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Research Methods. Unit 25.
"Explain randomised controlled trial: - CORRECT ANSWER A randomised controlled
trial (RCT) is an experimental form of impact evaluation in which the population
receiving the programme or policy intervention is chosen at random from the eligible
population, and a control group is also chosen at random from the same eligible
population."
"Strengths of Randomised Controlled Trial - CORRECT ANSWER Highly controlled
which means that we can say that any change in a variable is a result of changing
another variable.
We can establish cause and effect.
They use a standardised procedure. This is a step by step guide that the researcher can
follow. This is a strength because it allows the Oxperiment to be easily repeated again
(replicated) by others to check the reliability of the findings (the extent to which the
results are consistent)."
"Weakness of Randomised Controlled Trial: - CORRECT ANSWER A weakness of
experiments is that participants can behave differently BECAUSE they are in an
experimental setting. Participants may try to work out the aim of the experiment and try
too hard to please the experimenter or try to spoil the results. This is a weakness
because the behaviour observed is not TYPICAL of their normal behaviour.
Another weakness of lab experiments is highly artificial and it is unlikely that the
participants would have behaved the same as they would in everyday life. This is a
weakness because you cannot generalise the findings to an everyday situation, it
therefore lacks ecological validity."
"Survey And Questionnaires - CORRECT ANSWER are methods where a person is
asked to state or explain their own feelings, opinions, behaviours and/or experiences
related to a given topic. Standardised questions are handed out/delivered to a
representative group of people. They are expected to fill in the questionnaires
themselves."
"Strengths of Survey and Questionnaires - CORRECT ANSWER Can be easily
distributed to participants so researchers can obtain a large sample
Generate a lot of data
Cost-effective.
Questionnaires contain standardised questions. Are easy to replicate
Reliability
Easy to conduct
Anonymity
People are used to them so willing to complete"
, ~2~
"Weakness of Survey and Questionnaires: - CORRECT ANSWER Ps can lie on
questionnaires and not be completely honest. They often do this so ley appear in a
favourable light to the researcher. This is called giving socially
desirable answers.
Another weakness is that questionnaires may have complex or poorly worded questions
which are difficult to understand or interpret. This can lead to invalid findings.
Communication difficulties
Time consuming"
"Surveys/Questionnaires include what type of questions? - CORRECT ANSWER Open
questions - the participant can express their ideas and opinions. There are no
predetermined answers. They produce qualitative data (data in the form of words).
Example- how would you describes your experience of using the housing department?
Closed questions - have a set of predetermined answers. The participant may simply
tick a box. They produce quantitative data (numbers/statistics). Closed questions can be
asked in a number of ways
Example- please rate how helpful you found the housing department :
Not helpful Very helpful
1 2 3 4 5"
"What are Interviews? - CORRECT ANSWER are another way of asking questions, but
instead of them being in writing they are verbal! There are 2 types of interviews:
structured and unstructured.
Both involve verbal questioning of Ps (interviewees) which is usually done face-to-face,
but can be over the phone or internet (e.g. Skype)."
"Structured interviews - CORRECT ANSWER basically exactly the same as a
questionnaire apart from the fact that an interviewer verbally asks the questions. The
questions are pre-determined."
"Unstructured interviews - CORRECT ANSWER are more like a conversation between
the Ps and the interviewer. There will be themes' that the interviewer will want to focus
on but there are no standardised questions. The interview can go in any direction that
the P or the interviewer desires. They are often voice recorded and transcribed."
"Focus Groups - CORRECT ANSWER are interviews held with a group of people who
have something in common. For example, they are all care staff working in a day care
centre. The questions are pre-set but there is flexibility allowed."
"Observations - CORRECT ANSWER involve a researcher(s) watching behaviour in a
systematic way. This means they interpret and record the behaviour taking place."
"What are the two types of observations? - CORRECT ANSWER Formal and Informal
Research Methods. Unit 25.
"Explain randomised controlled trial: - CORRECT ANSWER A randomised controlled
trial (RCT) is an experimental form of impact evaluation in which the population
receiving the programme or policy intervention is chosen at random from the eligible
population, and a control group is also chosen at random from the same eligible
population."
"Strengths of Randomised Controlled Trial - CORRECT ANSWER Highly controlled
which means that we can say that any change in a variable is a result of changing
another variable.
We can establish cause and effect.
They use a standardised procedure. This is a step by step guide that the researcher can
follow. This is a strength because it allows the Oxperiment to be easily repeated again
(replicated) by others to check the reliability of the findings (the extent to which the
results are consistent)."
"Weakness of Randomised Controlled Trial: - CORRECT ANSWER A weakness of
experiments is that participants can behave differently BECAUSE they are in an
experimental setting. Participants may try to work out the aim of the experiment and try
too hard to please the experimenter or try to spoil the results. This is a weakness
because the behaviour observed is not TYPICAL of their normal behaviour.
Another weakness of lab experiments is highly artificial and it is unlikely that the
participants would have behaved the same as they would in everyday life. This is a
weakness because you cannot generalise the findings to an everyday situation, it
therefore lacks ecological validity."
"Survey And Questionnaires - CORRECT ANSWER are methods where a person is
asked to state or explain their own feelings, opinions, behaviours and/or experiences
related to a given topic. Standardised questions are handed out/delivered to a
representative group of people. They are expected to fill in the questionnaires
themselves."
"Strengths of Survey and Questionnaires - CORRECT ANSWER Can be easily
distributed to participants so researchers can obtain a large sample
Generate a lot of data
Cost-effective.
Questionnaires contain standardised questions. Are easy to replicate
Reliability
Easy to conduct
Anonymity
People are used to them so willing to complete"
, ~2~
"Weakness of Survey and Questionnaires: - CORRECT ANSWER Ps can lie on
questionnaires and not be completely honest. They often do this so ley appear in a
favourable light to the researcher. This is called giving socially
desirable answers.
Another weakness is that questionnaires may have complex or poorly worded questions
which are difficult to understand or interpret. This can lead to invalid findings.
Communication difficulties
Time consuming"
"Surveys/Questionnaires include what type of questions? - CORRECT ANSWER Open
questions - the participant can express their ideas and opinions. There are no
predetermined answers. They produce qualitative data (data in the form of words).
Example- how would you describes your experience of using the housing department?
Closed questions - have a set of predetermined answers. The participant may simply
tick a box. They produce quantitative data (numbers/statistics). Closed questions can be
asked in a number of ways
Example- please rate how helpful you found the housing department :
Not helpful Very helpful
1 2 3 4 5"
"What are Interviews? - CORRECT ANSWER are another way of asking questions, but
instead of them being in writing they are verbal! There are 2 types of interviews:
structured and unstructured.
Both involve verbal questioning of Ps (interviewees) which is usually done face-to-face,
but can be over the phone or internet (e.g. Skype)."
"Structured interviews - CORRECT ANSWER basically exactly the same as a
questionnaire apart from the fact that an interviewer verbally asks the questions. The
questions are pre-determined."
"Unstructured interviews - CORRECT ANSWER are more like a conversation between
the Ps and the interviewer. There will be themes' that the interviewer will want to focus
on but there are no standardised questions. The interview can go in any direction that
the P or the interviewer desires. They are often voice recorded and transcribed."
"Focus Groups - CORRECT ANSWER are interviews held with a group of people who
have something in common. For example, they are all care staff working in a day care
centre. The questions are pre-set but there is flexibility allowed."
"Observations - CORRECT ANSWER involve a researcher(s) watching behaviour in a
systematic way. This means they interpret and record the behaviour taking place."
"What are the two types of observations? - CORRECT ANSWER Formal and Informal
