Scientific Techniques

Description

manipulating a variable (independent)

highly controlled conditions

See results of dependent variables affected by the independent.

Strengths

detects cause-and-effect relationships

used practically & ethically

to manipulate the variables

Limitations

can only be used when it is practical and ethical

highly controlled setting, unlike artifical setting of less controlled complex world

Example

confining some birds with some seeds

control group: free birds in natural enviornment

result: confined birds lose half brain cells compared to environment birds

Description

Relationship between two or more of behaviors.

Statistical tool

Non experimental

Descriptive

Strengths

used when unethical or impractical

Used as prediction

Limitations

Often forgotten

Doesnt prove causation

Example

Predators number increases, preys increase because of postivie correlation.

Description

nonexperimental approach used in real life

carefully observe

records behavior or phenomenon

Strengths

observe normal settings

Uses Nature as a Lab

Limitations

describes but doesnt explain

Time consuming

Hard not to disrupt the behaviour

Difficult to code results.

Example

Observing wild birds copertivly hunting

dive at the fox from behind

adult would then attack from the other direction

Kills finally after four repetions and kills the prey

Description

Not experimental

Descriptive

Depends on recorded observations

Indepth study of

Indivdual (Social Science)

Physical Phenomenon(Natural Science)

Strengths

Getting Contextual View

Individuals

Natural Phenomenon

Limitations

No cause effect Relationshop

No ideas of general group

Faulty data

recorded by different people

Data loss from previous records

Example

studying a historical character from historical documents

Description

Non-experimental descriptive approach

Inferences about behaviour

data collected via interviews or questionnare

Strengths

Used in social and natural sciences

asses attitudes and opinions on a variety of subjects

Collect data on aspects of behaviour difficult to observe directly

ex. Suicidal thought

Limitations

Relies on self report method of data collection

inaccuracy of the data

Intentional Deception

Poor memory

Misunderstanding of the Question

Cannot offer any insights, into cause and effect relationships

Example

Sample of 800 americans were phoned to respond to a questionnare