Psychology: Research methods
Psychology:
Research methods - Observational study in lab setting
How can the observational methodology be analysed
Video - Repeated view accurately inter+Intra observation validity
To observe all actions of the infant
Infants can’t self report
A weakness of the observational method?
The interference of demand characteristics would show heavy bias
Social desirability will compel mother to speak highly of their infant to maybe seem normal
Demand characteristics will cause the participants, mother specifically to give what the researcher wants.
Information on Lab experiments
Experiment takes place in a carefully controlled environment e.g lab, classroom
Strengths
High internal validity due to control of extraneous variables
Easily replicated so demonstrates external validity
Limitations
Participants know they are being studied - lacks ecological validity (realness!)
Lack of mundane realism
Potential for demand characteristics
Example: Milgram’s’ study of obedience
Information on Field experiments
Takes place in a more natural setting - IV is still manipulated by investigator
Strengths
Participants not usually aware they are being studied - reduces demand characteristics (but potential ethical issues)
More realistic - higher ecological validity and mundane realism (not guaranteed)
Limitations
Harder to control extraneous variables reducing internal validity
More time consuming
Example: Piliavan et al Bystander effect (subway samaritan)
Information on Natural experiment
Naturally occuring IV (not manipulated by experimenter) typically linked to the environment. DV can still be measured in a lab or field setting
Strengths
Enables study of ‘real life’ problems/situations
Allows research on an IV that couldn’t otherwise be studied
Limitations
Can’t demonstrate cause and effect easily as IV not directly manipulated
Can’t control for confounding variables as participants not randomly allocated to groups
Limited opportunities to use and v hard to generalise to other people
Example: Charlton et al intro of TV on St Helena Island and influence on behaviour
Information on Quassi experiment
Still a naturally occurring IV based on an internal characteristic e.g. male vs female
Strengths
Allows comparisons between different groups of people
Limitations
Can’t establish cause and effect (lack of control of confounding variables)
Example:
Sheridan and King (1972) - impact on gender on obedience through giving electric shocks to puppies!
Psychology:
Research methods - Observational study in lab setting
How can the observational methodology be analysed
Video - Repeated view accurately inter+Intra observation validity
To observe all actions of the infant
Infants can’t self report
A weakness of the observational method?
The interference of demand characteristics would show heavy bias
Social desirability will compel mother to speak highly of their infant to maybe seem normal
Demand characteristics will cause the participants, mother specifically to give what the researcher wants.
Information on Lab experiments
Experiment takes place in a carefully controlled environment e.g lab, classroom
Strengths
High internal validity due to control of extraneous variables
Easily replicated so demonstrates external validity
Limitations
Participants know they are being studied - lacks ecological validity (realness!)
Lack of mundane realism
Potential for demand characteristics
Example: Milgram’s’ study of obedience
Information on Field experiments
Takes place in a more natural setting - IV is still manipulated by investigator
Strengths
Participants not usually aware they are being studied - reduces demand characteristics (but potential ethical issues)
More realistic - higher ecological validity and mundane realism (not guaranteed)
Limitations
Harder to control extraneous variables reducing internal validity
More time consuming
Example: Piliavan et al Bystander effect (subway samaritan)
Information on Natural experiment
Naturally occuring IV (not manipulated by experimenter) typically linked to the environment. DV can still be measured in a lab or field setting
Strengths
Enables study of ‘real life’ problems/situations
Allows research on an IV that couldn’t otherwise be studied
Limitations
Can’t demonstrate cause and effect easily as IV not directly manipulated
Can’t control for confounding variables as participants not randomly allocated to groups
Limited opportunities to use and v hard to generalise to other people
Example: Charlton et al intro of TV on St Helena Island and influence on behaviour
Information on Quassi experiment
Still a naturally occurring IV based on an internal characteristic e.g. male vs female
Strengths
Allows comparisons between different groups of people
Limitations
Can’t establish cause and effect (lack of control of confounding variables)
Example:
Sheridan and King (1972) - impact on gender on obedience through giving electric shocks to puppies!
