8/24/25, 11:27 PM Psychology - Research Methods
Psychology - Research Methods complete questions
and accurate detailed answers \verified 100%
already grade A+
- Expressed numerically, can be counted
- Data collection techniques
gather numerical data usually in
form of individual scores from
ppts
Quantitative Data - data is open to being analysed
statistically and can be easily
converted into graphs, charts
E.g. Number of words a person can recall in a memory
experiment
+ Simple to analyse
+ Comparisons between groups can be easily drawn
+ More objective, less open to bias
Evaluate Quantitative Data
- Much narrower in meaning and detail
- May fail to represent 'real life'
- Any method in which a person is asked to state or
What are Self-report
Techniques? explain their own feelings, opinions, behaviors and
experiences related to a given topic
-A pre-set list of written questions (sometimes called
items) to which a participant responsds
What is a Questionnaire? - Used to access a persons' thoughts/experiences
- May be used as part of an experiment to assess the dependent
variable
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,8/24/25, 11:27 PM Psychology - Research Methods
+ Cost effective
+ Can gather large amounts of data quickly
+ Can be completed without the researcher being
present e.g. postal questionnaire, reduces amount of
Strengths of Questionnaires
effort
+ Data produced is straightforward to analyse,
particularly if the questionnaire comprises mainly of
fixed-choice closed questions
+ Data allows for statistical analysis, comparisons can be
made using graphs and charts
- Can produce response bias: tend to reply in a similar way
E.g. always ticking yes/answering at the same favoured end of a
Weaknesses of Questionnaires scale
- Type of response bias: aquiescience
- Lack of truth: Demand Characteristics or Social Desirability
- P.ps may misunderstand the question or read it incorrectly
- Questions with no fixed answer/response and
What are Open Questions? respondents can answer in any way they wish.
- Tend to produce qualitative data, containing a wide range of
responses
+ Get more information
Advantages & Disadvantages + Produces qualitative data - depth and detail
of an Open Question - People can miss them out as they can't be bothered to answer
them
- Harder to analyse
/ 2/33
,8/24/25, 11:27 PM Psychology - Research Methods
- Questions with a fixed answer/ the choice of
What are Closed Questions? response is determined by the question setter
- Tends to produce quantitative data
+ People have to same perception of the Q&A
+ Quick and easy to answer
Advantages & Disadvantages + Closed questions producing qualitative data can be turned into
of a Closed Question quantitative data
+ Quantitative data is easier to analyse
- Not detailed or in depth answers
- Don't find out the meaning behind the answer
- Made up of pre-determined questions and are asked in a fixed
What is a Structured Interview? order
- Basically like a questionnaire but conducted face to
face or on the phone in real time
- Works like a conversation
- There are no set questions
What is an Unstructured - There is a general aim that a certain topic will be
Interview? discussed and interaction tends to be free flowing
- Interviewee is encouraged to expand and elaborate their
answers
- Most likely to occur in everyday life, e.g. job interview
What is a Semi-structured - There is a list of questions that have been worked out
Interview? in advance but interviewers are also free to ask
follow up questions when they feel it is appropriate
+ Straight forward to replicate (standardised), high reliability
+ Reduces differences between interviews
+ Easier to analyse
Strengths & Weaknesses of + Get answers you're looking for
- Get less information as E.g. Interviewer can't
Structured Interview
deviate from the topic or explain questions
- Limited richness of data collected
- Don't find out people's worldwide views
+ Can get more detailed answers as people can
elaborate and researcher can follow up
+ Can elicit unexpected information
+ More flexible as you can gain insight
Strengths & Weaknesses of + Easier to establish rapport
Unstructured Interview - Not easy to replicate
- Not easy to analyse as you get irrelevant information
- Drawing conclusions may be difficult
- Experimenter effects can occur e.g. Interviewer bias, social
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, 8/24/25, 11:27 PM Psychology - Research Methods
desirability
- Encourages P.ps to give a particular answer
What are Leading Questions
E.g. don't you think...?
- Questions which can be interpreted in various ways
Problem with Questions:
Ambiguity - They can mean different things to different people.
