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Psyhcology > CO1 - Research Methods > Flashcards

CO1 - Research Methods Flashcards

1
Q

What is a lab experiment?

A

The IV is manipulated by the researcher and it conducted in controlled conditions

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2
Q

What is an advantage of lab experiments?

A

It produced scientific research and can establish cause and effect

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3
Q

What is an disadvantage of lab experiments?

A

Low ecological validity, as they are conducted in an artificial setting

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4
Q

What is a field experiment?

A

The IV is manipulated by the researcher and it is conducted in a natural setting

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5
Q

What is an advantage of field experiments?

A

Offer a more realistic setting for a study and therefore have greater ecological validity

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6
Q

What is an disadvantage of field experiments?

A

Lack control and variables can be influenced by extraneous variables

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7
Q

What is a quasi experiment?

A

The IV is naturally occurring and cannot be manipulated. It is conducted in natural settings

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8
Q

What is an advantage of quasi experiments?

A

It allows us to study the effects of the variables psychologists can manipulate

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9
Q

What is an disadvantage of quasi experiments?

A

No control over participants

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10
Q

What is a structured observation?

A

A observation system will be used to record the data (coding frame), only certain behaviours shown will be recorded

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11
Q

What is an advantage of using a structured observation?

A

Comparisons can be made across each observation and can see clear trends in data

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12
Q

What is an disadvantage of using a structured observation?

A

By only noting down some behaviour you could miss important information. Open to observer bias

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13
Q

What is a unstructured observation?

A

The researcher continuously records and reports behavior, noting everything that happens.

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14
Q

What is an advantage of using a unstructured observation?

A

You don’t miss any behaviour as all of it is recorded

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15
Q

What is an disadvantage of using a unstructured observation?

A

The data gathered may be too dense and detailed making it hard to summarise and make comparisons between other participants

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16
Q

What is a naturalistic observation?

A

This is an observation which is carried out in the field, it a natural setting.

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17
Q

What is an advantage of using a naturalistic observation?

A

You may see more realistic behaviour

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18
Q

What is an disadvantage of using a naturalistic observation?

A

There is often a lack of control meaning other factors may influence behaviour

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19
Q

What is a controlled observation?

A

This is where all the possible factors which might alter the behavior are controlled.

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20
Q

What is an advantage of using a controlled observation?

A

Allows cause and effect to be established

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21
Q

What is an disadvantage of using a controlled observation?

A

The situation is artificial, often showing behaviour which has been affected by the artificial setting

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22
Q

What is a participant observation?

A

This is a method of gathering data through observation, the observer is part of the group being observed.

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23
Q

What is an advantage of using a participant observation?

A

You have a good vantage point for your observations. As Well as they you can understand why people are behaving how they do.

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24
Q

What is an disadvantage of using a participant observation?

A

It may be hard to record the data and some may be missed

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25
Q

What is a participant observation?

A

This is where the observer is not a member of the group being studied

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26
Q

What is an advantage of using a non participant observation?

A

You remain more objective

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27
Q

What is an disadvantage of using a non participant observation?

A

You may not have the same level of insight as an observer within the group

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28
Q

What is an overt observation?

A

This is where the participant knows that he/she is being observed, and has either given consent or is aware of the observation.

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29
Q

What is an advantage of using a overt observation?

A

It follows within ethical guidelines

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30
Q

What is an disadvantage of using a overt observation?

A

Participants may show demand characteristics or may change their behavior to be more socially acceptable thus giving you unreliable results.

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31
Q

What is an covert observation?

A

This is where the participants does not know that he/she is being observed

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32
Q

What is an advantage of using a covert observation?

A

Natural behavior can be observed. You are sampling real behavior.

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33
Q

What is an disadvantage of using a covert observation?

A

It is unethical and can have negative social effects

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34
Q

What is a questionnaire?

A

Questionnaires are a set of questions that are usually completed as pen and paper tests, but can also be done over the internet or phone

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35
Q

What is an advantage of questionnaires in self reports?

A

It enables a great deal of data to be gathered from a large sample very quickly, making it cost and time effective as a method of data collection

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36
Q

What is an disadvantage of questionnaires in self reports?

A

It is often hard to ask a question in the right way so it is unbiased and will collect the information wanted

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37
Q

What is a structured interview?

A

This is where the same set of questions is asked to each participant in the same order. Often researchers will not show any expression or interest.

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38
Q

What is an advantage of a structured interview?

A

It is easier to gather quantitative data and is possible to analyse it and draw trends

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39
Q

What is a disadvantage of a structured interview?

