1.2 Planning And Conducting Research Flashcards
What is a research aim?
The purpose of a study. Whatever is the researcher trying to find out.
Give an example of a research question.
Does concentration affect memory?
What is a hypothesis?
A statement of prediction, based on the understanding of the topic, about the outcome of a research on that topic.
What is stated in a null hypothesis?
Give an example.
The null hypothesis states there will be no effect on the DV by the IV.
There will be no significant difference in the [DV] of the participants [IV condition 1] compared to participants [IV condition 2]. Any difference will be due to chance.
- What is stated in an alternative/experimental hypothesis?
2. What types of hypotheses come under this hypothesis? (+ when are they used)
- There will be an effect or a difference.
- Directional (one-tailed) - understand the topic.
Non-directional (two-tailed) - don’t understand the topic enough.
Give an example of a one-tailed hypothesis.
Participants who [IV condition 1] will…………… significantly more/less [DV] than the participants who [IV condition 2].
Give an example of a two-tailed hypothesis.
There will be a significant difference in the [DV] if the participants [IV condition 1] compared to participants [IV condition 2].
What is the method used by researchers to gather their sample?
Sampling.
What is a sample?
A group from the target population that participates in the research.
What is the name of the group scientists are trying to find out more about?
Target population.
What is population validity?
Wether the sample reflects the population.
The more the ______ reflects the __________, the higher the population validity.
Fill in the gaps.
Sample, population.
Define androcentric, gynocentric and ethnocentric.
- Androcentric - when a sample involving mainly men is used to represent all men and women in the target population.
- Gynocentric - when a sample involving mainly women is used to represent all men and women in the target population.
- Ethnocentric - when a sample involving one culture is used to represent all cultures in the target population.
Define gender bias and cultural bias.
- Gender bias - when a sample consists of only 1 type of gender.
- Cultural bias - when a sample consists of only 1 type of culture.
What does it mean to generalise?
The extent to which we can draw conclusions on the target population based on a sample from it.
What takes place in opportunity sampling?
Asking people from the target population if they can participate in the research.
What takes place in self-selected sampling?
Participants offer themselves to take part.
In what sampling method does every member in the target population have an equal chance of being asked to participate in the study?
Random sampling.
What a takes place in snowball sampling?
Members in the target population are recruited by existing participants.
Name the 4 sampling methods.
Opportunity, self-selected, random and snowball.
Give one strength and weakness of opportunity sampling.
- Strength - quick and easy to carry out, making it less time consuming to gather your sample size.
- Weakness - the sample will become inevitably biased using this method since friends, friendly people or people you know are most likely to be asked and most likely to share the same characteristics due to similar personalities.
Give one strength and weakness of random sampling.
- Strength - avoids experimenter bias as all members in the target population have an equal chance of being selected.
- Weakness - time consuming as you are required to gather a list of all the members in the target population.
Give one strength and weakness of self-selected sampling.
- Strength - convenient and ethical as the participants are the ones coming forward, making them less likely to withdraw.
- Weakness - possible sample bias since the participants coming foward are likely to share similar personalities, for example, being more open minded and motivated with a lot of free time.
Give one strength and weakness of snowball sampling.
- Strength - great method to find part of a target population that is difficult to sample since the “rare” participant might know other people like them. Therefore you can achieve a successful sample size.
- Weakness - however, being able to find at least 1 “rare” participant is not guaranteed, and even so, you’d have to be reliant on them to get your sample size which can be very time consuming.