Research Methods

Research Methods

Tonya Richardson

BEH/225

December 7, 2012

Pamela Applewhite

Research Methods

Research Method

Advantages

Disadvantages

Naturalistic Observation

You would be able to observe the participant`s behavior in a normal setting; which would give more insight to their normal behavior.

The participant may alter their behavior when they know they are being observed by others.

Case Studies

A case study would let you compare all person`s behavior on a certain subject or things and see where they may differ or are the same.

The person doing the case study could have a pre-existing opinion on the subject or think being studied and have a biased opinion one way or another and could cause false results in their hypotheses.

Surveys

A survey is a quick and inexpensive way to get vast amounts of date quickly.

Person`s may not answer the questions honestly or the questions could be misleading if poorly constructed, or person is unwilling to participate.

Correlational Research

Correlational research may clarify relationships between two variables and lets you predict their behavior.

This method does not permit researchers to draw conclusions between cause and effect relationships.

Experimental Research

Gives you the opportunity to control variables and to draw conclusions about cause-and-effect relationships.

A person may alter their behavior in the controlled environment and give false results, because they are uncomfortable in the environment.

This would be my recommendation to the psychologist for a case study being conducted on pathological liars and their romantic relationships:

I would suggest that a combination of studies be used to come to a conclusion, based on the behavior of pathological liars and their companions, because this is based on the assumption that one certain area of study would not present an accurate or correct data; based on the criteria of the information being...