Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

What is an aim?

A

A general statement made by the researcher which tells us the purpose of their study and what they plan to investigate.

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2
Q

What is a hypothesis?

A

A statement that states the relationship between the variables being investigated. A non directional / 1 tailed hypothesis states the direction of the relationship between variables, whereas a non-directional / 2 tailed hypothesis does not.

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3
Q

What is operationalisation?

A

It refers to the researcher clearly defining variables in terms of being measurable.

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4
Q

What is an extraneous variable?

A

Any variable apart from the IV or DV which may indirectly impact the findings.

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5
Q

What is a confounding variable?

A

An unmeasured third variable that influences, or “confounds,” the relationship between an independent and a dependent variable by suggesting the presence of a statistical but not causal correlation.

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6
Q

What are investigator effects?

A

The unwanted effects of the researcher’s behaviour on the DV.

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7
Q

What is a lab experiment?

A

Directly and deliberately manipulating the IV and observing its effects on the DV, takes place in a highly controlled environment + minimises any extraneous variables.

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8
Q

What is a field experiment?

A

Still changes the IV and observes its impacts on the DV, but it takes place in a natural/real life setting.

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9
Q

What is a quasi experiment?

A

The IV isn’t determined by the researcher and they try to determine a cause and effect link between 2 variables (IV + DV). (PPS cannot be randomly assigned)

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10
Q

What is a natural experiment?

A

The experimenter takes advantage of a naturally occurring IV. e.g. measuring heart rate before + after an exam. (PPS can be randomly assigned)

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11
Q

What is an opportunity sample?

A

Uses PPS who happen to be available at the time of the study (recruited out of convenience).

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12
Q

What is a volunteer sample?

A

Individual self select to partake in the study e.g. an ad in the newspaper.

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13
Q

What is a stratified sample?

A

The sample proportionately reflects subgroups of people e.g. men and women, and is far more representative.

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14
Q

What is a random sample?

A

All members of a population have the same chances to selected to be in the sample. Each person id given a random number which is then picked by a random number generator.

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15
Q

What is an independent groups design?

A

PPS only take part in 1 condition.

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16
Q

What is a matched pairs design?

A

PPS are matched bases on their similar characteristics, then each person does one condition.

17
Q

What is a repeated measures design?

A

PPS do both conditions (uses counter-balancing to minimise any potential order effects).

18
Q

Why use a pilot study?

A
  • Save money and time
  • Identifies any problems or needed improvements for the
    methodology
19
Q

Covert vs Overt observation:

A

Overt = PPS know they are being watched
Covert = PPS are unaware they are being watched

20
Q

Participant vs Non Participant observation:

A

Participant = the researcher takes part in the study e.g. Zimbardo where he was the prison warden
Non Participant = the researcher observes from a distance as to not disturb PPS

21
Q

What is time sampling?

A

Observing/recording behaviour in a pre-established time-frame.

22
Q

What is event sampling?

A

Recording the number of times a particular behaviour is performed during the observation

23
Q

Calculations for measures of central tendency:

A

Mean = add up, divide by how many there are
Median = arrange data from lowest to highest then find the central value
Mode = the most frequently occurring value

24
Q

Calculations for measures of dispersion:

A

Range = subtract the lowest from the highest
Standard Deviation = no need to calculate but a low SD means the data is close together so there isn’t a wide spread of data

25
Q

Normal vs Skewed distributions:

A

Normal = symmetrical and forms an even bell curve
Skewed = the frequency of data in uneven and is therefore clustered to one end

26
Q

Positive vs Negative skews:

A

Positive = data is concentrated to the right
Negative = data is concentrated to the left

27
Q

How do we conduct content analysis?

A

1) Hypothesis
2) Coding units (what you are tallying)
3) Gather resources
4) Tally the coding units in a table
5) Analyse the data
6) Write a scientific report

28
Q

What is thematic analysis?

A

Thematic analysis is the method used to analyse and produce qualitative data. The process involves reading a qualitative dataset form, such as a transcript. The researcher then identifies critical themes (coding units) that are evident in the data.

29
Q

How do we calculate the sign test?

A

1) State the hypothesis
2) Compare the 2 sets of data. If the value has decreased in the second condition it is negative (-), and if there is no difference the value is discounted from the data
3) Count the number of times the less frequent sign occurs
4) if it is significant, reject null and accept alternative hypothesis

30
Q

Why use 0.05 probability?

A

It means there is a 5% probability of your findings being significant due to chance. The only real reason is because 0.01 is saying there is a 1% probability (too low) and 0.1 is saying there is a 10% probability (too high).

31
Q

Type 1 vs type 2 error:

A

Type 1 = wrongly accept the alternative hypothesis
Type 2 = wrongly accept the null hypothesis

32
Q

Name the features of science used in psychology:

A

Empirical method: based on gathering evidence through direct observation. Experimental and observational methods are good examples of the empirical method

Objectivity: unbiased e.g. the use of inter rater reliability

Falsifiability: if a theory has the possibility to be proven wrong

Replicability: Getting the same results again and again. A study can be considered to be replicable, if a standardised procedure is used

Paradigm: regarded as ‘a way of doing things’ and assumptions of a subject, this is also how the subject should be studied. There is no singular paradigm because there are different approaches to studying human behaviour. The assumptions of each approach, is the paradigm for that approach.

Theory construction: occurs through gathering evidence from direct observation. The findings from studies lead to the generation of theories.

Hypothesis testing: Testing the validity of a theory. One theory should lead the generation of a number of hypotheses which can be tested.If the results of a study supports a theory, this strengthens the theory