Methodological Issues Themes in Psychology
Snapshot Study Snapshot study: takes place at just one point in time, potentially with one participant for a short time. It is aimed at isolating the behaviour and not necessarily with identifying a cause. Advantages 1. Fast way of collecting data. 2. Good way of obtaining preliminary evidence before a costly and time consuming longitudinal study. 3. Gives an indication of how people are likely to behave. 4. Data is most likely quantitative, so statistical analysis is possible
Snapshot Study Disadvantages 1. Not possible to study how a behaviour might change over time (development). Therefore it is not possible to see the long term effectiveness or harm of a stimulus. 2. Behaviour recorded is limited to that behaviour, time, and culture. 3. Quantitative data doesn't allow an explanation of the behaviour 4. Snapshot studies are sometimes more expensive or difficult to set up than longitudinal (e.g. more participant required)
Longitudinal Study Longitudinal Study: takes place over a long period of time, usually visiting one or more participants at regular intervals throughout that period to monitor changes. Advantages 1. Development can be tracked. After a baseline is recorded, changes in attitudes and behaviour can be measured. 2. Studying one participant allows individual differences (e.g. intelligence) to be controlled. 3. Effect of ageing can be shown, therefore this is perfect for studying development 4. Long-term effects of a stimulus or disorder can be observed
Longitudinal Study Disadvantages 1. Participant Attrition - participants may drop out of the study affecting results. 2. Once started the study can not be changed or new variables introduced. 3. Bias may be introduced if the researchers become too close to the participants. Less objective. 4. Cross-generational effects - those from one generation cannot be compared to another generation due to the social conditions changing over time
Application We have looked at 5 Methodological Issues this week 1. Ecological Validity vs Control 2. Ethics vs Value of research 3. Quantitative vs Qualitative data 4. Reliability and Validity 5. Snapshot vs Longitudinal Studies Your Task!!! Write a report (your own style or format) which compares the two main studies we have looked at together (Freud and Bandura) according to these 5 issues. How do you evaluate each study in terms of these issues? What are the similarities and differences between these two studies in terms of these issues
Submission of Assignment Digitally – Go to – use Google Drive to submit your paper – Make sure to select your class (either AS1 or AS2,3,5) – Submit your paper into the “Methodological Issues Paper” folder Physically – Handwritten or typed Due by beginning of school on Tuesday