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Psychology > 6. Research Methods (Experiments) > Flashcards

6. Research Methods (Experiments) Flashcards

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1
Q

What is an aim?

A

The general statement of what a researcher intends to investigate, the purpose of the study

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2
Q

What is a hypothesis?

A

A clear, precise, testable statement which states the relationship between the variables to be investigated

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3
Q

What is operationalisation?

A

Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured

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4
Q

What are extraneous variables?

A

Any variable, other than the independent variable that may effect the dependent variable if not controlled

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5
Q

What are confounding variables?

A

A variable that varies systematically with independent variable

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6
Q

What are demand characteristics?

A

Any clue from the researcher/research situation that may be interpreted by participants, revealing purpose of investigation

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7
Q

What are investigator effects?

A

Any effect of the investigators behaviour (conscious or unconscious) on the research outcome

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8
Q

What is standardisation?

A

Using exactly the same formalised procedures and instructions for all participants in a research study

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9
Q

What are the 2 types of hypothesis?

A
  • Directional: States the direction of the difference or relationship
  • Non-directional: Does not state the direction of the difference or relationship
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10
Q

What is an experimental method?

A

Involves the manipulation of the IV to measure the effects on the DV

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11
Q

What is randomisation?

A

The use of chance methods to control the effects of bias when designing materials and deciding the order of experimental conditions

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12
Q

What are the 3 experimental designs?

A

1. Independent groups: participants allocated to different groups where each group represents one experimental condition
2. Repeated measures: all participants take part in all conditions of experiment
3. Matched pairs: participants in different conditions are paired together on variables relevant to the experiment

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13
Q

What is counterbalancing?

A

An attempt to control the effects of order in a repeated measures design

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14
Q

AO3 for independent groups

A

1. Less influence from order effects
2. Participant variables: variables differ between different groups, change in DV may be due to participants rather than effect of IV (confounding)
3. Less economical: twice as many participants needed to produce equivalent data to repeated measures, increased time/money on recruitment

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15
Q

AO3 for repeated measures

A

1. Order effects: repeating two tasks could create boredom/fatigue, deterioration in performance in second task HOWEVER performance may improve due to effects of practice, better performance on second task (confounding)
2. Demand characteristics: participants figure out aim of study when experiencing conditions

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16
Q

AO3 for matched pairs

A

1. Less influence from demand characteristics and order effects
2. Less economical: matching may be time-consuming and expensive

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17
Q

What are the 4 types of experiment?

A
  1. Laboratory experiment
  2. Field experiment
  3. Natural experiement
  4. Quasi-experiement
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18
Q

Describe a laboratory experiment

A

An experiment that occurs in a controlled environment within which the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV

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19
Q

Describe a field experiment

A

An experiment that takes place in a natural setting within the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV

20
Q

Describe a natural experiment

A

An experiment which the change in IV is not brought about by the researcher but would have happened even if the researcher was not present

21
Q

Describe a quasi-experiment

A

A study where the IV has not been determined by anyone, the variables simply exist e.g age

22
Q

AO3 for laboratory experiment

A

- Highly controlled: lab experiments have high control over confounding and extraneous variables, certainty that effect on DV is a result of IV manipulation
- Easily replicable: result of high control, allows to check validity of results to ensure it is not one-off

- Lack generalisability: environment is artificial, does not reflect everyday life, low external validity

23
Q

AO3 for natural experiment

A

- Opportunities for research: insight into areas not undertaken due to practical/ethical reasons
- High external validity

- Naturally occurring events are rare (low generalisability)
- Participants not randomly allocated (uncertain whether IV affected DV, may be due to differences)

24
Q

AO3 for field experiment

A

- High mundane realism: more natural environment, produce valid and authentic behaviour as participants unaware they are being studied

- Loss of control over variables (confounding and extraneous): DV more difficult to establish, precise replication not possible
- Ethical issues: participants unaware they are being studied, cannot consent, lack of privacy

25
Q

AO3 for quasi-experiment

A
  • Controlled conditions (replication, objectivity)
  • Confounding variables (cannot randomly allocate participants)
  • Cannot claim IV has caused change (IV is not manipulated by experimenter)
26
Q

How do confounding variables affect the findings of a study?

A

Difficult to tell if change in dependent variable is due to IV or confounding variable

27
Q

What is the difference between population and sample?

A
  • Population: A large group of people who are the focus of the researchers interest
  • Sample: A smaller group of people drawn from the target population
28
Q

What is bias in reference to sampling?

A

When certain groups are over or under represented within a chosen sample

29
Q

What are the 5 sampling techniques?

A
  • Random
  • Stratified
  • Systematic
  • Opportunity
  • Volunteer
30
Q

What is random sampling + a strength and limitation?

A
  • When all members of the target population have an equal chance of being selected
  • Strength: unbiased
  • Limitation: difficult/time-consuming to conduct
31
Q

What is stratified sampling + a strength and limitation?

A
  • When the composition of the sample reflects the proportion of people in certain sub-groups within the target/wider population
  • Strength: representative sample (generalisability)
  • Limitation: complete representation impossible (cannot reflect all ways people are different)
32
Q

What is systematic sampling + a strength and limitation?

A
  • When every nth member of a target population is selected
  • Strength: objective (researcher has no influence over sample)
  • Limitation: time-consuming
33
Q

What is opportunity sampling + a strength and limitation?

A
  • When researchers decide to select anyone who is willing and available
  • Strength: convenient (cheap, less time consuming)
  • Limitation: bias (unrepresentative of target population, researcher has complete control)
34
Q

What is volunteer sampling + a strength and limitation?

A
  • When participants select themselves to be part of the sample
  • Strength: Less time-consuming
  • Limitation: volunteer bias (may attract certain volunteers who are curious/wants to please researcher)
35
Q

What are ethical issues?

A

A conflict between the rights of participants and the goals of a researcher to produce valid/authentic data

36
Q

What are the 4 main ethical issues?

A

- Informed consent (making participants aware of the aims, procedure and their rights so they can make an informed judgement)
- Deception (deliberately misleading/withholding information at any stage)
- Protection from harm (protection from physical and psychological harm)
- Privacy/confidentiality (participants have the right to control their personal information)

37
Q

How can the issue of informed consent be dealt with in an investigation?

A
  • Participants required to sign a consent letter detailing all relevant information which may affect their decision to partake
38
Q

How can the issue of protection from harm + deception be dealt with in an investigation?

A
  • Participants given a full debrief (awareness of true aims/details)
  • Right to withdraw/withhold data
  • Counselling
39
Q

How can the issue of privacy/confidentiality be dealt with in an investigation?

A
  • Anonymity
40
Q

What is a pilot study?

A

A small-scale version of an investigation that takes place before the real investigation is conducted

41
Q

What are 2 aims of pilot studies?

A
  • Allows the researcher to check that procedures, materials, measuring scales are working
  • Allows the researcher to make necessary changes/modifications
42
Q

What are single-blind procedures?

A

When certain data e.g aims/conditions of the experiment are withheld from participants at the beginning of the study

43
Q

What are double-blind procedures?

A

When neither the participants nor the researcher who conducts the study is aware of the investigations aims

44
Q

How are stratified samples allocated?

A
  • Researcher identifies different strata that make up population
  • Proportions needed for representative sample are calculated
  • Participants that make up each stratum selected using random sampling
45
Q

What is a sampling frame?

A

A list which the people in a target population are sorted into (used for systematic sampling)

Psychology (29 decks)

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