Problems with Questions: - They are questions which contain emotive language
Loaded Questions which is likely to produce an emotional reaction in the
respondent
Problems with Questions: - They contain two options within a single question
Double-barreled Questions
-A general statement that the researcher intends to
What is an Aim? investigate/describes purpose of investigation
- Developed from theories
/ 4/33
Psychology - Research Methods complete questions
and accurate detailed answers \verified 100%
already grade A+
- Expressed numerically, can be counted
- Data collection techniques
gather numerical data usually in
form of individual scores from
ppts
Quantitative Data - data is open to being analysed
statistically and can be easily
converted into graphs, charts
E.g. Number of words a person can recall in a memory
experiment
+ Simple to analyse
+ Comparisons between groups can be easily drawn
+ More objective, less open to bias
Evaluate Quantitative Data
- Much narrower in meaning and detail
- May fail to represent 'real life'
- Any method in which a person is asked to state or
What are Self-report
Techniques? explain their own feelings, opinions, behaviors and
experiences related to a given topic
-A pre-set list of written questions (sometimes called
items) to which a participant responsds
What is a Questionnaire? - Used to access a persons' thoughts/experiences
- May be used as part of an experiment to assess the dependent
variable
/ 1/33
,8/24/25, 11:27 PM Psychology - Research Methods
+ Cost effective
+ Can gather large amounts of data quickly
+ Can be completed without the researcher being
present e.g. postal questionnaire, reduces amount of
Strengths of Questionnaires
effort
+ Data produced is straightforward to analyse,
particularly if the questionnaire comprises mainly of
fixed-choice closed questions
+ Data allows for statistical analysis, comparisons can be
made using graphs and charts
- Can produce response bias: tend to reply in a similar way
E.g. always ticking yes/answering at the same favoured end of a
Weaknesses of Questionnaires scale
- Type of response bias: aquiescience
- Lack of truth: Demand Characteristics or Social Desirability
- P.ps may misunderstand the question or read it incorrectly
- Questions with no fixed answer/response and
What are Open Questions? respondents can answer in any way they wish.
- Tend to produce qualitative data, containing a wide range of
responses
+ Get more information
Advantages & Disadvantages + Produces qualitative data - depth and detail
of an Open Question - People can miss them out as they can't be bothered to answer
them
- Harder to analyse
/ 2/33
,8/24/25, 11:27 PM Psychology - Research Methods
- Questions with a fixed answer/ the choice of
What are Closed Questions? response is determined by the question setter
- Tends to produce quantitative data
+ People have to same perception of the Q&A
+ Quick and easy to answer
Advantages & Disadvantages + Closed questions producing qualitative data can be turned into
of a Closed Question quantitative data
+ Quantitative data is easier to analyse
- Not detailed or in depth answers
- Don't find out the meaning behind the answer
- Made up of pre-determined questions and are asked in a fixed
What is a Structured Interview? order
- Basically like a questionnaire but conducted face to
face or on the phone in real time
- Works like a conversation
- There are no set questions
What is an Unstructured - There is a general aim that a certain topic will be
Interview? discussed and interaction tends to be free flowing
- Interviewee is encouraged to expand and elaborate their
answers
- Most likely to occur in everyday life, e.g. job interview
What is a Semi-structured - There is a list of questions that have been worked out
Interview? in advance but interviewers are also free to ask
follow up questions when they feel it is appropriate
+ Straight forward to replicate (standardised), high reliability
+ Reduces differences between interviews
+ Easier to analyse
Strengths & Weaknesses of + Get answers you're looking for
- Get less information as E.g. Interviewer can't
Structured Interview
deviate from the topic or explain questions
- Limited richness of data collected
- Don't find out people's worldwide views
+ Can get more detailed answers as people can
elaborate and researcher can follow up
+ Can elicit unexpected information
+ More flexible as you can gain insight
Strengths & Weaknesses of + Easier to establish rapport
Unstructured Interview - Not easy to replicate
- Not easy to analyse as you get irrelevant information
- Drawing conclusions may be difficult
- Experimenter effects can occur e.g. Interviewer bias, social
/ 3/33
, 8/24/25, 11:27 PM Psychology - Research Methods
desirability
- Encourages P.ps to give a particular answer
What are Leading Questions
E.g. don't you think...?
- Questions which can be interpreted in various ways
Problem with Questions:
Ambiguity - They can mean different things to different people.
Problems with Questions: - They are questions which contain emotive language
Loaded Questions which is likely to produce an emotional reaction in the
respondent
Problems with Questions: - They contain two options within a single question
Double-barreled Questions
-A general statement that the researcher intends to
What is an Aim? investigate/describes purpose of investigation
- Developed from theories
/ 4/33
