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A-Level Psychology (VC) > 4.2.3. - Research Methods > Flashcards

4.2.3. - Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

Define lab experiment?

A

Experiment taking place in controlled environment, within which researcher manipulates IV and records effects on DV

Participants go to researcher

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2
Q

Name 2 benefits of lab experiments

A
  • EVs and CVs can be controlled (high internal validity)

- Repeatable (standardised) (enhances validity)

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3
Q

Name 2 problems with lab experiments

A
  • May lack generalisability (low external validity due to low mundane realism)
  • Demand characteristics (less natural, more cues)
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4
Q

Define generalisation?

A

Extent to which findings can be broadly applied to population

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5
Q

Define mundane realism?

A

Extent to which experiment mirrors the real world

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6
Q

Define field experiment?

A

Experiment that takes place in natural, everyday setting, within which researcher manipulated IV to measure DV

Researcher goes to participants

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7
Q

Name 2 benefits of field experiment?

A
  • Natural environment means high external validity (higher mundane realism)
  • Less demand characteristics (unaware of being studied)
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8
Q

Name 2 problems with field experiments?

A
  • Harder to control EVs and CVs (lower internal validity)

- Ethical issue of no informed consent if not aware of study

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9
Q

Define natural experiment?

A

Experiment where the IV has been manipulated but not by the researcher and the DV is naturally occurring or measured

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10
Q

Name 2 benefits of natural experiment?

A
  • May be only ethical option for that research (would be unethical to manipulate IV in that way)
  • High external validity (real life issues)
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11
Q

Name 2 problems with natural experiments?

A
  • Situation may arise rarely (can limit comparisons to similar experiments, therefore lack generalisability)
  • Participants not randomly allocated (can have differences in groups)
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12
Q

Define quasi experiment?

A

Study (not technically experiment) where IV ‘exists’ and is not manipulated by anyone, DV may be naturally occurring or measured

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13
Q

Why is a quasi experiment not technically an experiment?

A

No manipulation of IV

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14
Q

Name 3 benefits of quasi experiments?

A

(Share with lab experiments because often under controlled conditions)

  • EVs and CVs controlled (high internal validity)
  • Repeatable
  • Comparisons can be made between different typed of people
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15
Q

Name 2 problems with quasi experiments?

A
  • Participants not randomly allocated (can be differences in groups)
  • Causal relationships not demonstrated (no IV manipulation so no certainty IV is reason for DV change)
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16
Q

Define general population?

A

Everyone in an area

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17
Q

Define population/ target population?

A

Group of people who are the focus of the researcher’s interest

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18
Q

Define sample?

A

Smaller group of people drawn from target population for the investigation.
Thought to be representative of target population.

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19
Q

Define bias (in context of sampling)?

A

When certain groups are under/ over represented in sample

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20
Q

Name the 5 sampling techniques?

A
  • Random sample
  • Systematic sample
  • Stratified sample
  • Opportunity sample
  • Volunteer sample
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21
Q

Define random sample?

A

All members of a target population have equal chance of being selected

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22
Q

How is a random sample made?

A

1) Complete named list of target population

2) Use lottery method to randomly draw members of population

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23
Q

Name a benefit of random sample?

A

No researcher bias

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24
Q

Name a problem with random sample?

A

Not guaranteed to be representative (hard to generalise)

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25
Q

Define systematic sample?

A

Participants selected using set ‘pattern’

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26
Q

How is systematic sample made?

A

1) Sampling frame produced (organised list of target population)
2) Every nth person selected

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27
Q

Benefit of systematic sample?

A

Fairly representative and unbiased

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28
Q

Problem with systematic sample?

A

Takes time and effort (using complete target population list)

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29
Q

Define stratified sample?

A

Composition of sample reflects proportion of people in certain subgroups (strata) within general population

30
Q

How is stratified sample made?

A

1) Appropriate strata (sub groups) identified

2) Proportions of people in strata in population must match proportion in strata in sample

31
Q

Benefit of stratified sample?

A

Representative sample (generalisation possible)

32
Q

Problem with stratified sample?

A

Stratification is not perfectly representative - doesn’t show all ways people are different

33
Q

Define opportunity sample?

A

Participants are the people most available (e.g. easiest to obtain)

34
Q

How is opportunity sample made?

