5 Reasearch Methods

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5 Reasearch Methods

Naturalistic Observation: The naturalistic observation is a type of study classified under the broader catagory of field studies; nonexperimental approaches used in the field or in real-life settings.

Disadvantages: First and foremost this is a descriptive method, not an explanatory one. That is, without the controlled conditions of the laboratory, conclusions about cause-and-effect relationships cannot be drawn. Behavior can only be described, not explained.

Advantages: The major strength of this method is that it allows researchers to observe behavior in the setting in which it normally occurs rather than the artificial and limited setting of the laboratory. Further uses might include studying nature for its own sake or using nature to validate some laboratory finding or theoretical concept.

Case Study: This method is also a nonexperimental, descriptive type of study. It involves an in-depth descriptive record, kept by an outside observer, of an individual or group of individuals.

Disadvantages: First and foremost this is a descriptive method, not an explanatory one. That is, without the controlled conditions of the laboratory, conclusions about cause-and-effect relationships cannot be drawn. Behavior can only be described, not explained.

Advantages: Case studies are particularly useful when researchers want to get a detailed contextual view of an individual's life or of a particular phenomena. In the social sciences they are often used to help understand the social and familial factors that might be part of the development of some form of deviant behavior in an individual.

Experimental: This method is one in which a researcher manipulates a variable (anything that can vary) under highly controlled conditions to see if this produces (causes) any changes in a second variable.

Disadvantages:However, a major limitation is that this method can only be used when it is practical and ethical for the researcher to manipulate the antecedent conditions.

Advantages: All scientific disciplines use this method because they are interested in understanding the laws (cause-and-effect relationships) of nature. The power of the experimental method derives from the fact that it allows researchers to detect cause-and-effect relationships.

Survey: The survey, another type of non experimental, descriptive study, does not involve direct observation by a researcher.

Disadvantages: The major limitation of the survey method is that it relies on a self-report method of data collection. Intentional deception, poor memory, or misunderstanding of the question can all contribute to inaccuracies in the data.

Advantages: Surveys are particularly useful when researchers are interested in collecting data on aspects of behavior that are difficult to observe directly (such as thoughts about suicide) and when it is desirable to sample a large number of subjects.

By: Youssef Bazan Mirette

Correlation: Correlation is classified as a nonexperimental, descriptive method. The reason for that is because variables are not directly manipulated as they are in the experimental method.

Disadvantages: The greatest limitation of correlation, one that is often forgotten, is that it does not tell researchers whether or not the relationship is causal. In other words, correlation does not, cannot, prove causation.

Advantages: The strength of this method lies in the fact that it can be used to determine if there is a relationship between two variables without having to directly manipulate those variables.