pros and cons of research method types
Post on 01-Feb-2016
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Research Methods Advantages Disadvantages
Laboratory Experiments
Greater access to a larger variety of research equipment
Accurate results Control over environmental conditions Cause-effect relations can be
determined
Less space Predictions required Validity and reliability cannot be
determined Not real world
Field Research (a.k.a ethnographic research
or observational research)
Observe in natural environment Real world aspect given to hypothesis Allows real actions/behaviours of
object to be viewed Valid and reliable input More space for observation No predictions
No control over conditions affecting environment
Accuracy cannot be determined No access to lab equipment High degree of researcher bias Interpretation may be incorrect as
researcher isn’t aware of the attitudes/thoughts of subject (be it animal or human)
Cause-effect relations cannot be determined
Surveys /Case Studies/Questionnaire/I
nterviews
Rich, descriptive information obtained Hypothesis is controlled by researcher
in a case study Questions asked are controlled by
researcher Study rare phenomena in depth Multiple-choices provided in surveys
and questionnaires and face-to-face/verbal communication in interviews give a wider range of information
Information can be drawn from a wider range of people in surveys, questionnaires and interviews
Case studies give information on a particular phenomenon or subject only
Interviewer bias and social desirability bias can distort the answers of the subject in surveys/interviews/questionnaires
Information can be generalised in surveys/interviews/questionnaires so giving unreliable information
Correlational Studies
Establishes how well findings from experiments relate to more natural settings
Can examine issues that cannot be studied ethically/practically in experiments
More applicable to everyday life More information can be gathered as it
is held in an external environment than a lab
Cannot provide a conclusive reason as to why a relationship exists
Variables affecting the hypothesis cannot be determined
Conclusions should be assumed as it allows predictions
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