3.) Discuss how and why particular research methods are used at the cognitive LOA.
This question may look easy, but there is a huge amount of information to memorize if this turns out to be one of the longer essays in your test. Below is a list of the various research methods, which are then discussed further down:
1.) Experiments
2.) Correlation Studies
3.) Naturalistic Observation
4.) Interviews
5.) Questionaires
6.) Case Studies
7.) Psychobiological research
8.) Computer Simulations
You will also notice that in these descriptions, there are questions mentioned. If you get this question (#3) as a long answer essay, YOU WILL GET GOOD POINTS FOR USING AT LEAST TWO STUDIES AS EXAMPLES FOR EACH TYPE OF RESEARCH METHOD. So, if you see the question number in parentheses by a study under one of these, by all means memorize that study so you can mention it when this question comes up!
1.) Experiments
- Mainly using humans
- They show cause and effect
- Three main types: Lab, quasi, and field
- Lab experiment
+ Clarifies theories
+ Supposed to be artificial
- Quasi-experiments
+ Used when researchers can't randomly assign people to conditions
+ Cross-cultural research and studies comparing genders use this design (groups according to gender/culture)
+ Do not have same control as lab experiments
- Field Experiment
+ Test conditions in natural environment
+ Do not have as much control as a lab experiment, but are more ecologically valid
- Ex. Cross-cultural study on own-race bias (ORB) & eyewitness testimony - (#11)
2.) Correlation Studies
- Shows relationship between two variables
- Used when it is unethical or different to create conditions in a lab
+ Ex. Correlation data was used in addition to the field experiment data in the ORB study on eyewitness testimony.
3.) Naturalistic Observation
- High ecological validity
- Lack of control
+ Ex. Michael Cole's study on the Kpelle in Africa (#7)
4.) Interviews
- Verbal protocols
- Self-reports
- Narrative interview
+ Useful in cross-cultural studies
- Useful for designing culturally valid experiments
- Weaknesses
+ Time consuming
+ Experimenter Bias
+ The process of gathering data might interfere with cognitive processing
5.) Questionaires
- Limitations
+ Reliability of self-report
+ Ex. Cross-cultural validity on flashbulb memories (#10)
6.) Case Studies
- Use information gathered from a wide range of sources, such as interviews and observations
- Rely on psychobiological case studies to examine brain deficits on cognitive processing
- Allow researchers to gather detailed data about individuals that might not otherwise be available
- Limitations
+ Cases are not representative of a larger group
- Ex. emotions and the brain (#12)
7.) Psychobiological Research
- Cognitive processing and biological research studied together
- Provides hard evidence of what happens in the brain during cognitive processing
- Limitations
+ This evidence can't answer questions regarding brain functioning
+ Information gathered from abnormal brains does not provide a full explanation of cognitive processing
- Ex. fMRI study on the interaction of biology and cognition in emotion (#12)
8.) Computer Simulation
- Limitations
+ They say nothing about how cognitions are situated within a cultural context
+ Processes in computer simulations and in studies using artificial intelligence are not necessarily the same process as a human brain uses
1.) Experiments
2.) Correlation Studies
3.) Naturalistic Observation
4.) Interviews
5.) Questionaires
6.) Case Studies
7.) Psychobiological research
8.) Computer Simulations
You will also notice that in these descriptions, there are questions mentioned. If you get this question (#3) as a long answer essay, YOU WILL GET GOOD POINTS FOR USING AT LEAST TWO STUDIES AS EXAMPLES FOR EACH TYPE OF RESEARCH METHOD. So, if you see the question number in parentheses by a study under one of these, by all means memorize that study so you can mention it when this question comes up!
1.) Experiments
- Mainly using humans
- They show cause and effect
- Three main types: Lab, quasi, and field
- Lab experiment
+ Clarifies theories
+ Supposed to be artificial
- Quasi-experiments
+ Used when researchers can't randomly assign people to conditions
+ Cross-cultural research and studies comparing genders use this design (groups according to gender/culture)
+ Do not have same control as lab experiments
- Field Experiment
+ Test conditions in natural environment
+ Do not have as much control as a lab experiment, but are more ecologically valid
- Ex. Cross-cultural study on own-race bias (ORB) & eyewitness testimony - (#11)
2.) Correlation Studies
- Shows relationship between two variables
- Used when it is unethical or different to create conditions in a lab
+ Ex. Correlation data was used in addition to the field experiment data in the ORB study on eyewitness testimony.
3.) Naturalistic Observation
- High ecological validity
- Lack of control
+ Ex. Michael Cole's study on the Kpelle in Africa (#7)
4.) Interviews
- Verbal protocols
- Self-reports
- Narrative interview
+ Useful in cross-cultural studies
- Useful for designing culturally valid experiments
- Weaknesses
+ Time consuming
+ Experimenter Bias
+ The process of gathering data might interfere with cognitive processing
5.) Questionaires
- Limitations
+ Reliability of self-report
+ Ex. Cross-cultural validity on flashbulb memories (#10)
6.) Case Studies
- Use information gathered from a wide range of sources, such as interviews and observations
- Rely on psychobiological case studies to examine brain deficits on cognitive processing
- Allow researchers to gather detailed data about individuals that might not otherwise be available
- Limitations
+ Cases are not representative of a larger group
- Ex. emotions and the brain (#12)
7.) Psychobiological Research
- Cognitive processing and biological research studied together
- Provides hard evidence of what happens in the brain during cognitive processing
- Limitations
+ This evidence can't answer questions regarding brain functioning
+ Information gathered from abnormal brains does not provide a full explanation of cognitive processing
- Ex. fMRI study on the interaction of biology and cognition in emotion (#12)
8.) Computer Simulation
- Limitations
+ They say nothing about how cognitions are situated within a cultural context
+ Processes in computer simulations and in studies using artificial intelligence are not necessarily the same process as a human brain uses