strengths and weaknesses of different terms

ocr psychology research methods

strengths and weaknesses of lab experiment

Strengths

• extrenious variables controlled for meaning cause and effect can be established

• high replicability

• high validity and less researcher bias due to level of control

weaknesses

• still some extreneous variables remain

• low ecological avalibility (not like real life sitchuations) tasks and environment are artficial

• chance of demand characteristics (reduces internal)

strengths and weaknesses of field

strengths

• higher ecological validity (natural environment)

• less demand characteristics as participants don’t always know they are taking part= higher validity

weaknesses

• uncontrolled environment= more extrenious variables so cause and effect can’t be established

• enethical as consent is not always gained

• hard to replicate

strengths and weaknesses of quasi

strengths

• higher ecological validity due to IV not being manipulated

• more ethical as the participants already have the IV so don’’t give them anything

weaknesses

• not classes as ‘true’ experiment as IV not manipulated so it’s not scientific

• EVs so cause and effect can’t be established

• hard to find participants- smaller sample size- time consuming

strengths and weaknesses of independent measures design

strengths

• no order effects

• less demand characteristics

weaknesses

• need more participant

• participant variables differ- lower internal validity, replicability

strengths and weaknesses of repeated measures design

strengths

• less participants needed

• less participant variables

weaknesses

• order effects

• possible demand characteristics

strengths and weaknesses of matched participant design

strengths

• no order effects

• less demand characteristics

• participant variables are constant

weaknesses

• more participants needed

• some participant variables remain

strengths and weaknesses of the mean

strengths

• takes all scores into account so it is more representative of all the data

weaknesses

• impacted by outliers (will be skewed- artifically inflated/ deflated

• not useful when decimal point is not an option for data

cant use in catagory data

strengths and weaknesses of the mode

strengths

• not impacted by outliers- not skewed

weaknesses

• not representitive as not all scores are taken into account

• may be several or none

can’t use on catagory data

strengths and weaknesses of the median

strengths

• not impacted by outliers- not skewed

weaknesses

• doesn’t take all scores into account representative

can use for category data but not if theres no modal or several modal scores

strengths and weaknesses of opportunity sampling

strengths

• sample quickly acquired as it’s easy- larger sample more representitive

• sample inexpensive

weaknesses

• not representive

• gives illusion of being drawn from a large sample when it is genrally drawn from small

strengths and weaknesses of random

strengths

• avoids researcher bias as whole population has equal chance of being selected

• most representitive

weaknesses

• may end up with biased sample as not all selected participants will participate

• hard to carry out effectively unless target popuation is very small

strengths and weaknesses of self selected

strengths

• ethically sound as participants determine own involvment

• less likely to withdraw

weaknesses

• must have good advertising to obtain large numbers which can be time consuming and expensive

• may be biased and unrepresentitive of target population as volunteers may be different from non

strengths and weaknesses of snowball sampling

strengths

• gives you easier access to harder to reach groups

• easier to find sample as you only have to find first few

weaknesses

• not representitive as sample is likely to be similar

• hard to genralise results

strengths of structured observations e.g bcc

S→

• you know what you’re looking for/ what to record→ higher internal validity as behavior recorded is relevant

• easier to record data as you know what you’re looking for

• more reliable as there is a pre-written list of behaviors that another researcher can copy

weaknesses of structured observation

• only includes behaviors thought beforehand (some behaviors will be missed if they are not on the list→ lower construct validity)

• more observer bias- already have an idea of what you want to see reducing internal validity

• you have to train people recording behaviors as they may interpret them differently

strengths are weaknesses of behavioral catagory checklist

S-

• fairly simple to use- behaviors are unlikely to be missed by observers

• provides quantitative data which can be statistically analysed

W-

• gives restricted view so may miss important behaviors if they are not on the list

• provides nominal level data which isn’t as precise as interval level data

coding frame strengths and weaknesses

it is where different behaviors can be presented as codes or abbreviations as well as letting you record extra information. this system allows us to differentiate between behaviors

S→ easier to use than BCC due to coding, allows for other variables to be recorded

W→ requires training on the codes, provides qualitative data that has to be converted in the quantitative data to analyse- time

strengths and weaknesses of unstructured observation

S-

• you will include all behaviors with not pre-conceived idea about what you are looking for- high construct validity

• less observer bias

• less incorrect interpretation as there is no pre- written list

W-

• you don’t know what you are looking for (less face validity)

• harder to record data- less reliable

strengths and weaknesses of time sampling

S-

• specific amount of time to record behaviors results in an order of events

• easier to replicate

W-

• some behaviors may be missed when recording- lowers internal, face, construct validity

