Chapter 1 - Research Methods Flashcards
What is a variable?
A quantity or quality that can vary according to time and place.
Independent Variable (IV)
Variable that is deliberately manipulated to see the EFFECT it has on DV.
Dependent Variable (DV)
Variable that is measured to see if IV has caused change in this variable
Extraneous Variable
Variable other than IV that causes change in the value of the DV.
Cofounding Variable
Variable that has a SYSTEMATIC EFFECT on the value of the DV.
Experimenter Effect
Actions of experimenter can affect IV and consequently the DV.
Self-fulfilling Prophecy
Term used to describe a situation in which participants behave in a manner of which they BELIEVE is expected.
Experimenter Bias
Unintentional actions that may occur in the collection and treatment of data.
Placebo Effect
“Participants Effect” or Placebo Effect, where the participants behavioural responses may be influenced by their expectations on how they believe they should behave.
Placebo
An experimenter will use a procedure or variable so that the participant believes that it is genuine (thus they usually report it works).
Double-Blind Procedure
Neither the experimenter nor the participants know whether they are in the control or experimental
Single-Blind Procedure
Either experimenter OR participants (generally participant) know whether they are in the control or experimental
Hypothesis
It was hypothesised that POPULATION who IV would show DIRECTION in DV compared to CONTROL GROUP.
Operationalised Hypothesis
The IV is Violent Games operationalised by playing GTA for 1HR.
The DV is levels of aggression operationalised by no. of physically aggressive acts.
Sampling Methods - Convenience
- Sample is biased.
- Unreliable.
- Quick, easy, cheap and convenient!
Sampling Methods - Random
- Each member of population has EQUAL chance of being choosen.
- Gives representative sample.
- Difficult to achieve with large populations.
Sampling Methods - Stratified
Dividing population into distinctive sub-groups, then selecting a separate sample from each sub-group in the same proportions as they occur in the population
Sampling Methods - Random Stratified
Same as stratified, except, participants are selected RANDOMLY
Experimental Design - Repeated Measures
SAMPLE ⇒ CONTROL ⇒ EXPERIMENTAL
-
ADVANTAGES:
- Eliminates participant differences
- Fewer participants needed
-
DISADVANTAGES:
- Dropouts
- Order/boredom/practice effect
Experimental Design - Matched Participants
SAMPLE ⇒ PRE-TEST ⇒ CONTROL or EXPERIMETAL
Experimental Design - Independent Groups
Sample randomly allocated
-
ADVANTAGES:
- quick and easy
- cost effective
- few dropouts
-
DISADVANTAGES:
- doesn’t control individual participant differences
Descriptive Statistics
Describe the data (cannot draw conclusions)
Inferential Statistics
P Value (P<0.05)
Ethical Principals
- Do no harm: psychological or physical
- Justice: all participants to be treated fairly and equally
- Beneficence: balance between discomfort and knowledge gained
- Deception: minimal deception and must be debriefed at the end
- Informed Consent: must inform participants of the nature of the research
- Ethics Committee: adhere to ethical guidelines and approved by an ethics comittee.
Conclusions
Whether or not the hypothesis can be supported based on the p-value. P value MUST BE statistically significant (P<0.05)
Generalisations
Based on sampling procedures. P value MUST BE statistically significant (P<0.05).
Can only generalise results if sample is representative of population:
- Random Sample
- Stratified Random Sample
- Stratified Sample
ERA - Title Page
- Name of Experiment
- Date
- Student Name
ERA - Abstract (100-150 Words)
- Aim/Purpose
- Main Elements of Method
- Brief Statement of Results
- Conclusion
ERA - Introduction (150-200 Words)
- Broad opening statement
- Outline relevant background information
- Define Key terms (link to theory/other key terms)
- Summarise past research
- Aim (what is it you’re investigating)
- Hypothesis
- Operationalized IV
- Operationalized DV
- List potential confounding variables
ERA - Method (150-200 Words)
- Participants
- Total Number
- Number of males/females
- age range
- any other relevant characteristics
- how they were selected
- Materials
- List of equipment used
- Procedure
- Step-by-step description
- Experimental design
- allocation procedure
- ethical considerations
ERA - Results (150-200 Words)
- Correctly labelled tables & graphs
- Statistical analysis
- Describe results (do not mention hypothesis)
ERA - Discussion (200-250 Words)
- Restate Hypothesis
- Did your results support hypothesis? (Why/why not)
- Do your results support previous research? (must of been mentioned in the introduction)
- Evaluate study/limitations
- Ethical issues
- Conclusion
- Generalistation
ERA - References
- Havard Referencing
ERA - Appendices
- Attach relevant support material
- stimuli
- questionnaires
- additional calculations
