Research Methods

Research Methods

1. Experiments

   • Lab Experiment = To control all relevant variables except for one key variable ... Often conducted in an artificial environment
     • Good control of confounding variables
     • Easier to replicate due to strict control
     • Experiments may not show accurate behaviour as it's in an artificial environment, therefore there is a reduction in ecological validity
     • Particpants may respond based on what they believe the experiment is about
   • Field Experiment = Conducted inside the laboratory ... measure in natural environment ... key variable is still altered so that its effect can be measured
     • Based in the real world, so it relates to real life better, therefore there is an increase in ecological validity
     • Participants often don't know they're being studied which reduces the risk of demand characteristics as participant's can't alter their behaviour when they aren't aware they're being studied
     • Variables can't be as well controlled if they're in a natural environment, therefore there is a lack of control which makes confounding variables more likely
     • Often participant's aren't aware that they're being studied. This is an invasion of privacy. Also, participant's may feel distressed as they aren't aware that the study is an experiment
   • Natural Experiment = Looks at how the independent variable affects the dependent ... independent isn't manipulated as it's an event which occurs naturally
     • It is an ethical way of collecting research as variable's aren't manipulated. You're just studying how it is
     • Participants probably won't be aware that they're being studied, therefore the chance of demand characteristics will be unlikely
     • Participants are often unaware that they're being studied on which makes informed consent difficult to obtain. Deception is often used as participants are tricked and lied to.
   • Quasi Experiment = The independent viable is a particular feature of the participant (eg gender)
     • Research is often less artificial than laboratory studies, so it was be easier to compare results to real life than laboratory experiment results.
     • Good control of confounding variables
     • As you collect participants with a particular feature you can't gain results through experiment designs such as random allocation as you need a specific individuals

2. Observational Techniques

   • Naturalistic Observation = Observing subjects in their natural environment ... Researchers take care not to interfere
     • The researcher tries not to interfere, which increases the likelihood of natural participant behaviour, and makes it more ecologically valid
     • An issue is that using this type of method in order to obtain research may not show true genuine human behaviour as their is a chance of more extraneous variables then one would get in a lab observation, which may affect participants behaviour.
     • A further issue is that the observer's expectation may affect the results of the study as they may focus on specific aspects more than others. This creates a problem in terms of reliability as another researcher who may replicate the study may gather different results due to focusing on different aspects than the original psychologist
   • Controlled Observation = Situation is carried out in conditions made by the researcher
     • Variables are a lot more controlled than in a naturalistic environment, which reduces the likelihood of confounding variables playing a part in the participant's behaviour and provides strong reliable results
     • Lower ecological validity

3. Self Report

   • Questionnaires
     • It's a practical choice of method as it is time consuming and cheap