+ Unit 2 Review - Psych 1 Kowalczyk

7 Types of Descriptive Methods:

  1. Survey - Self reported data from study participants, gathers information about individuals.

    Advantages: Large amount of data, fast to distribute, anonymous

    Disadvantages: Wording effects, sampling bias, location, population, subjective

  2. Natural Observation - A technique of observing and recording behavior in a natural setting without trying to change the situation

    Advantages: Not artificial, behavior is not manipulated

    Disadvantages: Hawthorne effect, lacks control/standardization

  3. Laboratory Observation - A technique of observing and recording behavior in a lab setting to control the situation

    Advantages: Control precisely certain aspects of study, eliminates extraneous/confounding variables

    Disadvantages: Laboratories do not reflect real-life environments, Hawthorne effect

  4. Case Study - A technique where one individual or group is studied in depth to find universal principles

    Advantages: Collects a lot of information, real-world behaviors, good detail and data

    Disadvantages: Observational biases, cannot be replicated, takes time, difficult to generalize

  5. Longitudinal Study - Study to find rapid fluctuations in behaviors and thoughts from moment to moment, or over a long period of time.

    Advantages: Lots of variables and data, researchers follow subjects in real time, creates patterns

    Disadvantages: Time consuming, $, different experiences

  6. Cross-Sectional Study - An observational study that analyzes data from a population or representative subset

    Advantages: Precise and specific, quick to do

    Disadvantages: Takes time, $, can create outliers, assumptions and is subjective

  7. Interview (Psychological) - An observation where one person asks questions and the other provides answers

    Advantages: Direct, to the point, detailed

    Disadvantages: Interviewee can lie, be biases and some people are not willing to share information

The Four Problems with Surveys:

  1. Wording Effects - The possible effects on participants cause by the order of presented words or the word choice used by the producer of a survey.

  2. Sampling Bias - The collection of samples that do not accurately represent the group. Results from surveys conducted on a population that is not random and produces a specific outcome.

  3. Survey Location - Limits the demographic that would take the survey and may result with inaccurate information due to cultural and regional differences (can lead to sampling biases).

  4. Survey Population - Similar to survey location, the population of the survey can differ in cultural perspectives, as well as differences in age and gender can play a role in survey results (can lead to sampling biases).

The Five Ethical Standards from the APA:

  1. Informed Consent - Voluntary agreement to participate in a study or experiment

  2. Protect participants from greater than usual harm/discomfort - One must not embarrass, frighten, offend or physically/mentally damage the participants

  3. Confidentiality - Keeping the information about the study private between the producer and participant

  4. Right to Withdraw - The participant of a study has the right to remove themselves from the experiment if they are uncomfortable

  5. Debrief Subjects - The process for telling participants all the information related to the study that was initially withheld.