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a level psycology > (Abby) research methods(CP2) > Flashcards

(Abby) research methods(CP2) Flashcards

1
Q

what are co-variables

A
  • the 2 variables in correlational study’s which have been measured
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2
Q

what is correlational analysis

A
  • describes the relationship between two co-variables in statistical terms
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3
Q

describe a positive correlation

A
  • where high values on one variable are associated with high values of the other variable or low visa versa
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4
Q

describe a negative correlation

A
  • high variables on one variable is associated with low variables of another variable
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5
Q

define a scatter diagram

A
  • a visual representation of (a graph of) a correlational relationship
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6
Q

how is the strength of a scatter diagram determined

A
  • the straightness of the line of dots
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7
Q

how is the direction of a scatter gram determined

A
  • the slope of the line of the dots
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8
Q

what is a correlation co-efficient

A
  • any number between +1 and -1
  • informs us of the strength and direction
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9
Q

what numbers are weak, moderate and strong correlations

A

weak- 0.0- 0.3
moderate- 0.3- 0.7
strong- 0.7 +

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10
Q

what are perfect correlation coefficients

A

+1 and -1

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11
Q

what are some strengths of correlational research

A
  • allows the identification of relationships between variables when it is difficult for practical reasons or unethical
  • if a relationship between 2 variables is indicated, this can be a starting point for stimulating future research
  • it is scientific meaning it tends to be objective and easily replicable using quantitative data
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12
Q

what are some weaknesses of correlational research

A
  • because there is little control over variables it does not allow cause and effect links to be established
  • there may be a 3rd unknown variable
  • the 2 co variables may not be measured in a valid manner
  • correlations can be misused -> huge claims can come from just a relationship
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13
Q

what is the difference between a research method and a data collection technique

A
  • research method doesn’t have an IV and a data collection technique does
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14
Q

define observational research

A
  • focuses on the observation of a persons freely chosen behaviour
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15
Q

what are the 2 types and observational research and define them

A
  • naturalistic -> spontaneously occurring behaviour is studied in its natural setting and the environment has no manipulation from the experimenter
  • structured -> some of the variables including the environment are controlled, can be in a lab setting, still aim to capture freely chosen behaviour but the situations may be set up
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16
Q

what are the positives of naturalistic observation

A
  • observers remain covert so behaviour is normal meaning ecological validity is high as results are more generalisable
  • gathers all data that would happen in a real life situation so validity is high as data gathered is very rich
  • useful for the study of behaviour in situations where ethical considerations prevent manipulation
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17
Q

what are the negatives of naturalistic observation

A
  • remaining hidden can be an issue for researchers, participants may become aware and alter there behaviour, threatening validity
  • many extraneous variables meaning replication can be more difficult and lower reliability
  • cannot establish cause and effect links
  • ethical considerations concerning deception, consent and invasion of privacy and right to withdraw
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18
Q

what are the advantages of structured observations

A
  • allows for more control over the environment which means easier replication and therefore higher reliability
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19
Q

what are the disadvantages of structured observations

A
  • lacks ecological validity as behaviour can be artificial if the participant becomes aware they are in a study
  • cannot get a causality between the IV and DV
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20
Q

define participant observations

A
  • observer becoming part of the group being studied with or without their knowledge
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21
Q

what are the positives of participant observations

A
  • potential for more meaningful observations as the observers will have a better understanding, data gathered will be more rich and detailed than any of method
  • high ecological validity is likely as people should continue about their business in an everday manner
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22
Q

what are the disadvantages of participant observation

A
  • researcher may get to involved and become less objective, affecting the validity
  • lots of ethical issues raised such as deception
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23
Q

what are non-participant observations

A
  • observers that are not part of what is being observed, they may sit apart or may observe via video link or a one way mirror
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24
Q

what are the advantages of non-participant observations

A
  • accuracy of the data is likely to be very high, increases validity
  • objectivity will be a lot higher
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25
Q

what are the disadvantages of non-participant observation

A
  • observer may have little understanding of what is happening, lowering validity
  • ethical issues raised such as invasion of privacy
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26
Q

what are overt observations

A
  • participants are aware they are bring observed and know all aspects of the study- so fully informed consent has been given
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27
Q

what are covert observations

A
  • participants dont know the observational study is taking place so they dont know they are bring observed
28
Q

what are the advantages and disadvantages of overt observations

A
  • ad ->there are little ethical issues as fully informed consent has been given
  • disad -> participants may act in a more socially acceptable way to try and please the experimenter
29
Q

what are the advantages and disadvantages of covert observations

A
  • ad -> participants act freely without any influence
    disad -> ethical considerations as participants didnt give consent to being observed
30
Q

what are the threats to reliability in observational research

A
  • researcher effects can lead to low inter observer reliability, meaning that the observers do not use the method of recording in the same way and so their categorisation does not agree
31
Q

how can we deal with the threats to reliability in observational research

A
  • pilot studies can be used to train observers in the use of recording systems, eventually showing high inter observer reliability
32
Q

what are the threats to validity in observational research

A
  • internal validity lacks if the behaviour checklist is vague
  • observer bias
  • subjectivity
33
Q

how can we deal with the threats to validity in observational research

A
  • clearly operationalise the behaviour
  • carefully plan behaviour checklists
    -0 use more than one observer
34
Q

what are the ethical issues in observational research

A
  • cannot give informed consent
  • invasion of privacy
35
Q

how can we deal with the ethical issues in observational research

A
  • give a debrief
  • only carry out experiments where participants would expect to be observed by strangers
36
Q

what is continuous observation

A
  • the observer records every instance of behaviour , only useful if the behaviour of interest does not happen very often
37
Q

what is time sampling

A

recording target behaviours for set lengths of time at set intervals

38
Q

what is event sampling

A

recording certain behaviour every time it occurs in a target individual or group of individuals throughout the observation period

