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Quantitative research (experimental method) Qualitative research (non-experimental method) What’s the difference? When to use which?
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- empirical / numbers - questionnaires and labs - reliability - validity - replicability - generalizability - Cause and effect relationship Calculation of statistics Can all sorts of behaviour be quantified?
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Gather information about the ‘qualities’ or characteristics of what is being studied Gives an insight into psychological processes Use interviews, observation, case studies, etc
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Can help to answer “why? & how?” questions: - How do Vietnamese women view domestic violence? - Why do teenagers join street gangs? Interpret & analyze data
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The research method depends upon the problem being studied, the investigator’s objectives and ethical principles Choose what you want to study then choose how Not the other way around
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Combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods Benefit: more complete picture of the behaviour studied
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Quantitative research take a deductive approach - Begins with theory then form hypothesis - test the hypothesis against empirical evidence - accept or reject hypothesis - general idea correct or incorrect?
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Qualitative research take a inductive approach - Detective work - Begins with specific things (e.g: observation) then form theory. They first gather data, then see what these could mean. - - Use research question instead of a hypothesis (open-ended instead of a claim) - Usually focus on one concept or idea. - Usually pertain to the actions or perceptions of participants
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Interviews Observation Case studies
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Allows for a deeper understanding and reveal personal experience Structured interview Unstructured interview Semi-structured interview
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Controlled method Tight interview schedule List of exact questions a “spoken” questionnaire Easy to analyze and compare data
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Loose interview schedule Topic and time stated Questions made up as it goes Easier for participant to “open up” and reveal interesting data Difficult to analyze the data
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Mostly used A set of close and open questions the answer can be more open than in a structured interview
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Positive relationship Be very aware of interviewer effects (non verbal behaviour and signs which affects the interviewee) An interview is a private thing so there’s A risk for participant bias A risk for social desirability bias Sensitive information might be revealed so remember the ethics Be a researcher on p. 32: teenagers and drug use and abuse
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Describe behaviour without referring to a cause and effect relationship Naturalistic observation - To observe behaviour as it occurs in a natural setting - Jane Goodall and African chimpanzees - Often used to study children to learn about cooperation, aggression and problem solvingJane Goodall and African chimpanzees
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Researcher sees what s/he wants to see Solve with many observers, if all sees the same thing = inter-observer reliability
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Participant observation - Researcher takes part in the group - Overt or covert - gains a close and intimate familiarity with a given group (e.g The Ku Klux Klan) - difficult balance between observation and participation Non-participant observation - not being part of the group - Can do it overt or covert - researcher bias might occur Covert observation - to avoid reactivity
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Ordinary code of ethics apply with informed consent, etc Special permission to carry out covert observation Public places mostly considered ok Read Rosenhan’s study (1973) on page 34-35
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Not a research method but an approach In-depth analysis of an individual, group or event Gives a deep insight into unique phenomena or behaviour Data collected through interviews, observation, psychological tests, etc. One case in detail from many angles instead of 2000 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEnkY2iaKis &feature=related Genie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEnkY2iaKis &feature=related Example: Read Money’s study (1974) on p. 37
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