Psych Qt & Ql research methods

Qualitative vs Quantitative research

Qualitative vs Quantitative research

Quantitative: provides numbers and statistical data

Qualitative: provides information - observation and words

True Experiment

Participants are randomly assigned to either a treatment group or a control group; IV is manipulated by the researcher. (standardized)

Strengths: all external variables controlled, allows for causation

Limitations: low ecological validity

Field experiment

Study conducted outside the lab in a “real-world” setting. (IV manipulated)

Ex: a confederate falls on a crowded metro and researchers mark down the reactions of people

Strengths: High ecological validity, establishes causation, controls for demand characteristics.

Weaknesses: too many third (confounding) variables, cannot be replicated, ethical considerations

Quasi experiment

Researcher manipulates IV but no randomly allocation of participants to conditions. (IV pre-exists in participants

Strengths: High ecological validity, can control variables

Limitations: cannot infer causation-could be another factor that plays a role

Natural experiment

Study of a naturally occurring situation irl. No manipulation of IV, no random allocation into conditions - part of quasi

Strengths: High ecological validity, control for demand characteristics,

Limitations: too many extraneous variables, cant control, cant determine causation

Correlational Research

Measurement of the extent to which pairs of related values of two variables tend to change together or co-vary Quantitiative (Qt)

• Used to test the association between variables.

• Variables are only observed with no manipulation by the researcher.

• Limited control is used, so other variables may play a role in the relationship.

• High external validity; you can generalize your conclusions to other populations or settings.

whereas experimental research tests for causation, manipulates IV, controlls variables, high internal validity.

Demand characteristics

Expectancy effect: participant attempts to find the experimenter's hypotheses and tries to "help" the researcher. May result in acting in a certain way or giving the "right answer."

Social desirability effect: When the participant answers in a way that makes them look good to the researcher. To avoid embarrassment/ judgment.

Screw-you effect: participant attempts to find the experimenter's hypotheses, but only to destroy the credibility of the study.

Surveys vs Questionairs

Questionnaire is any written set of questions. Goal of questions is to collect qualitative data with regard to a person's opinions/attitudes.

Surveys are both a set of questions and the process of collecting, aggregating, and analyzing the responses from those questions

Validity and Reliability in Research

Reliability = replicability

Validity: does research do what it claims to do. —> Internal/external

internal is how well an experiment is designed, must be well-controlled, standardized, & variables must be carefully defined. —construct validity: operationalization of variables.

External is the extent to which results can be generalized to other situations/ppl. —population validity: how well results can be generalized to target populaton. —Ecological validity: looks at experimental environment -determines how much it influences behavior, to determine, must consider generalizability of the study to other settings or situations AND Mundane realism: level to which the situation represents a real-life situation.

Ethical Considerations in Research 

Consent (informed)

Anonymity/confidentiality

Right to withdraw- at any time

Deception (omission-leave out stuff- or commission-lie-) - must be justified and aproved by ethics board

Undue stress/harm (protection from) -undue = more than what would happen irl

Debriefing - ppt told exactly what happened in study, deception revealed, follow up to ensure stress is minimised, give right to withdraw again, communicate findings.