Chapter 1 - research stuff

Question 1

What does ‘population’ refer to?

Answer 1

refers to entire group of research interest, a sample is drawn from the population.

Question 2

What is a sample?

Answer 2

Subset or part of population that is selected for research purposes. Always smaller than population.

Question 3

What is the purpose of sample and population

Answer 3

Sample is selected from the population; Sample can generalise for population.

Question 4

What is random sampling?

Answer 4

sampling technique where each member of population has equal chance of being selected.

Question 5

What are the limitations of random sampling?

Answer 5

Only truly be carried out if complete list of target population is available, this may be difficult to access and time-consuming.

Question 6

What is stratified sampling?

Answer 6

Selecting sample from population comprised of subgroups, so that each subgroup is represented.

Question 7

What are the advantages of random sampling?

Answer 7

Helps ensure highly representative sample enables generalisations with greater confidence.

Question 8

What are the advantages of stratified sampling?

Answer 8

Enables researcher to sample specific groups within population for comparison purposes. Can provide greater precision for research findings.

Question 9

What are the limitations of stratified sampling?

Answer 9

Only carried out if lists of target population are available and accessible. Representative sample cannot be obtained unless stratified random sampling occurs.
Very time-consuming and complex, expensive.

Question 10

What is convenience sampling?

Answer 10

Selecging sample of individuals who are readily available.

Question 11

What are the strengths of convenience sampling?

Answer 11

Typically quick, easy and inexpensive.

Question 12

What are the limitations of convenience sampling?

Answer 12

Governed by chance, not systematic, orderly. Often produces biased sample, as favors particular individuals or groups.

Question 13

What is a controlled experiment?

Answer 13

An experimental investigation of relationship between one or more IV’s a DV, controlling all other variables.

Question 14

What is an experimental group in a controlled experiment?

Answer 14

The group that is exposed to the IV.

Question 15

What is a control group in a controlled experiment?

Answer 15

The group that is not exposed to the IV.

Question 16

What is ‘random allocation’ in a controlled experiment?

Answer 16

A procedure used to place participants in groups, so they have an equal chance of being in each group.

Question 17

What is the ‘between subjects’ experimental design?

Answer 17

An experimental design where each participant is assigned to only one group.
e.g control group and experimental group.

Question 18

What are the advantages of the ‘between subjects’ experimental design?

Answer 18

Not a need to spread out time period between experimental conditions. Experiment can be completed on one occasion, stops people from dropping out.

Question 19

What are the limitations of the ‘between subjects’ experimental design?

Answer 19

Often a need for larger number of participants. Less control over participant variables, especially with small sample.

Question 20

What is the ‘within subjects’ experimental design?

Answer 20

Each participant is in both experimental group and control group.

Question 21

What are the advantages of the ‘within subjects’ experimental design?

Answer 21

• effectively control unwanted influence of variables arising from individual participant differences.
• tends to require smaller number of participants.

Question 22

What are the limitations of the ‘within subjects’ experimental design?

Answer 22

• does not control all participant variables that can influence results.
• greater attrition (loss) rates, especially when conducted over multiple days.

Question 23

What is a ‘mixed design’ experimental design?

Answer 23

An investigation that combines features of between subjects and within subjects designs.
- researcher can access potential differences between two or more separate groups of participants.

Question 24

What are the strengths of a ‘mixed design’ experimental design?

Answer 24

Researches can capitalise on strengths of between subjects and within subjects designs.

Question 25

What is a random error?

Answer 25

an error due to some chance factor or chance variation in a measurement

Errors occuring randomly

Question 26

How do random errors affect studies?

Answer 26

They affect the precision of a measurement, producing unusual outliers.

Question 27

What is a systematic error?

Answer 27

a measurement error produced by some factor that consistently favours one condition rather than the other.

Same error every time

Question 28

What is an error?

Answer 28

Refers to difference between observed or calculated value and the true or perceived value.

Question 29

What is uncertainty?

Answer 29

Reflects the lack of exact knowledge of the value of the quantity being measured.

True value - the value of something if it could be measured pefectly. E.g stress or feelings.

Question 30

What does true value refer to?

Answer 30

The value of something if it could be measured pefectly. E.g stress or feelings.

Question 31

What is precision?

Answer 31

Refers to how closely a set of measurements agree with each other.

Question 32

What does precision NOT do?

Answer 32

Give indication of how close measurements are to the true value, not linked to accuracy.

Question 33

What is accuracy?

Answer 33

How close it is to ‘true’ value of quantity being measured.

Question 34

What is an extraneous variable?

Answer 34

Can/may have an effect on the DV

Question 35

What is a confounding variable?

Answer 35

Has an effect on the DV, CANNOT be separated from the DV.

Unable to tell if IV OR confounding variable effected DV

Question 36

Cross sectional?

Answer 36

Experiment/study at a specific point of time.

Question 37

What is a longitudinal experiment?

Answer 37

Follow participants over an extended period of time.

Question 38

How do systematic errors effect results of an experiment?

Answer 38

Present in all measurements, except for measurements involving counting.