Research methods pros + cons

Question 1

Quasi - experiment pros

Answer 1

• Can study things that you cannot (ethically) manipulate

Question 2

Quasi cons

Answer 2

• No causal relationship
• Hard to control confounding
• Low pop validity due to potential unique characteristics

Question 3

Correlational pros

Answer 3

• Study what cannot be manipulated
• Discover a trend to invest resources into studying
• Can predict behaviour, design interventions

Question 4

Correlational cons

Answer 4

• No causal relationship

Question 5

Participant observation pros

Answer 5

• Insight into secretive groups
• Less social desirability bias if covert
• Fewer demand characteristics (covert)

Question 6

Participant obs cons

Answer 6

• Observer bias
• Less objective as involved in group
• Social desirability / demand characteristics (overt)
• Deception (covert)
• Low pop validity, only subset
• No replication

Question 7

Non participant obs pros

Answer 7

• Less social desirability bias (covert)
• Less demand characteristics (covert)
• Less researcher bias as no interaction

Question 8

Non - participant obs cons

Answer 8

• Observer bias
• Deception if covert
• Only know behaviour, no reasons
• Cannot be replicated
• Low pop validity as small subset studied
• Social desirability bias / demand characteristics (overt)

Question 9

Case studies pros

Answer 9

• Depth of understanding
• New areas of study bought to light
• Only way to study rare cases

Question 10

Case studies weaknesses

Answer 10

• Time consuming, expensive
• Low population validity

Question 11

Content analysis pros

Answer 11

• Easily replicated
• Quantitative data easy analyse

Question 12

Content analysis cons

Answer 12

• Observer bias

Question 13

Self report pros

Answer 13

• Ps expert in themselves
• Don’t have to guess based on behaviour

Question 14

Self report cons

Answer 14

• Social desirability bias
• Communication issues misrepresent data

Question 15

Questionnaires pros

Answer 15

• Less social desirability as fell anon
• Reliable, easily replicated
• Closed qus easy to analyse
• Quick + easy data collection many people

Question 16

Questionnaires cons

Answer 16

• Lack of detail
• Sample bias, low pop validity
• Social desirability still occurs
• Cannot clear up misunderstandings
• Closed not reflect true feelings / behaviour
• Open harder to analyse data

Question 17

Structured interview pros

Answer 17

• Reliable, easily replicated
• Less interviewer bias
• Can clear up misunderstandings
• Easier to analyse than semi

Question 18

Structured interviews cons

Answer 18

• Interviewer bias
• Demand characteristics
• Social desirability
• Closed q’s not reflect feelings
• Can be harder to analyse
• Sample bias

Question 19

Semi - structured interview pros

Answer 19

• Detail and depth of understanding
• Discover new areas of study
• Discover new ideas
• Can clear up misunderstandings

Question 20

Semi - structured interviews cons

Answer 20

• Interviewer bias
• Qualitative harder to analyse
• Social desirability bias
• Cannot replicate to check reliability