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psychology paper 1 > 1.1 Research methods and techniques > Flashcards

1.1 Research methods and techniques Flashcards

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1
Q

define laboratory experiment

A
  • takes place in an artificial controlled environment
  • the IV is manipulated by the researcher
  • DV is measured
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2
Q

what is a strength of a lab experiment?

A
  • high control over extraneous variables means that there is a high internal validity
  • more scientific because it is easier to repeat due to being carried out in such a controlled setting
  • more able to assume cause and effect relationships
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3
Q

what is a weakness of a lab experiment?

A
  • it is an artificial situation, it has low external validity
  • findings can’t be generalised to real-life situations
  • participant effects such as demand characteristics can occur
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4
Q

define field experiment

A
  • takes place in the real world
  • the IV is manipulated by the researcher
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5
Q

what is a strength of a field experiment?

A
  • high external validity as findings can be generalised to other real life settings
  • less demand characteristics so participants are usually unaware
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6
Q

what is a weakness of a field experiment?

A
  • low internal validity because there is no control over extraneous variables. There is a higher chance that extraneous variables could be affecting the DV not the IV
  • less scientific as its difficult to replicate precisely
  • less able to assume cause and effect
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7
Q

define quasi experiment

A
  • the IV is not manipulated and is usually just pre-existing
  • can take place in a lab, field or natural setting
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8
Q

what is a strength of a quasi experiment?

A
  • allows you to study variables experimentally which are impossible or unethical to manipulate
  • sometimes has greater ecological validity since a natural change occurs in a natural environment
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9
Q

what is a weakness of a quasi experiment?

A
  • hard to infer cause and effect due to little control over extraneous variables and no direct manipulation of the independent variable
  • virtually impossible to replicate
  • bias if participants are aware of what is being studied
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10
Q

what are the types of observation?

A
  • structured
  • unstructured
  • natrualistic
  • controlled
  • participant
  • non-participant
  • overt
  • covert
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11
Q

define structured observation

A
  • a systematic method of collecting behavioural data within a controlled environment
  • this is where you have pre-determined categories of behaviour that you use to observe
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12
Q

what is strength of a structured observation?

A
  • researchers are focused on specific behaviours which reduces expense and time
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13
Q

what is a weakness of a structured observation?

A
  • can be used only in limited research settings
  • there are limits to sample size
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14
Q

define unstructured observation

A

the researcher may want to write down everything that they see

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15
Q

what is a strength of an unstructured observation?

A
  • produces data rich in detail
  • valid since the researcher can be in control of whats being recorded
  • the researcher has a good understanding of the behaviour shown
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16
Q

what is a weakness of an unstructured observation?

A
  • difficult to analyse
  • hard to replicate
  • difficult to record all behaviou, researcher may be overloaded with information
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17
Q

define naturalistic observation

A

a research method in which behaviours seen in the participants normal environments are recorded without interference from the researchers

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18
Q

what is a strength of a naturalistic observation?

A
  • high external validity and mundane realism because you are measuring people as they naturally would in real life situations
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19
Q

what is a weakness of a naturalistic observation?

A
  • has low control and low internal validity
  • you cannot control extraneous variables as you are observing people in their natural environment
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20
Q

define controlled observation

A

carried out in a lab in highly controlled conditions, the researcher will watch and record the behaviour within a structured environment

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21
Q

what is a strength of a controlled observation?

A
  • has high control and high internal validity
  • you can control extraneous variables
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22
Q

what is a weakness of a controlled observation?

A
  • has low ecological validity as the behaviour measured is not in a real life setting
  • demand characteristics are higher
23
Q

define participant observation

A

an observation made by someone who is also participating in the activity or group being observed

24
Q

what is a strength of a participant observation?

A
  • more detailed and in depth observation allowing the researcher a deeper insight into participants behaviour
25
Q

what is a weakness of a participant observation?

A
  • participants may realise the researcher is present which could change the way they act and increase demand characteristics
26
Q

define non-participant observation

A

observation made by someone who is not participating in the activity being observed

27
Q

what is a strength of a non-participant observation?

A

more objective as the researcher is unable to influence them in any way

28
Q

what is a weakness of a non-participant observation?

A
  • participants may not wish to be observed
  • less insight into behaviours being observed
29
Q

define overt observation

A

participants have knowledge of being observed and the researcher is clearly visible

30
Q

what is a strength of an overt observation?

A
  • less concern with ethical issues as participants can give informed consent and know they are being watched
31
Q

what is a weakness of an overt observation?

A
  • participants know they are being watched so this can affect the validity as they may change their behaviour and respond to demand characteristics
32
Q

define covert observation

A

participants do not have knowledge of being observed

33
Q

what is a strength of a covert observation?

A
  • more likely to show natural behaviours as participants are unaware and can’t respond to demand characteristics
34
Q

what is a weakness of a covert observation?

A
  • has low control and low internal validity
  • you cannot control extraneous variables as you are observing people in their natural environment
35
Q

what are the 2 types of self report?

A
  • questionnaire
  • interview
36
Q

what is a strength of a questionnaire?

A
  • participants are more likely to tell the truth
  • good at collecting a lot of data from a lot of people at once
37
Q

what is a weakness of a questionnaire?

A
  • people might not understand the questions so leave it blank
  • sample is biased
38
Q

define unstructured interview

A

usually one starter question and some areas to be covered, but then creates new questions in response to the answers given by the participant

39
Q

what is a strength of an unstructured interview?

A
  • highly personalised to the individual as questions are totally based on participants responses
40
Q

what is a weakness of an unstructured interview?

A
  • low reliability as each participant will have different interviews, the same questions are not asked to each participant
41
Q

define semi-structured interview

A

there are pre-set questions but additional questions can be created by the researcher in response to the participants answers on pre-set questions

42
Q

what is a strength of a semi-structured interview?

A
  • it is personalised to the individual as questions are based on the participants responses
  • the interview is less formal so the participants might be more open
43
Q

what is a weakness of a semi-structured interview?

A
  • low reliability as each participant will have different interviews, the same questions are not asked to each participant
44
Q

define structured interview

A

questions are pre-set and the interviewer must stick strictly to the script

45
Q

what is a strength of a structured interview?

A
  • high reliability as each participant has the same interview questions
46
Q

what is a weakness of a structured interview?

A
  • less personalised to the individual as the questions are all pre-set
  • there is no opportunity for the participant to add anything they think is relevant and some things could be missed
47
Q

define correlation

A

an association that is found between two variables

48
Q

what is a strength of a correlation?

A
  • can use a line of best fit to make assumptions about larger sample sizes
  • you can use smaller samples to make predictions about a larger sample
49
Q

what is a weakness of a correlation?

A
  • cannot infer cause and effect because you cannot be sure that one variable causes the other variable to change
50
Q

how do you obtain data for correlational analysis?

A

there is no iv or dv so the data must be naturally occuring
- questionnaire
- interview

51
Q

what is a positive correlation?

A

both variables go in the same direction at the same time

52
Q

what is a negative correlation?

A

the variables go in different directions

53
Q

what is no correlation?

A

there is no relationship between the two variables

54
Q

what is correlation coefficient?

A

assessing the extent to which co-variables are correlated ( a number )
perfectly positively correlated variables have a correlation coefficient of +1.0
perfectly negatively correlated variables have a correlation coefficient of -1.0

psychology paper 1 (5 decks)

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