Research methods

Question 1

Strengths of an independent measures design

Answer 1

1. No order effects because different participants are used in each level of the IV
2. Reduces demand characteristics because participants only see the task once
3. The effects of individual differences can be reduced by random allocation to levels of the IV

Question 2

Weaknesses of an independent measures design

Answer 2

1. Individual differences could effect the results if participants in one level of the IV differ from those in another
2. More participants are needed so may be harder to find

Question 3

Strengths of a repeated measures design

Answer 3

1. Individual differences are unlikely to effect the results because participants do both levels
2. Counterbalancing reduces order effects
3. Uses fewer participants so quicker than independent measures
4. Blind procedures can reduce demand characteristics

Question 4

Weaknesses of a repeated measures design

Answer 4

1. Order effects and extraneous variable could effect the results
2. Increases risk of demand characteristics because participants see the task more than one

Question 5

Strengths of a matched pairs design

Answer 5

1. Participants only see the task once so reduces demand characteristics
2. Controls individual differences
3. No order effects

Question 6

Weaknesses of a matched pairs design

Answer 6

1. The similarity between pairs is limited by the matching process
2. Time consuming and difficult to find

Question 7

How to address demand characteristics?

Answer 7

By not sharing the aim of the study till the end

Question 8

What is reliability?

Answer 8

Something has high reliability if it produces similar results under consistent or same conditions

Question 9

Why do lab experiments have high reliability?

Answer 9

Because the researcher can have a lot of control which ensures all participants are treated in the same way

Question 10

Why is it useful for an experiment to be controlled?

Answer 10

Because it makes the experiment easier to replicate as they are following the exact same procedure

Question 11

What is external reliability?

Answer 11

When a study’s results are consistent in the same situation with the same people

Question 12

How would you test reliability?

Answer 12

Split half method

Question 13

What is validity?

Answer 13

When a test measures what it claims to measure eg. an intelligence test measures not something else like memory

Question 14

What is internal validity?

Answer 14

Whether the effects observed in a study are due to the manipulation of the IV and not something else

Question 15

How to improve internal validity?

Answer 15

Standardised instructions, counterbalancing and eliminating demand characteristics

Question 16

What is external validity?

Answer 16

Relates to issues beyond the investigation and whether the findings will generalise to other settings (ecological validity) and other people (population validity)

Question 17

How to improve external validity?

Answer 17

Natural settings and random sampling

Question 18

Why do lab experiments have high internal validity?

Answer 18

Because in lab experiments you can control extraneous variables so the researcher can be sure that changes to the DV have been caused by the IV

Question 19

Strengths of a laboratory experiment

Answer 19

1. Control of extraneous variables
2. Can be replicated therefore researchers can be more confident in their findings
3. Casual relationships can be determined

Question 20

Weaknesses of a laboratory experiment

Answer 20

1. The artificial situation could make participants behaviour unrepresentative
2. Participants could respond to demand characteristics and alter their behaviour

Question 21

Strengths of a field experiment

Answer 21

1. All participants are in their normal situation so their behaviour is more representative
2. Participants could be unaware they are in a study so less demand characteristics

Question 22

Weaknesses of a field experiment

Answer 22

1. Less control over extraneous variables so findings are less reliable and replication is more difficult
2. The researcher cannot be sure of cause and effect
3. Participants could be unaware they in a study which raises ethical issues

Question 23

Strengths of a quasi experiment

Answer 23

1. They can be used to study real world issues
2. If participants are in their normal situation, behaviour is more representative
3. If participants are unaware they are in a study, it reduces demand characteristics
4. They enable researchers to investigate variables that could not practically or ethically be manipulated

Question 24

Weaknesses of a quasi experiment

Answer 24

1. They are only possible when naturally occurring differences arise
2. Control over extraneous variables is difficult
3. The researcher cannot be sure of cause and effect
4. Hard to replicate

Question 25

Strengths of a naturalistic observation

Answer 25

1. Participants are in their normal environment so more likely to act in realistic ways 2. Participants are less likely to be aware they are being observed so more likely to act in a genuine way 3. Reactions can be observed within a complete and complex social setting

Question 26

Weaknesses of a naturalistic observation

Answer 26

1. Hard to control extraneous variables so threat to validity 2. May be difficult to ensure reliability of data as recording equipment would be obvious

Question 27

Strengths of a controlled observation

Answer 27

1. Data is likely to be reliable as equipment and researchers can be obvious 2. Control of extraneous variables so high validity

Question 28

Weaknesses of a controlled observation

Answer 28

1. Participants are in an unfamiliar environment so may react differently from normal 2. Participants will be aware they are in an artificial environment so their responses may not reflect what they normally would do

Question 29

Strengths of a participant observation

Answer 29

1. Being involved in the social group can give the observer an insight into the real participants' emotions and motives 2. If the participants are unaware of the observers role they might behave more normally and reveal more, increasing validity

Question 30

Weaknesses of a participant observation

Answer 30

1. Participants will be aware they are being observed so their responses might not reflect what they normally do 2. Being involved in the social group can make the observer subjective 3. If a participant observer is hidden it raises practical and ethical issues as the participants cannot give informed consent

Question 31

Strengths of a non-participant observation

Answer 31

1. If non-participant observers are convert eg. hidden by one way screen, data can use equipment to make accurate and detailed records 2. Observers can remain objective about the situation as they are not involved

Question 32

Weaknesses of a non-participant observation

Answer 32

1. If participants are unaware they are being observed it raises ethical issues 2. If participants are aware of a non-participant observer it will impact their behaviour

Question 33

Strengths of an overt observation

Answer 33

1. More ethical because participants are aware of the observers presence

Question 34

Weaknesses of an overt observation

Answer 34

1. Participants will be aware they are being observed so their responses might not reflect what they normally do

Question 35

Strengths of covert observation

Answer 35

1. Participants are less likely to be aware they are being observed so react in a genuine way 2. If covert observers are non-participant eg. hidden, data recording can use equipment to make accurate and detailed records

Question 36

Strengths of event sampling

Answer 36

1. it can record every occurrence of each behaviour to give a complete record 2. Records are easy to obtain and analyse as they are just totals

Question 37

Weaknesses of event sampling

Answer 37

1. It gives no indication of the time spent on each behavioural category 2. It gives no indication of the order in which events from each behavioural category occur

Question 38

Strengths of time sampling

Answer 38

1. It can give an indication of the order in which events happen 2. It can give an indication of the time spend on each behaviour

Question 39

Weaknesses of time sampling

Answer 39

1. Difficult to record as many behaviours as appose to event sampling 2. Records are more difficult to obtain as timings have to be precise