A

It is artificial and the respondent may not feel free to add or explain their answers

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40
Q

What is a semi structured interview?

A

This is where the interviewer has a list of questions but he may ask for clarification when needed

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41
Q

What is a unstructured interview?

A

This is where the researcher has topics to discuss but these don’t have to be in the same order for each participant. It is more like a conversation.

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42
Q

What is an advantage of unstructured interviews?

A

It is more like a regular conversation meaning it has higher ecological validity. It also provided rich and detailed information

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43
Q

What is an disadvantage of unstructured interviews?

A

With such a broad range of topics is can often be hard to summarise and compare data

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44
Q

What is a positive correlation?

A

A positive correlation is where one co-variable increases so does the other.

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45
Q

What is a negative correlation?

A

A negative correlation is where one co-variable increase the other decreases.

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46
Q

What is a research question?

A

Psychologists start with a set of questions posed about human or animal behavior. They can be based on events, based on previous research or trying to find a cause of behavior.

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47
Q

What is a research aim?

A

Once a question has been identified, then the next step is to identify an aim of an investigation to test or answer your research question(s).

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48
Q

What is an alternative hypothesis?

A

An alternate (or experimental) hypothesis will predict the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable

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49
Q

What is a null hypothesis?

A

A null hypothesis states that the independent variable will not have the predicted effect on the dependent variable

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50
Q

What is an IV?

A

IV (independent variable) is the variable that is manipulated (changed)

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51
Q

What is a DV?

A

DV (dependent variable) is the variable that is measured

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52
Q

What is a one tailed hypothesis?

A

A one tailed hypothesis is when a specific effect is predicted.

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53
Q

What is a two tailed hypothesis?

A

A two tailed hypothesis is when an effect is predicted but not specified.

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54
Q

What is a target population?

A

A target population is the group of people you wish to study

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55
Q

What are the 4 types of sampling?

A

Random, snowball, opportunity and self selected sample.

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56
Q

What is random sampling?

A

A random sample is when every member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected to be in the sample.

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57
Q

What is snowball sampling?

A

A snowball sample is a particularly useful technique to gather a group of people to research that is socially sensitive. The researcher will find one participant, once they have been studied they will be asked to find people they know who are in the same situation as them.

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58
Q

What is opportunity sampling?

A

This is known as a convenience sample. The researcher selects the most convenient people to study. However this can lead to a sample bias, but they allow the researcher to collect a large sample with relative ease.

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59
Q

What is a self selected sample?

A

This is also known as volunteer sampling. Here, people choose to be part of the study. Typical ways of collecting this study is putting out an advert. This method, however, is open to sample bias as only a certain type of person may volunteer and participants may sign up to go against the aim of the research ‘screw you effect’.

60
Q

What is a repeated measures design?

A

This is where each participant is tested in every condition.

61
Q

What is a strength of repeated measures design?

A

By comparing the same person in different conditions, the likelihood of individual differences is reduced
This design uses fewer people than others therefore it is more cost and time effective.

62
Q

What is a weakness of repeated measures design?

A

Participants can be effected by order effects and boredom.

Participants may work out the independent variable and thus show demand characteristics.

63
Q

What is an independent measures design?

A

This is where a sample is allocated to either the experimental condition(s) or a control condition, usually with equal members in each.

64
Q

What is a strength of independent measures design?

A

It is not affected by order effects as each participant is only tested in one condition.
It is less likely to be affected by demand characteristics.
This design is less time consuming than matched pairs

65
Q

What is a weakness of independent measures design?

A

An independent measures design does not control extraneous variables. Large samples are often needed in order to be sure that any effect on the IV is caused by the DV

66
Q

What is a matched pairs design?

A

Each participant is paired up with someone else in the sample based on the variables of the study

67
Q

What is a strength of repeated measures design?

A

Avoids the problems of a repeated measures sign, does not show order effects or demand charticics
It controls participant variables more than the independent measures design

68
Q

What is a weakness of repeated measures design?

A

It is often time consuming to match participants. Sometime it is impossible to find a match and also to ensure the match is correct.

69
Q

What is an IV?

A

This is the variable that is manipulated in the experiment. This is what psychologists predict is causing the certain behaviour.

70
Q

What is a DV?

A

This is the variable that is measured, it depends on a change in the IV

71
Q

What is an extraneous variable?

A

All other variables that may influence the behaviour are known as extraneous variables, these need to be controlled are far as possible.

72
Q

What is a behavioural category?

A

this is when the observer devises an observation schedule, so that what is behaviour observed and how it is going to be recorded is determined before the observation

73
Q

What is an advantage of behavioural categories?