  • behaviours must be decided beforehand
39
Q

when using quantitative data collection what sampling technique should be used and what is the process after

A
  • event sampling
  • then operationalise it
  • then sort into categories which are clear and objectively defined and also mutually exclusive
40
Q

when using qualitative data collection what sampling technique should be used

A
  • continuous behaviour sampling
41
Q

what is the definition of content analysis

A
  • a research technique for the systematic quantitative description of the content in written, spoken or visual human communication
42
Q

what are the 2 main sources of qualitative data use content analysis

A
  • the media
  • primary research data
43
Q

what are the 5 steps on content analysis

A
  • 1) research question and hypothesis
  • 2) sampling
  • 3) coding units - creating the categories
  • 4) pilot studies
  • 5) collecting the data
44
Q

describe the role of the research question and hypothesis in content analysis

A
  • shapes the way the research is done and helps in choosing appropriate materials and coding units
45
Q

describe the role of sampling in content analysis

A
  • the material of interest is first defined
  • then the researchers must decide how much of the available information will be analysed
46
Q

describe the role of coding units in content analysis

A
  • researchers must decide how to categorise the material to be analysed to best answer their research question
  • they sort them into different groups such as format and content and ensure they are mutually exclusive
47
Q

describe the role of pilot studies in content analysis

A
  • researcher needs to become familiar with the types of material likely to appear and improve the system
  • need to make sure the categories are objective and not subjective like emotion
48
Q

describe the role of collecting the data in content analysis

A
  • done in 2 main ways
  • record number of occurrences in a particular coding category (frequency counts)
  • alternatively coders may rank items
49
Q

what are the advantages of content analysis

A
  • summarising qualitative data into quantitative data is useful
  • external validity is very high because the study is usually of something actually seen/heard/heard by ordinary people in the real world so its more generalisable
  • ethical issues are not a major problem as no human participants
  • content analysis useful for analysing historical material
50
Q

what are the disadvantages of content analysis

A
  • a content analysis cannot show cause and effect links
  • researcher effects and subjectivity can be high
  • the analysis may be limited by an unrepresentative sample of available materials
51
Q

what is the definition of a case study

A
  • an in depth investigation, gathering highly detailed information of a single individual or small group
52
Q

what are the strengths of a case study

A
  • concern unique individuals and groups and allow researchers to collect rich and detailed data
  • usually deal with unusual cases the data the cases can provide can often trigger further research
53
Q

what are the weaknesses of case studys

A
  • researchers can struggle to remail objective reducing the validity
  • validity also reduced when participants are asked to recall stuff from the past which they might not remember correctly
  • many studies are unique and hard to generalise
  • cannot be used to establish cause and effect links
  • many ethical issues are raised such as invasion of privacy
54
Q

what is the function of FMRI scans

A
  • detects brain activity
  • metabolic activity results in oxyhaemoglobin releasing oxygen and becoming deoxyhaemoglobin
  • monitors radio waves
  • strong magnetic field produced
55
Q

what is the function of CAT scans

A
  • examine brain structure abnormalities
  • produces 3d structural image
  • x-rays are passed through the brain
56
Q

what is the function of PET scans

A
  • harmless amount of radioactive material injected into patient which bonds to glucose forming a tracer
  • brain uses glucose for energy so areas which are most active absorbs the tracer
  • radioactive material emits positively charged particles called positrons which are picked up by the scanner
  • produces coloured images
57
Q

advantage and disadvantage of FMRI scans

A

ad - non invasive imagery
disad- cannot look at activity of actual receptors

58
Q

advantage and disadvantage of CAT scans

A

ad- provide extremely detailed coloured images
disad- slight chance of cancer

59
Q

advantage and disadvantage of PET scans

A

ad- usually painless
disad- only tells you that the brain is active, not which parts

60
Q

whats a monozygotic twin

A

100% identicle twin

61
Q

whats a dizygotic twin

A
  • non-identicle with only 50% of their DNA in common
62
Q

what is a concordance rate

A
  • the degree to which members of a twin pair display the same characteristics, expressed as a percentage
63
Q

what are the strengths of twin studies

A
  • provide the only ethical way of studying the behaviour of people who are 100% genetically identical
64
Q

what are the weaknesses of twin studies

A
  • MZ twins, being identical, might be treated more alike than DZ twins, they are not comparing like with like which lowers the validity
  • no twin study has ever found 100% concordance rates
65
Q

what are the strengths of adoption studies

A
  • allow the study of children which is usually unethical
66
Q

what are the weaknesses of adoption studies

A
  • children are placed in adoptive families because of their similarities to that family so researchers cannot assume that the 2 environments are very different
  • the sample is not typical of the target population and only certain types of families with certain qualities and abilities may be allowed to adopt

a level psycology (4 decks)

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