RESEARCH METHODS IN THE COGNITIVE APPROACH

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
An in depth study of a particular phenomenon. It goes beyond that which can be measured
and focuses on human experience, interpretations and meanings

INTERVIEWS OBSERVATIONS CASE STUDIES

Can be structured, semi or
un-structured
Focus group involves a group
of participants discussing
the topic
A researcher observes a
group of people and
investigates how people
interact and interpret each
others behaviour
An in-depths study of an
individual or group
It involves an combination of
the other qualitative
research methods

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
Quantitative research deals with variables, which is any characteristic that can
be registered and quantified. It is important to note that since many things in
psychology are internal characteristics, they need to be operationalised,
expressing it in terms of external behaviour.

EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES
Deals with independent, dependent and controlled variables

LAB QUASI FIELD NATURAL

EXPERIMENT EXPERIMENT EXPERIMENT EXPERIMENT

In a controlled In a real life

Groups are In a real life
setting, and the setting, but the
made based on setting, and the
DESCRIPTION researcher has researcher
a pre- existing IV occurs
full control of manipulates the
difference naturally
the IV IV

Easier to Ecological Ecological Ecological

STRENGHTS
replicate Validity Validity Validity

Researcher
Difficult to Difficult to Difficult to
LIMITATIONS cannot
control control control
manipulate IV

CORRELATIONAL STUDIES
The researcher does not manipulate any variables, Variables are measured and the
relationship between them is quantified and no cause and effect inferences can be made

COGNITIVE PROCESSING RELIABILITY OF COGNITION EMOTION AND COGNITION

laboratory experiments
the easiest way to establish
cause and effect
ecological validity is not
that important.
Interviews
specific phenomenon
Eg Carrere and Gottman
For the reliability of
cognitive processes, again
most are lab experiments,
but this time there was also
a field experiment, since
flashbulb memory was
observed.
Eg Yuille and Cutshall
Most of the studies are about
flashbulb memory and since it
is unethical to put participants
into a situation where
flashbulb memory will be
activated, natural and field
experiments come in handy
Eg Brown and Kulik