Research Methods 4

Research Methods 4

1. Mann-Whitney U test

   • used as a test of difference between two conditions when the data achieved is at ordinal level or above and the experimental design being used is an independent groups design.
   • the lowest value of Ua or Ub is taken.

2. Quantitative data

   • presents data as numbers and statistics
   • + easy to measure
   • + easier to make predictions off of
   • + controlled
   • + standardised
   • + valid, reliable and generalisable
   • - trickier to measure human behaviour in natural settings
   • - some topics are too difficult to quantify in numbers

3. Qualitative data

   • presents descriptions of findings in prose
   • + gathers rich descriptions based on meaning
   • + can help with understanding
   • - difficult to conduct
   • - time consuming
   • - highly subjective
   • - unscientific
   • - not standardised

4. CASE STUDIES - of brain damaged patients

   • conducted on one or a small group of people
   • In cognitive psychology we may conduct research on individuals who have suffered damage e.g. stroke victms
   • Evidence to support case studies are HM and Clive Wearing.
   • + both qualitative and quantitative data can be used to generate data
   • + case studies of brain damaged people can use a range of methods to study the individuals or group with brain damage. This can be triangulated. If data is consistent it can be considered as reliable.
   • - the case study and its validity dependent on the tests linked within the study. The studies on the small sample of unique individuals, therefore the data may not generalise to other individuals with damage. BUT biographical data generated about individuals before damage may well be biased or information may be forgotten.