A

Researcher goes to location and asks people nearby to participate

35
Q

Benefit of opportunity sample?

A

Cheap, quick method

36
Q

Problem with opportunity sample?

A

Unrepresentative of whole target population (only certain area) so hard to generalise

37
Q

Define volunteer sample?

A

Self-selection by participants

38
Q

How is volunteer sample made?

A

Ads

39
Q

Benefit of volunteer sample?

A

Participants are willing with minimal researcher input (so are more likely to engage)

40
Q

Problem with volunteer sample?

A

Unrepresentative as can attract people with certain traits (E.g. curious) so hard to generalise

41
Q

Define ethical issues?

A

Issues that arise due to the conflict between the rights of participants in studies and the goals of the research to produce valid, authentic data

42
Q

What is the BPS code of ethics?

A

Quasi-legal document instructing researchers in the UK about what is acceptable when dealing with participants

43
Q

What is the goal of the BPS code of ethics?

A

To protect participants based on principles:

1) Respect
2) Competence
3) Responsibility
4) Integrity

44
Q

How are ethics assessed?

A

Ethics committees weigh up costs and benefits before approving research

45
Q

What are the 4 main ethical issues?

A

1) Informed consent
2) Deception
3) Protection from harm
4) Privacy and confidentiality

46
Q

Define informed consent?

A

Participants should be made aware of: aim, procedures, right to withdraw and right to control data use so they can make an informed judgement on whether to take part

47
Q

Why is informed consent criticised by researchers?

A

Demand characteristics can cause unnatural behaviour

48
Q

How is informed consent dealt with?

A
  • Consent form
  • Alternative form of consent:
    1) Presumptive - ask similar group
    2) Prior general - consent to many studies including one with deception
    3) Retrospective - consent after study
49
Q

Define deception?

A

Deliberately misleading or withholding info so consent is not informed

50
Q

How is deception dealt with?

A

Debrief after research ( told aim and anything withheld, including what their data will be used for and their right to withhold it)

51
Q

Define protection from harm?

A

Participants should be at no more risk to physical/ psychological harm than in their daily lives

52
Q

How is protection from harm dealt with?

A
  • Right to withdraw
  • Reassured behaviour is normal in debrief
  • Counselling offer
53
Q

Define privacy?

A

Participant’s right to control info about themselves

54
Q

Define confidentiality?

A

Participant’s right to have any personal data they expose protected by the researcher under the ‘Data Protection Act’

55
Q

How are privacy and confidentiality dealt with?

A
  • Reminded of right to withhold data

- Anonymity in data recorded

56
Q

Define pilot study?

A

Small-scale version does an investigation that takes place before the real investigation is conducted

57
Q

How is a pilot study different to a regular study?

A

Uses less participants

58
Q

What are the aims of a pilot study?

A

Check procedures and materials work so that researchers have time to identify and modify any design faults before large scale research is completed.

59
Q

Name 2 benefits of pilot study?

A
  • Removes research faults

- Saves money and time

60
Q

When would you use pilot studies?

A
  • Experiments
  • Self reports (e.g. questionnaire questions checked)
  • Observational studies (e.g. observers can be trained)
61
Q

Define single-blind trial?

A

Participants not told the aim of the research

62
Q

Benefit of single-blind trial?

A

Reduces demand characteristics

63
Q

Problem with single-blind and double-blind trials?

A

Ethical issue of deceiving participants and not getting informed consent

64
Q

Define double-blind trial?

A

Participant and investigator not told aim of research

65
Q

Benefit of double-blind trial?

A

Reduces demand characteristics and investigator effects

66
Q

Give example of when double-blind procedures are used?

A

Drug trials

Neither participant nor investigator knows if it is drug or placebo

67
Q

Give example of single-blind measure procedure?

A

Most experiments (e.g. observing effects of fizzy drink/ water on sport performance)

68
Q

Define experimental condition?

A

Group containing the manipulation of the independent variable

69
Q

Define control condition?

A

Group not containing the manipulation of the independent variable

70
Q

Why is control group/ condition used?

A

Acts as a baseline for comparison to confirm change in DV is due to IV manipulation

A-Level Psychology (VC) (4 decks)

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