Summary
Summary unit 2 research methods psychology
- Institution
- WJEC
summarisation of topics needed to cover in psychology under unit 2 research methods.
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
Content preview
Research methods-Observation- 1st method
Observational study=researcher watches/listens to participants- engages + records- observing
behaviour that is being studied
3 types.
Naturalistic- behaviour in its natural setting- observer making no attempt to influence the
behaviour.
e.g., Bullying.
- Participant- observer actively involved. Observe what they say and do- informal,
unstructured, and unplanned.
e.g. JS- SKIN COLOUR.
- Controlled- researcher intervenes and manipulates aspects; behaviour is environmental. -
aspects of the environments are controlled.
e.g., AB 1977- BBD experiment.
strengths and weaknesses.
Types of observation STRENGTH WEAKNESSES
Structured observation - Quantitative data - Events may not it in
researcher designs - More reliable categories
type of coding - Less time - Lack of validity
scheme to record consuming - Only useful studying
behaviour- small scale interactions.
behaviour broken
up into
*behavioural
categories-
quantitative data.
Unstructured observation - Rich qualitative - Too much too record
researcher records data - Behaviours recorded-
ALL behaviour they - Unexpected those visible to the eye-
can see. behaviours- still may not be relevant
included. behaviours.
- No BC – everything - Qualitative data- difficult
recorded. to analyse
- Hard to repeat- not that
reliable.
Covert observation - High validity- - Unethical- participants
participants are legitimacy- cannot give consent.
not aware that unaware natural - Stress- have to remain
they are being setting. under suspicion
studied- - Showing - Can’t take notes
, naturalistic
behaviour- free
from social
desirability bias
and demand
characteristics.
Overt observation - No ethical issue - Social desirability bias=
aware that they - Ask Q + make notes put themselves in a good
are being observed - Systematic light.
- Demand
characteristics= showing
behaviour that they think
researcher wants to see.
- Time consuming
Participant observation - Gain insight - Covert participation=
actively involved - Validity- legitimacy- deceiving people
rich qualitative data - Time consuming
- Access to suspects - Bias- get too involved-
- builds rapport= start to sympathise
more trust and - Loose
comfort- objectivity=interpretation
participants is biased- seeing only
behaving naturally. from participants view.
Non-participant - Open minded- - Covert- unethical
observation outsider - Less insight- separate
separate from - No sympathy- less - Hawthorne effect
people being likely to be bias (people act diff when
observed. - No ethical issues if being watched).
overt. - Time consuming
- Remain objective - Lack of trust with
- More reliable participants=researcher
- No observer bias has less insight-
participants do not
behave naturally.
operationalised
*Behavioural categories- dividing a target behaviour (e.g., stress or aggression) into a subset of
specific and behaviours.
Reliability –
- The consistency of research
- If results remain same or similar over many attempts- reliable
2 types
Internal- test/measure consistent within itself
External- extent to which a test produces consistent results over several occasions
, issues of reliability;
Issue How to deal
Lack of operationalism of the variable- BC
if you don’t clearly state- replication impossible
Order effects Counter balancing – splitting into 2 groups and
reversed order
Lack of standardised procedures – Use standardised procedure and scientific
inconsistency of measuring tools & measuring equipment- MRI scans
uncontrolled environment. Conducting research in lab
*BC- behavioural categories
*Operationalism- = ensuring variables are in a form that can be easily tested.
*Order effects- the order of the conditions having an effect on the participants behaviour- practice
perfect/ boredom.
Inter-rater reliability= the extent to which there is an agreement between two or more
observers involved in observations of a behaviour.
80%
Validity –
- Legitimacy
- Kelly (1927)- if a test is valid, it measures what it claims to measure.
2 types
Internal- the study measures what it intends to measure
External - whether the study paints a true picture of real-life behaviours (mundane realism)
& Would apply to different places, different times, or different people (population validity).
Issue How to deal
Researcher bias Double blind procedure
- Researcher expectations influence the Involves neither researcher nor participant
research Reduces validity knowing true aims of study
Demand characteristics - double blind procedure reduces
demand characteristics
single blind procedure
participants being unaware for the researcher
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller nadiyahabdisalam05. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £10.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
84866 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 14 years now
