1. Flashcards
What are the three hypotheses and the definitions?
1) Two-tailed test(Non-directional hypothesis)
- simply states that there will be a difference or relationship
2)One-tailed test(Directional hypothesis)
- states the ‘direction’ of the relationship or difference
3) Null hypothesis (no relationship)
Definition of Operationalisation?
This means that the variables must be clearly defined in terms of how they will be measured
Definition of Extraneous variables and examples?
Any additional, unwanted variables that may ultimately have an impact on DV
Examples: time of day, age of participant, gender, temperature in room, etc
Definition of Confounding variables and examples?
A type of extraneous variables which varies systematically with the IV and these can have significant impact on results so it is difficult to draw conclusions.
Examples: IQ, prior knowledge, fitness levels, injury etc
What are demand characteristics?
When you figure out the purpose of the study and participants change their response to either aid or purposefully ruin the research.
What are investigator effects?
Any effects of the investigator’s behaviour (conscious or unconscious) on the research outcome (DV). This includes clues given to the participants making them realise what the research is about or for
What is randomisation?
The use of chance in order to control for the effects of researchers unconscious bias when designing materials and deciding the order of conditions.
What is standardisation?
All participants should be subject to the same environment, information and experience. It includes standarised instructions and keeping the same standard of procedure
What is a ‘true’ experiment?
- random allocation ( less bias)
- must have a control group
- must have manipulation of IV and measurement of DV
Extraneous variables can be subdivided into what two sub-variables?
- Participant variables( any individual differences between participants that may affect the DV)
- Situational variables ( any features of the experimental situation that may affect the DV)
What is a Laboratory Experiment?
It is usually a lab experiment that takes place under controlled conditions, where the researcher manipulates an IV and measures a DV and any extraneous variables are removed and the pps know they are being studied
What is a Field experiment?
An experiment that takes place in a natural setting within which the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV. However the measures are less controlled and pps may not know they are being observed.
What is a Natural Experiment?
A natural experiment takes place in a setting where the change is the IV is not manipulated by the researcher, but occurs naturally. The research can control how much exposure the pps gets to the IV and the pps will know they are being investigated.
What is a Quasi Experimental?
It is when the IV has not been decided by anybody but occurs naturally. The IV exists on its own. A quasi experiment lacks some of the key ingredients of a ‘true experiment’. There is high control over variables like gender, age and height.
Evaluate a Lab experiment
+ high level of control over extraneous & confounding variables
+ high level of internal validity
+ replication possible, which increases reliability
- low levels of ecological & external validity
- generalisibality issues
- demand characteristics
- lower levels of mundane realism
- costly
Evaluate a Field Experiment
+ high mundane realism- valid and authentic behaviour
+ high ecological behaviour
+ less likely to be demand characteristics
- lack of control of variables leading to low internal validity
- precise replication difficult
- ethical issues such as consent and privacy
Evaluate a Natural Experiment
+ opportunists for research
+ high external validity
- cannot be randomly allocated
- lacks internal validity
- time consuming waiting for IV to occur
Evaluate a Quasi Experiment
+ high controlled
+replication
+ internal validity
- no random allocation
- confounding variables
- lower internal validity as IV is not manipulated
What is Internal & External Validity?
The extent to which the researcher has measured what they intended to.
This is the degree to which findings can be generalised to other groups of people, and over time.
What are the three types of External Validity?
POPULATION- how well the results can be applied to all populations
ECOLOGICAL- how well results from a test can be generalised to other environments
TEMPORAL- how well results form a test can be applied across time periods
What is Mundane Realism?
Degree to which the task used to assess behaviour reflects activities that would happen in every day life.
What are the three experimental designs?
Independent groups
Repeated measures
Matched pairs
Explain the concept of Independent groups
- two separate groups of pps experience a different level of the IV
- used when you want to investigate a difference BETWEEN groups
Explain the concept of Repeated measures
- all pps experience BOTH conditions
- used when investigating a difference WITHIN groups
Explain the concept of Matched pairs
- pps are matched on areas related to the study in which they are similar ( IQ, age , ability etc)
- attempts to control confounding and participant variables
Evaluate the INDEPENDENT GROUPS
+ pps less likely to guess the aim
+ order effects less likely
+ less time consuming if conditions can be carried out simultaneously
- reduced validity
- less economical
- twice as many pps required
- confounding variables
Evaluate the REPEATED MEASURES
+ less time consuming to recruit
+ no participant variables
+ internal validity increase
- more likely to guess the aim- demand characteristics (socially desirable thoughts)
- effects may carry on to the second condition
Evaluate the MATCHED PAIRS
+ order effects and demand characteristics less likely as PPS only take part in once condition
+ matching process reduces pps variables
- pps can never be matched directly
- matching is time consuming and expensive
What are the 6 types of OBSERVATION? Evaluate observations.
-naturalistic
-controlled
-covert
-overt
-participant
-non-participant
OBSERVATIONS are good for capturing what people actually do but have observer bias
naturalistic vs controlled observation
NATURALISTIC: when observations are done in a natural ordeal-life settings(hospitals, homes, schools etc.) The observer makes no effort to control or manipulate the situation for making an observation.
CONTROLLED: when you control certain factors that determine behaviour as they are not the focus of your study(laboratory) eg. smoke could only be introduced in a controlled laboratory experiment (Bibb Latane and John Darley conducted a study in 1970)
covert vs overt
COVERT: observations take place without obtaining consent first. PPS are unaware they are being observed.
OVERT: observations take place with consent and pps are aware they are being watched
participant vs non-participant observation
Participant: Researcher is active member of the group being observed
Non-Participant: Researchers try to conceal their presence while making observations and are separate from the group
Evaluate naturalistic vs controlled
NATURALISTIC: + high external validity as findings can be generalised to every day life
- lack of control makes replication difficult
CONTROLLED: + confounding/extraneous variables may be less of a factor so replication of the observation becomes easier
- may produce findings that cannot be readily applied to everyday life
Evaluate covert vs overt
COVERT : + removes demand characteristics
+ increase internal validity
- ethics may be questioned as people
OVERT: + more ethically acceptable
- demand characteristics may have some influence on behaviour
Evaluate participant vs non-participant
PARTICIPANT: + increased insight into people lives
+ increase external validity
- lose objectivity( as researchers can be going native)
NON-PARTICPANT: + researcher maintains objective psychological distance
- may lose valuable insight as theirs distance
What is a unstructured observation and strengths and weaknesses?
- You write down everything you observe
- better when sample size is small and likelihood of producing large amounts of data is less
+ rich in detail - observer bias
- difficult and time consuming to analyse
What is a structured observation and strengths and weaknesses?
- researcher makes behavioural categories and observe and only write down info that fits into those categories
- better when there is too much target behaviour occurring and its difficult to record
+ less susceptible to bias
+ data easier and less time consuming to analyse - lacking in meaningful depth data
What should behavioural categories be?
- distinct
- definable
- measurable
What are the types of sampling methods?
1) time sampling - recording behaviour in predetermined timeframes.
2) event sampling- counting the number of times a specific ‘event’ occurs.
Evaluate both types of sampling methods?
Time: + reduces total number of observations needed
- behaviour may be unrepresentative of general or target population
Event: + good for infrequent behaviour which may be missed when using time sampling
- research may overlook behaviours if categories are complex or confusing