1 / 20

1.4 Non-experimental methods:

1.4 Non-experimental methods:. qualitative research. Two research methods. Quantitative research (experimental method) Qualitative research (non-experimental method) What’s the difference? When to use which?. Quantitative research (experimental method).

altessa
Download Presentation

1.4 Non-experimental methods:

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. 1.4 Non-experimental methods: qualitative research

  2. Two research methods • Quantitative research (experimental method) • Qualitative research (non-experimental method) • What’s the difference? • When to use which?

  3. Quantitative research (experimental method) • - empirical / numbers- questionnaires and labs- reliability- validity- replicability- generalizability- Cause and effect relationship • Calculation of statistics • Can all sorts of behaviour be quantified?

  4. Qualitative research (non-experimental method) • Gather information about the ‘qualities’ or characteristics of what is being studied • Gives an insight into psychological processes • Use interviews, observation, case studies, etc

  5. Qualitative research (non-experimental method) • Can help to answer “why? & how?” questions:- How do Vietnamese women view domestic violence? - Why do teenagers join street gangs? • Interpret & analyze data

  6. When to use which • 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

  7. Triangulation • Combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods • Benefit: more complete picture of the behaviour studied

  8. Deductive approach • 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?

  9. Inductive approach • 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

  10. Data collection methods • Interviews • Observation • Case studies

  11. Interview • Allows for a deeper understanding and reveal personal experience • Structured interview • Unstructured interview • Semi-structured interview

  12. Structured interview • Controlled method • Tight interview schedule • List of exact questions • a “spoken” questionnaire • Easy to analyze and compare data

  13. Unstructured interview • 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

  14. Semi-structured interview • Mostly used • A set of close and open questions • the answer can be more open than in a structured interview

  15. The art of interviewing • 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

  16. Observation • 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 solving

  17. Researcher bias • Researcher sees what s/he wants to see • Solve with many observers, if all sees the same thing = inter-observer reliability

  18. Participate or not? • Participant observation- Researcher takes part in the group- Overt or covert- gains a close and intimate familiarity with a given group (e.gThe KuKlux 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

  19. Ethics • 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

  20. Case studies • 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 • Example: Read Money’s study (1974) on p. 37

More Related