• keeping track of time can be diffiicult

what are strengths and weaknesses of event sampling

• less likely to miss behaviors- more hollistic

• no time to keep track of

weaknesses

• more difficult to repeat- less reliable

• no order of events produced

what are strengths and weaknesses of participant observation

strengths

• able to record and monitor data in closer detail

• less likely to miss things (observer is part of the group)

• provides unique insights

weaknesses

• difficult to record and monitor behavior unobtrusively

• being a member if the group makes researcher less objective and may increase observer bias

strengths and weaknesses of non- participant observation

strengths

• hidden observers can record data using equipment making their data more detailed and reliable

• observers can remain objective

weaknesses

• ethical conserns of consent as participants are unaware they’re being watched

• remaining unaware if the observation means participants won’t change there behavior

• cannot ask them how they are feeling- subjective

strengths and weaknesses of naturalistic observation

strengths

• participants are in a normal environment so will act in naturalistic ways→ increases ecological validity

• less demand characteristics (unaware of observer)

• useful for obtaining observations where intervention would be unethical

weaknesses

• extrenious variables

• not reliable as scientific equipment= obvious

• if participants identify observers behaviors may change

what are strengths and weaknesses of a controlled observation

strengths

• reliable as scientific equipment can be used

• extraneous variables controlled for- higher internal

• compared to experiments a greater range of behaviors can be explored

weaknesses

• participants are in an unfamiliar environment causing behaviors to be different from normal- decreases ecological validity

• demand characteristics and artificial setting will affect responses (different from normal)- lower internal validity

• social setting limited- can’t represent complex social settings

strengths and weaknesses of an overt observation

strengths

• aware of observations so consent is gained

weaknesses

• due to participants being aware of the observation tjey may change their behavior

strengths and weaknesses of covert observation

strengths

• participants unaware they’re being watched allowing them to act genuinely- high internal validity

• being unaware of study means no demand characteristics

weaknesses

• if observers are identified- behavior will change affecting internal validity

• no consent- unethical

what are the strengths and weaknesses of using observations

strengths

• high ecological validity (normal behaviors)

• rich/detailed data on actual behaviors

• participants can’t lie

• used to generate hypothesis for the future research

weaknesses

• lack of control over EVs (low internal validity)

• hard to establish cause and effect (no manipulation)

• no consent

• observer bias

• hard to ensure inter-observer reliability unless well trained- expensive

strengths and weaknesses of a questionnaire

strengths

• respondents may be more willing to reveal personal/ confidential information

• easily replicated and data can be collected from large groups quickly and cheaply (rep & gen)

weaknesses

• awnsers may not be truthful (leading questions, social desirability bias) and no chance to clarify

• only literate people can fill them in- sample bias

strengths and weaknesses of structured interview

strengths

• easier to analyse as answers are predictable

• easily replicated as questions are standardised

• gains most detailed information from each respondent (plan means info needed is gained)

weaknesses

• interviewer bias (interviews expectations influence interviewees answers

• reliability impacted due to interviews behavior

• not as quick as questionnaires

strengths and weaknesses of unstructured/ semi structured interviews?

strengths

• can access additional information that pre-determined questions may not reveal

weaknesses

• reliability impacted by interviewers behavior

• impacted by interviewer bias- leading questions

• requires well- trained interviewers to think up questions on the spot (time and money)

what are the strengths and weaknesses of open questions?

strengths

• likely to generate rich data so respondents can full express opinions- increasing face validity

• allows elaboration of how/ why people think, increasing face validity

• less chance of ambiguous awnsers

weaknesses

• time consuming to analyse

• hard to compare (spot patterns/ trends)

• subjective- researcher bias

strengths and weaknesses of forced choice, closed questions

strengths

• generates quantitative data- easier to analyse

• easier to compare with other respondents responses

weaknesses

• may not reveal full extend of peoples thinking lowering ecological validity

• doesn’t allow elaboration of why respondents think this way

strengths and weaknesses of a likhert rating scale

strengths

• turns opinions into quantitative data, which is easier to analyse

• easy to compare and look for trends/ patterns

• large amounts of data collected quickly as it’s easier for respondent to respond (replicable/ genralisable)

weaknesses

• different interpretations of numbers- lowers reliability

• people select middle value

• lacks detail- lowers face validity

strengths and weaknesses of semantic differential rating scale

strengths

• easy to compare and analyse quantitative data

• easy for respondents to respond- large amounts of data can be collected

weaknesses

• must be literate- bias sample

• different cultures must have an understanding of language used

• children will struggle- less cognitive ability

• those who lack mental capacity will struggle

strengths and weaknesses of self report

strengths

• can access participants thoughts and feelings- increase validity as you don’t have to infer

• less reseacher bias as opinions are asked for so no assumptions are needed- info more useful

weaknesses

• no scientific equipment used- information less valid (human error) and less reliable

• bias from participant (response and social desirability bias)- lowers internal validity