Psychology Task 2: Evaluating Experimental and Case Study Methods

This essay provides an analysis of experimental and case study methods in psychology, using the Little Albert experiment and the case study of Genie as examples. It defines key concepts such as independent and dependent variables, hypothesis, reliability, and validity within the context of experimental methods. The essay discusses the advantages and disadvantages of both experimental and case study methods, highlighting the strengths of experimental methods in determining cause-and-effect relationships and the benefits of case studies in stimulating new research and developing theories. It also addresses the limitations of each approach, including the artificiality of experimental settings and the limited generalizability of case study findings. The essay concludes with references to support its analysis.

Introduction to
Psychology
Task 2

Experimental method (Little Albert)
 Independent variable: All those variables which are purposefully changes in
an experimental are known as independent variables.
 Dependent variables: All those variables those being affected by the
independent variables are known as dependent variable for whole experiment.
 Hypothesis: In experimental methods hypothesis can be defined an
assumption that require appropriate testing at the time of experiment and
research study. In these hypothesis certain variables relate to each other.
 Reliability: Reliability can be defined as repeatability of final results or finding.
It can be analyzed by comparing the final results of repeated experiments.
Same results show high reliability of findings of experiment.
 Validity: It can be defined as credibility and reliability of the research. It helps in
determining that weather final findings of the experiment are genuine or not.

Experimental method in the case of
Little Albert
 Independent variables: White rat and Loud noise
 Dependent variables: Fear
 Hypothesis: Fearful response of children to loud noises is an innate
unconditioned response.
 Reliability: experiment has reliable result because when Watson repeat
his experiment he got same result.
 Validity: but, it is not valid for all individuals.

Advantages and disadvantages of
experimental methods
 Advantages: Experimental methods are beneficial for
 Determining cause and effect relationship among different variables.
 Maintaining precise control of variables.
 Providing accurate conclusion and accurate results.
 Findings same results in case of repeated experiments.
 Disadvantages: Experimental methods are not beneficial because
 These methods are based on artificial situations not on real circumstances.
 Narrow range
 Researcher can not manipulate the independent variable so sometimes authors can failure to
do experiments.
 High probability of human error.

Case Study Method (Genie)
 Main features of a case study:
 Descriptive study
 Narrowly focused
 Objectivity and subjectivity of data
 Process oriented

Advantages and disadvantages of
case study methods
 Advantages:
 Case study help in stimulating new research.
 It helps in developing new theories on the basis of genie’s behavior.
 It provides assistance in getting new insights about the psychological
behavior of Genie.
 It increases opportunities to understand real world problems.
 Disadvantages:
 Case study methods is valid for one person only. So, changes in the
psychology of Genie is valid for him only not for all individuals.
 Serious problems can be understood by case studies.

References
 Cherry, K., 2015. The Little Albert Experiment. [Online]. Available through: <
http://psychology.about.com/od/classicpsychologystudies/a/little-albert-
experiment.htm>. [Accessed on 24th November 2015].
 Case Study Method. 2008. [Online]. Available through: <
http://www.simplypsychology.org/case-study.html >. [Accessed on 24th
November 2015].
 McLeod, S., 2008. Privation and attachments. [Online]. Available through: <
http://www.simplypsychology.org/privation.html>. [Accessed on 24th November
2015].
 Creswell, J. W., 2013. Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed
methods approaches. Sage publications.
 Garner, R. and Scott, G. M., 2013. Doing qualitative research: designs, methods,
and techniques. Pearson Education.

Thank You