Data Collection Methods
- A data collection method where participants provide information about themselves, often through questionnaires or interviews.
- A data collection method where researchers systematically watch and record behaviors, either in natural or controlled settings.
- Data collection methods that involve recording biological data, such as brain activity or heart rate, to understand underlying processes.
Self-Reports
- Self-reports are a popular method for gathering data on participants' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
- Questionnaires: Participants answer a series of questions, often using rating scales or open-ended responses.
- Interviews: Researchers ask participants questions in a structured or unstructured format.
Example
- Loftus & Palmer (1974) used questionnaires to study memory distortion by asking participants to estimate the speed of cars in a video.
Example
- Brown & Kulik (1977) used interviews to study flashbulb memories of significant events.
Tip
- Self-reports are cost-effective and easy to administer, making them ideal for large-scale studies.
Note
- Participants may provide socially desirable answers, leading to biased data.
Observations
- Observations involve systematically recording behaviors in natural or controlled settings.
- Naturalistic Observation: Researchers observe participants in their natural environment without interference.
- Controlled Observation: Observations conducted in a structured environment, often with predefined behaviors to record.
Example
- Bandura et al. (1961) observed children's aggressive behaviors after watching a model.
Example
- Rosenhan (1973) observed interactions between pseudo-patients and hospital staff.
Tip
- Observations provide real-time data on behaviors, reducing reliance on self-report accuracy.
Note
- Observer bias can occur if researchers have preconceived expectations.
Physiological Measures
- Physiological measures involve recording biological data to understand underlying processes.
- Brain Imaging: Techniques like MRI or PET scans provide insights into brain structure and activity.
- Heart Rate and Hormones: Measures like cortisol levels or heart rate variability assess stress or emotional responses.
Example
- Maguire et al. (2000) used MRI scans to study hippocampal volume in taxi drivers.
Example
- Newcomer et al. (1999) measured cortisol levels to study stress and memory.
Tip
- Physiological measures provide objective data, reducing the risk of participant bias.
Note
- These methods can be expensive and require specialized equipment.
Strengths and Limitations
| Method | Strengths | Limitations | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-Report | Easy to administer, cost-effective | Prone to social desirability bias | Loftus & Palmer (1974) |
| Observation | Real time behavioural data | Observer bias, limited control | Bandura et al. (1961) |
| Phyisological Measures | Objective and reliable | Expensive and requires expertise | Maguire et al. (2000) |
Prospective, retrospective, longitudinal, and cross-sectional designs
- Prospective: gathering future data.
- Retrospective: gathering data from previous records.
- Longitudinal: gathering data over a long period of time.
- Cross-sectional: gathering data from multiple groups at one time.
Statistical Significance
- Statistical significance is a measurement that informs researchers whether or not their results were due to chance.
- This is typically done through tests such as ANOVA (analysis of variance) or t-tests, which tells the researcher the chance of the null hypothesis being true.
- The null hypothesis states that variables in an experiment are not correlated.
Critical Thinking
- Triangulation: Combining self-reports, observations, and physiological measures can enhance data validity.
- Ethical Considerations: Physiological measures may require informed consent due to their invasive nature.
- Generalizability: Observations in controlled settings may lack ecological validity.
Note
- When discussing data collection methods, explain why a method was chosen and how it impacts the study's validity. Don't just list the method, justify its use.
Reflection
Self review
- What are the strengths and limitations of self-reports?
- How do physiological measures enhance the reliability of data?
- Why is observer bias a concern in observational studies?
