Research Methods - Designing Observations and Self Reports

Question 1

What is event sampling?

Answer 1

An event is recorded each time it happens

Question 2

What are the two types of time sampling?

Answer 2

1. Time point sampling

2. Time event sampling

Question 3

What is time point sampling?

Answer 3

The observer records what the ppt is doing at fixed intervals (every 5 seconds over 20 minutes)

Question 4

What is time event sampling?

Answer 4

A time is allocated for observation (first 10 minutes of every hour)

Question 5

What is the biggest disadvantage with time sampling?

Answer 5

At the times of no observation, behaviour can be missed and the forge end up with invalid data

Question 6

How can data be collected in structured observation?

Answer 6

Behavioural categories

Question 7

What is an advantage using categories in observations?

Answer 7

It provides quantitative data which an be easily presented, compared, summarised and analysed statistically

Question 8

What is the main weakness of categories in observations?

Answer 8

It may give a restricted view of what is actually happening

Question 9

How do coding frames work in observations?

Answer 9

Psychologists have to observe the behaviour and identify key features of the behaviour and code them

Question 10

What do coding frames allow us to do with the data?

Answer 10

It’s allows us to analyse qualitative data

Question 11

What is content analysis?

Answer 11

When a psychologist codes written material such as articles, tv adverts and soap operas

Question 12

What is the ethical advantage of content analysis compared to coding frames?

Answer 12

Content analysis eliminates ethical concerns as information being analysed is already in the public domain

Question 13

What is a use of content analysis?

Answer 13

It can be used to observe qualitative data and turn it into quantitative data

Question 14

What is a self-report ?

Answer 14

When a ppt provides detail about themselves

Question 15

What are the two main types of self report?

Answer 15

1. Questionnaires

2. Interviews

Question 16

What are some advantages of questionnaires?

Answer 16

1. Gather a lot of data from a large sample

2. Cost and time effective

Question 17

What is a disadvantage of questionnaires?

Answer 17

1. Researchers must frame questions carefully, using language ppts will understand

Question 18

What is an interview?

Answer 18

Ppts are asked questions, usually face-to-face and their responses are recorded

Question 19

What are the three main types of interviews?

Answer 19

1. Structured
2. Semi-structured
3. Unstructured

Question 20

What is a structured interview?

Answer 20

The same set of questions are asked to each ppt in the same order

Question 21

What are some advantages of structured interviews?

Answer 21

1. Easy to get quantitative data

2. Easy to analyse and find trends in data

Question 22

What are some disadvantages of structured interviews?

Answer 22

1. Process is artificial

2. Limited answers

Question 23

What is a semi-structured interview?

Answer 23

The interviewer has a list of questions and can asked their questions for clarification

Question 24

What are some advantages of semi-structure interviews?

Answer 24

1. Ppts find this method more trustworthy

2. Answers can be more detailed than structured interviews

Question 25

What is a disadvantage of semi-structured interviews?

Answer 25

1. Harder to analyse and summaries data than structured interviews

Question 26

What is an unstructured interview?

Answer 26

The researcher has topics to discuss but aren’t in the same order for each ppt

Question 27

What are some advantages of unstructured interviews?

Answer 27

1. Answers are more detailed | 2. More like a conversation so high in ecological validity

Question 28

What are some disadvantages of unstructured interviews?

Answer 28

1. Difficult to summarise data 2. Difficult to analyse data for trends 3. Difficult to make comparisons

Question 29

What are open questions?

Answer 29

Free response questions

Question 30

What type of data do open questions provide?

Answer 30

Qualitative data

Question 31

What is an advantage of open questions?

Answer 31

1. Gather qualitative data which is high in validity

Question 32

What are some disadvantages of open questions?

Answer 32

1. Hard to analyse and compare data | 2. Difficult to establish the reliability of qualitative responses

Question 33

What is a closed question?

Answer 33

Fixed response questions

Question 34

What type of data do closed questions provide?

Answer 34

Quantitative data

Question 35

What are some advantages of closed questions?

Answer 35

1. Data can be easily summarised, presented and compared | 2. Easier to test the reliability of data

Question 36

What are some disadvantages of closed questions?

Answer 36

1. The questions can lack ecological validity due to force house of answers 2. Information is limited so lacks validity

Question 37

What are rating scales in self reports?

Answer 37

Using a scale of 1-10

Question 38

Give an example of a rating a scale:

Answer 38

On a scale of 1-10, 1 being miserable and 10 being extremely happy, what number indicates how happy you are right now

Question 39

What are likert scales?

Answer 39

Scales which include qualitative data such as agree/disagree or like/dislike

Question 40

What advantage does likert scales have over rating scales?

Answer 40

Likert scales have more ecological validity because people have a range of verbal options to choose from

Question 41

What is a semantic differential scale?

Answer 41

It is used to put something on a scale between two descriptive words

Question 42

Give an example of a semantic differential scale :

Answer 42

Research into leadership would have a semantic differential scale of: 1. Decisive/indecisive 2. Bold/fearful 3. Active/passive

Question 43

What is a disadvantage of semantic differential scales?

Answer 43

Participants can be some bored and mark in the middle rather than think about their response

Question 44

What is a disadvantage of rating scales that involve qualitative data?

Answer 44

1. The participant must have reasonable vocabulary to understand 2. There could be cultural limitations 3. Children would find it difficult, unless simplified enough

Question 45

What is the main strengths of the self report method?

Answer 45

1. Psychologists are able to measure cognitive variables such as memory, knowledge and attitudes which cannot be measured through observation or tested biologically

Question 46

What is the main disadvantage of the self-report method?

Answer 46

1. The validity can be questioned when answers are easily falsifiable due to responding to demand characteristics or social desirability

Question 47

What do correlations allow us to do?

Answer 47

It allows us to see how two variables are related to each other (relationship)

Question 48

What is a positive correlation?

Answer 48

When one variable increases so does the other

Question 49

What is a negative correlation?

Answer 49

When one variable increases, the other decreases