Non-experimental methods

Question 1

Interviews (3)

Answer 1

• collection of data from individuals by asking them (self-report method)
• qualitative approach to research - collecting subjective data interpreted by researcher
• no cause-effect relationships but rather “perception” and “subjective understanding” of situations and events

Question 2

Structured interviews (2) + strength and limitation

Answer 2

• interview schedule states questions and order they will be asked
• often closed questions
• strength: easy to analyse data
• limitation: artificial structure imposes limitations to understanding participants

Question 3

Unstructured interviews (2) + strength and limitation

Answer 3

• specification of topics and allocation of time
• somewhat like a convo
• strength: open to the respondents’ own ideas
• may be difficult to analyse data since the interview may take many different directions

Question 4

Semi-structured interviews (2) + strength and limitation

Answer 4

• interviewer schedule with specified questions but more flexible and informal
• questions + prompts
• strength: possible to maintain focus of interview but flexible and gives opp for respondents to talk more freely
• data analysis is very time consuming

Question 5

Ethics in interviews (4)

Answer 5

• topic could be socially or personally senstive
• inform respondents about right to withdraw
• avoid abuse of information
• professional competence necessary to avoid making respondents feel uncomfortable

Question 6

Survey (3) + strength and limitation

Answer 6

• larger groups
• questionnaires
• closed or open ended questions
• strength: data collection quick and easy
• limitation: self-report data may be affected by response bias

Question 7

Questionnaires (4)

Answer 7

• data is collected through the use of written questions - surveys
• open-ended questions
• closed-ended questions
• quantitative and qualitative data

Question 8

Qualitative data analysis (3)

Answer 8

• expresses what people feel/think and not numerical
• analysis focuses on meaning of what they said
• analysis also involves interpretation

Question 9

Quantitative data analysis (3)

Answer 9

• numerical data
• analysis takes form of descriptive stats (e.g. mean, standard deviation) and inferential statistics (e.g. making inferences about population from sample)