Research Method

Definition: one in which a researcher manipulates a variable under highly controlled conditions

Strength: shows cause and effect relationships

Limitation: used only when it is ethical and practical- must be done in laboratory which may not reflect what happens in real world

Example:medical Drug trial

Definition: a type of study classified under the broader category of field studies

Strength: allow researcher to observe behaviour

limitation: there are many- descriptive method, great amount of time

Example: the study of parent- child observation

Defintion: involves an indepth descriptive record kept by an outside observer

Strength: detailed view of individual life or a phenomena

limitation: not an explantory method- used on a single individual

example:•A case study of Hewlett-Packard, SC Johnson and Unilever and their strides towards eco efficiency.

Definition: non experimental, descriptive method and not directly manipulated as they are in experimnetal method

Strength: can be used to determine relationship between two varibles without maniuplating them

doesn't tell the reshearcher whether or not the relationship is causal- often forgotten

Example: the relationship between income and education

Example: customer satisfaction surveys

non experimental, descriptive study that doesn't involve direct observation by a researcher

Strength: easy to collect data of aspects that are difficult to observe directly

Limitation: relies on self report method of data collection- can not offer insight into cause and effect relationship