Non experimental methods

What makes a method non experimental

not able to manipulate IV and no DV

No control group

Natural environment

What is a questionnaire

A research method that includes a set of written questions, which generate, closed or open answers.
Can be used in person. online or through methods
can produce qualitative and quantitative data.

What makes a method non experimental

not able to manipulate IV and no DV

No control group

Natural environment

What is a questionnaire

A research method that includes a set of written questions, which generate, closed or open answers.
Can be used in person. online or through methods
can produce qualitative and quantitative data.

Strengths of Questionnaires

• Can be used to assess psychological variables that may not be obvious by just observing someone.

• Data can be collected from a large group of participants more quickly than interviewing them.

Weaknesses of Questionnaires

• There is no guarantee that the participant is telling the truth

• Different participants may interpret the same question in different ways

Two types of interviews

Structured
Semi Structured

Structured Interviews

• Includes standardised questions which are known as an interview schedule and are usually asked face to face

• Interviewer has a pre-prepared set of questions that are asked in a fixed order

• Pre determined questions that are used to elicit a verbal response

Strength of a structured interview

• Same questions are used every time which makes results easy to analyse

  • Replicable — more reliable — same questions can be asked in the same way

Weakness of structured interviews

• Can be restrictive as there is no chance to ask further questions, this could be frustrating for the participant if interesting or unexpected issues arise.

• Does not allow for spontaneous questions which may mean the interviewer is less responsive to the participant.

  Therefore it lacks internal validity

Semi Structured interviews

A research method that involves asking participants questions, usually face to face. These can be in the form of an interview schedule however they could also include follow up questions to expand on answers
Start with some predetermined questions but further questions are developed as a response to answers

Strength of semi - structured interview

More qualitative information can be gathered — interviewer tailors questions to respondents answers
High validity because particiapants have the opportunity to fully express their views.

Weakness of semi- structured interview

• Same questions are not used every time — difficult to analyse results and identify patterns or trends

  • Not replicable due to different questions asked each tome therefore unreliable and low internal reliability

What are observational studies and two types of observations

Can be covert observations

Overt observations

Covert observations

where the researcher will take the role of a participant whilst observing other participants’ behaviour around them.

The researcher does not reveal who they are

Strength of Covert Observations

• Less chance of demand characteristics as Ps do not know they are being observed

  • Can research people who would be difficult to observe

Weakness of Covert Observations

• Observer Bias — where the researchers expectations affect their perception of events and they become subjective

  • Unreliable findings — difficult to take notes during observation so data relies on memory

Non participant observation

A research method where the researcher watches and records participants’ behaviour without interfering in any way
Participants are not aware they are being observed

Strength of non participant observation

Observation doesn’t take part in the action but watches from a distance so less chance of observer bias

More valid and reliable findings — researchers can see how particiapnts behave rather than relying on self reports which may produce more valid and reliable results

Weakness of non participant observation

Observer bias - difficult to make judgements on thoughts/ feelings of participants —- might misinterpret behaviour based on their own views and opinions
Unethical — Participants do not always know they are being watched.

What is an unstructured observation

the researcher writes a detailed description of what is being observed

produces qualitative data

What is a structured observation

the researcher records behaviour precisely

more objective and rigorous

researcher will use behavioural categories and sampling procdures

Sampling procedures

when there is a lot of behaviour to record which is often the case

Two types of sampling procedures

Event sampling

Time sampling

Event sampling

count the number of times a particular behaviour occurs in a target individual

Time sampling

record the behaviours in a time framw

What is a case study?

in depth investigation of a phenomenon

uses descriptive analysis of a person, group, or event

holistic study through one or more methodologies

usually longitudinal

Case study uses _____________ research methods such as interview, questionnaire, observation in order to achieve the required depth

different

Most data is collected is ___________________ but it can sometimes be quantitative

qualititative

Strength of case studies

• Rich qualitative data — High ecological validity — study of real life situation

  • Allows researchers to study cases they couldn’t practically or ethically manipulate in an experiment

Weakness of case studies

Researcher Bias — can become too involved and lose their objectivity so they may interpret data to fit in with their own theories

Difficult to generalise findings beyond individual/group studies as the sample is too small — Low population validity

Correlational

A research method which involves the comparing two continous variables to see if there is a relationship between them

What can be used to show correlational results?

Scatter graph,

What does a positive correlation mean?

High values of one variable are associated with high values of the other

What does a negative correlation?

High values of one variable are associated with low values of the other

How is the strength of a relationship measured by?

Correlation co-efficient

The __________ the coefficient is to 0 the weaker it is, the closer the coefficient is to ___ the stronger it is

closer

1

Strength of correlations

Shows both direction and strength of relationship — used to make predictions of behaviour

Can be used when experiments are inapproprtiate or unethical, such as stress and illness

Weakness of correlations

Only show whether it is a relationship not how/why co-variables are related

Difficult to establish cause and effect using a correlation