Various research techniques offer unique ways to understand and study phenomena. Experimental methods manipulate variables in controlled conditions to determine cause and effect relationships, though practical and ethical limitations may restrict their use.
Example: How do birds remember where they stash their seeds?
Limitations: Only used when practical and ethical for the researcher to manipulate the antecedent conditions. Done in controlled artificial conditions, doesn’t reflect what happens in less controlled conditions
Strenghs: Understanding laws of nature. Detects cause and effect relationships. Determines the variable that caused the change.
Description: Manipulates variables under controlled conditions, and see products.
Naturalistic Observation
Example: Erruption of volcanoes.
Limitations: Behavior is described, not explained. Time consuming.
Strength: Very natural. Non artificial. Laboratories are used with great control over the variables.
Description: It is classified under the category of field studies. Non experimantal. Phenomena are not directly interfered with in any way. Involves observing humans or animals as they go about their activities in real life settings.
Survey
Example: Thoughs about a lecture
Limitations: No insights into cause-and-effect relationships. Relies on a self-report method of data collection. Accuracy is a must to avoid errors.
Strenghs: It's usful in collecting social & humanitarian info about behaviors that are difficult to observe desirable to sample a large number of subjects.
Description: Non Experimental, scientific, doesn't invove direct observation from the researcher. Collects data in forms of interviews & questionnaires
Case Study
Example: Psycho-analysis
Limitations: It involves only a single or few individuals so it is not general. It is subject to problems inherent to memory.
Strenghs: contextual view of an individual’s life or particular phenomena. Suitable when experiments are not possible
Description: In-depth descriptive record by an outside observer. Used in natural and social sciences.
Correlation
Example: The Canadian Lynx and the Snowshoe Hare
Limitations: Does not prove causation. Shows that two variables are related in a systematic way. Only the experimental method can do that.
Strength: Doesn't have to manipulate the variables. Used when it is impractical and/or unethical to manipulate the variables.
Description: Non-experimental. Statistical. Mathematical technique for summarizing data.