University of Phoenix Material
Appendix B
November 2012

Research Methods

List the advantages and disadvantages of the following research methods:

Case Study Advantages Case studies allow a lot of detail information to be collected that would not normally be easily obtained by other research designs. It provides detailed descriptions of precise and rare cases. An in depth data can be collected than can be found through other experimental designs. Case study can be a source of new ideas about a person’s behavior and open new ways of findings (Psy270 textbook).
Case study can support a theory.

Disadvantages

One of the main criticisms is that the data collected cannot necessarily be generalized to the wider population. This leads to data being collected over longitudinal case studies not always being relevant or particularly useful. Case studies are generally on one person, but there also tends to only be one experimenter collecting the data. This can lead to bias in data collection, which can influence results more than in different designs. It is also very difficult to draw a definite cause and effect from case studies.

Correlation Method Advantages
Enables testing of expected relationships between two variables, and making projections, forecasts or predictions. These relationships can be assessed in daily life events. More experimental research can be conducted using new groups of participants to establish cause and effect.

Correlational Method Disadvantages

Cannot be used to draw conclusions about the fundamental relationships between the variables. Cannot establish cause and effects May be costly and will take a long time (time consumption).

Experimental Method Advantages
It enables the drawing of conclusions about the causal relationships among variables.
That is using a scientific method, or uses a technique or therapy on