1.2 RESEARCH IN PSYCHOLOGY
Methods of Research Ways to Do Research
Survey
Gathering data on what people think and have done. Data is raw and needs to be processed to make it into a useful info.
Strength: Can gather large amounts of data very quickly, easily. Allows for anonymity.
Weakness: Participants can lie, misunderstand. Wording effect, questions can effect answers.
Case Study
Kind-of the opposite of surveys. Deep data is gathered about a specific individual/group.
Strength: Full picture of what happened, chronological data, different views.
Weakness: Time consuming, focuses on one person in a detailed way, not generalizable.
Naturalistic Observation
Researchers need to go to people’s environments to observe them as they are.
Strengths: Authentic data, allows real treatment.
Weakness: Ethics of informed consent, lack of control, not explanations just descriptions.
Ways to do these methods:
Cross Sectional Studies
Longitudinal Studies