R.M: Experimental methods, Self-report methods

Week 3

What is a lab experiment?

Research method where the researcher manipulates an independent variable (IV) to observe its effect on a dependent variable (DV), typically in a controlled environment.

What is a strength of a lab experiment?

High control over extraneous variables, making it easier to establish cause-and-effect relationships.

What is a limitation of a lab experiment?

May lack ecological validity due to the artificial environment, which can make the findings less applicable to real-world settings.

What is a field experiment?

Research method where the experiment is conducted in a natural environment, but the researcher still manipulates the IV to observe its effect on the DV.

What is a strength of a field experiment?

High ecological validity, as the research takes place in a real-world setting, making the results more applicable to everyday life.

What is a limitation of a field experiment?

Can be harder to control extraneous variables, which may reduce the ability to establish a clear cause-and-effect relationship.

What is a natural experiment?

Research method where the researcher observes the effect of a naturally occurring IV (i.e., something that happens naturally, not manipulated by the researcher) on the DV.

What is a strength of a natural experiment?

Allows researchers to study phenomena that would be unethical or impractical to manipulate, like the impact of a natural disaster or a policy change.

What is a limitation of a natural experiment?

Lack of control over the IV, which can make it difficult to draw firm conclusions about cause-and-effect relationships.

What is a quasi experiment?

Research method where the researcher manipulates the IV, but the participants are not randomly assigned to different conditions (e.g., the IV is based on pre-existing groups).

What is a strength of a quasi experiment?

Allows researchers to study real-world situations where random assignment is not possible (e.g., studying the effects of age or gender).

What is a limitation of a quasi experiment?

Lack of random assignment can introduce confounding variables, making it harder to establish cause-and-effect relationships.

What is a self report technique?

Method where participants provide information about themselves through direct reporting, such as questionnaires, interviews, or surveys.

What is a questionnaire?

Self-report tool consisting of a set of written questions designed to gather information from participants about their attitudes, behaviours, or experiences.

What is a strength of questionnaires?

Can collect data from a large number of participants quickly and cost-effectively.

What is a limitation of questionnaires?

Can suffer from response bias, where participants might answer in socially desirable ways or provide inaccurate responses.

What is an interview?

Technique where a researcher asks participants questions, either face-to-face or over the phone, to gather qualitative data.

What is a strength of interviews?

They allow for in-depth, qualitative data collection, and the researcher can clarify questions or follow up on responses.

What is a limitation of interviews?

Can be time-consuming and prone to interviewer bias, where the interviewer’s own beliefs or behavior might influence the responses.