Experimental & Non-experimental Methods Research Methods Experimental & Non-experimental Methods

Questionnaires Cont. Closed questions; Likert scales - numerical rating from 1-5 Attitude Scales - statement is given, followed by a number of responses (usually from strongly agree to strongly disagree) Rank Orders - e.g. from 1-10 (1 being not at all, 10 being absolutely) Checklists - tick any items that apply to you!! Semantic Differential Scales - 2 extremes are given, responses fall between these values

Advantages of Questionnaires Speed!! - Huge amounts of data can be collected very quickly (though response rates typically are low) Simplicity!!! - once designed they’re easy to carry out, especially if posted or online. Data from closed questions is easy to analyse, minimum risk of mis-interpretation

Disadvantages of Questionnaires Question Wording!!! - if the wording of some questions is ambiguous (unclear), misinterpretation can occur. Leading questions can influence the response e.g. Don’t you think..? Answers may not be valid (e.g. People lie) or reliable (e.g. people forget) Social desirability effect- Answering in a way that makes you look good

Interviews Three main types; Structured - usually produces quantitative data, where questions are decided in advance - researcher determines the focus Unstructured - questions not decided in advance - allows the focus to be decided during the session Semi-structured - Most successful, with only some questions decided in advance (interviewee can elaborate on their answers)

Advantages of Interviews Sensitive Topics - certain aspects of behaviour may be personal (or sensitive), therefore best ‘tackled’ by this approach Flexibility - The interviewer can investigate complex issues, which may be difficult to study via experiments

Disadvantages of Interviews Responses - depending on the type of interview, the responses of the interviewee may be restricted Mis-interpretation & Bias - to be completely objective, the interviewer needs to be detached from the interviewee - difficult to achieve. Data collected can be difficult to analyse (unstructured)

The Experimental Method Key features of this method; Cause & Effect is sought IV, DV & EV’s Control Predictability Replicability Objectivity Three key types of experiment (lab, field & natural)

Advantages of Experimental Methods Control over variables Replicability of procedures Predictability of findings Objectivity

Disadvantages of this method Loss of Validity (ecological) Researcher Bias Demand Characteristics Ethical Considerations Generalisation of findings (often involve white, middle class males)

Observational Methods Key features of this method; No direct manipulation of variables Can be used when such manipulation would be inappropriate May also be controlled (e.g. the strange situation) May also be participant based, where the researcher joins the group (covertly)

Advantages of Observational Methods Can be used as a preliminary research tool (I.e can be useful in generating hypotheses) Validity - Ecological & realistic, since the ‘subjects’ are in their natural environments

Disadvantages!!! Control - Very little (if any) over variables Cause & Effect impossible Observer Effects - presence of an observer can change behaviour Reliability - observers may mis-interpret what they observe Replicability - No control, no replication of procedures