Practise Exam Question-Chapter 3.

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Drawing on examples discuss the advantages and disadvantages of 2 research methods used in the study of learning.

Each perspective focuses on different aspects of learning, defining it differently & asking different questions and uses different methods.

Experiments-Behaviourist perspective

Artificially set up designed to investigate cause & effect. Experimenter aims to control all variables and keep all but one variable constant.

Example

Skinner Box

Advantages

Controlled condition, can control variables and environment.

Has provided answers as to how we can modify behaviour which has been used in clinical & classroom settings.

Disadvantages

Can only study a limited range of learning phenomena-Positive/Negative reinforcements.

Low ecological validity-does not take natural environment into consideration.

Works with animals not humans.

Observational Studies-Socio-cultural Perspective

Watching, listening & recording in some way what people do & say. Behaviours are observed and then categorised, analysed and interpreted.

Example

Mercer-Naturalistic observation study of primary school children which were later transcribed & qualitatively analysed.

Advantages

Occurs in natural setting or just observes natural behaviours in laboratory setting increasing ecological validity.

Humans observed not animals.

Disadvantages

Behaviour can be ambiguous & difficult to spot making analysis/coding difficult especially if 2 observers don't agree on how the behaviour should be coded/analysed.

Typically reflects researchers theoretical positions & research interests.

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