PSYC-212 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Serial Killer
15 Jun 2018
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Chapter 5: Qualitative Research
•!What is the nature of a serial killer’s thought patterns?
o!Look for relevant research/background research: What are common background
characteristics of serial killers?
o!How do researchers elicit info from serial killers?
o!What psychological and situational factors influence serial killer killers’ behaviour?
•!What do you mean by _____?
o!Serial killer: unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender in separate
events
o!Thought patterns: involves serial killers’ fantasies related to the murders
o!Killers’ explanations of their motives, thoughts regarding victim selection,
reflection on murder acts or thoughts seeking to justify their actions
•!Qualitative research: researchers focus on gaining in depth information on a few people
with the goal of developing a more thorough understanding of their perspectives and life
experiences
o!Flexible enough to work in a variety of setting and can be done in a lab
o!Typically favors studying participants in naturally occurring settings in the field
o!Qualitative researcher believes we gain more understanding from the participant’s
explanation than from a number
o!Tend not to use stats to test hypothesis but will use numbers to help describe a
phenomenon (how frequently a person feels happy)
o!Does not try to make predictions or establish cause and effect.
•!Quantitative research: using less detailed information collected from more people.
o!Use statistics and numbers to summarize how large groups of people think or
behave with the goal of extending those conclusions to others
o!Determine how variable relate, predict outcomes or make comparisons
o!Better if we asked ‘what causes serial killers’ behaviour?
•!Mixed methods research: blend of qualitative and quantitative methods that capitalizes on
the strengths of each to examine a research question from multiple perspectives
= Qualitative research is ideal approach to answering this research question regarding serial
killers
