of one or more individuals at a particular time in a particular situation.
• Cannot be replicated to test the reliability of results, nor can they be used to actually test hypotheses like an experiment can.

Question 9

List an advantage and a limitation of observation studies:

Answer 9

• Provide a level of accuracy of info, as they occur without the need for any manipulation or intervention, therefore reducing the influence of artificial, contrived environments.
• Are time-consuming.

Question 10

List an advantage and a limitation of self-report methods:

Answer 10

• Can be an efficient means of collecting data from a large number of people in a relatively short period of time.
• Can be influenced by social desirability, causing participants to give false/misleading answers to create a favourable impression of themselves.

Question 11

List an advantage and a limitation of experiments:

Answer 11

• Tests a cause and effect relationship between the IV and the DV
• Due to the level of control of variables, it is often artificial and too dissimilar to real life.