A

They provide quantitative data which can be easily compared between subjects or groups. It can also be summarised and statistically analysed.

74
Q

What is a disadvantage of behavioural categories?

A

It gives a restricted view of what is actually happening, the research may miss important behaviour

75
Q

What is a coding frame?

A

These are useful as they enable psychologists to analyse qualitative data. The observer needs to observe behaviour and identify key features the behaviour and code for them. The observer will sometimes have certain boxes to record certain types of behaviour or record the number of times a certain behaviour is carried out.

76
Q

What is time sampling?

A

This has two meanings. One is time point sampling, this is where the observer records what participants are doing at certain fixed intervals.
The other is time event sampling, where a fixed period of time is set for an observation.

77
Q

What is event sampling?

A

This is where an event is recorded each time it happens.

78
Q

What is an open question? and state one strength and weakness of this.

A

Open questions allow the participant freedom to respond and give them the opportunity to explain their answers.
It provides qualitative data which is rich and detailed. There is an increased realism (validity) as participants are forced to answer in a certain way. However it is harder to analyse and compare responses.

79
Q

What is an closed question? and state one strength and weakness of this.

A

These are questions that have a fixed response. These provide qualitative data which is easily summarised, presented and compared between participants and conditions. It is also easier to test the reliability. However this type of question lacks ecological validity. The researcher is only getting limited information.

80
Q

What is a rating scale?

A

Variables can be measured on a rating scale providing quantitative data. Often used in self report questionnaires and structured interviews.

81
Q

What is a Likert scale?

A

A likert scales are where participants are given a range of answers from which they select the one that resents the extent to which they agree.

82
Q

What is a semantic differential scale?

A

This is used to put something between two descriptive words such as strong or weak. They are usually opposites and reflect what is being measured.

83
Q

What is raw data?

A

The data psychologists collect from each participant is called raw data.

84
Q

Name the 7 levels of data

A

Nominal, ordinal, interval, quantitative, qualitative, primary and secondary

85
Q

What is nominal level data?

A

This is when the data is split into categories to how often they occur. This is the most basic type of data gathered.

86
Q

What is ordinal level data?

A

This type of data is the individual’s data, psychologists can then rank each person and put them in order to how well they did

87
Q

What is interval level data?

A

This has equal intervals, this type of data ranks the participants

88
Q

What is quantitative data?

A

This is numerical data

89
Q

What is a strength of quantitative data?

A

Allows comparisons between participants or groups.

It is easily summarised and can use descriptive statistics

90
Q

What is a weakness of quantitative data?

A

It lacks ecological validity as it cannot reflect how we respond in everyday life.

91
Q

What is qualitative data?

A

This consists of decorative words and how participants are feeling

92
Q

What is an advantage of qualitative data?

A

Provides rich detailed information, thus making it more valid

93
Q

What is a disadvantage of qualitative data?

A

Provides rich detailed information, thus making it more valid

94
Q

What is primary data?

A

Data that is collected by the psychologist

95
Q

State an advantage and disadvantage of primary data

A

An advantage of this is that psychologists know that controls were it in place thus making the data more reliable.
A disadvantage of this is sometime primary data is hard to collect and data may have already been collected.

96
Q

What is secondary data?

A

The physiologist assess imformation that has already been collected by an external source

97
Q

State an advantage and disadvantage of seconday data

A

Data that has already been collected but is accessible for the psychologist. An advantage of this it sometimes data that cannot be collected or would be expensive to collect. A disadvantage it may be affected by extraneous variables and other information may be included.

98
Q

When would you use a Chi squared test?

A

Nominal Data

Independent measures design

99
Q

When would you use a Binomial sign test?

A

Nominal data

Repeated measures design

100
Q

When would you use Spearman’s Rho correlation coefficient ?

A

Ordinal data

When testing for correlation

101
Q

When would you use Wilcoxen sign ranks test?

A

Ordinal data

Repeated measures design

102
Q

When would you use Mann-Whitney U test?

A

Ordinal data

Independent measures design

103
Q

What is a type 1 error?

A

This is when the alternative hypothesis is accepted and the null is rejected, incorrectly

104
Q

What is a type 2 error?

A

This is when you accept the null hypothesis and the alternative is rejected, incorrectly

105
Q

What is representativeness?

A

If the sample is a similar makeup to the target population it can be called representative

106
Q

What makes data generaliseable?

A

When you have a representative sample you can predict behaviour from the wider target population

107
Q

Name 5 different types of relaibility

A

Internal, external, inter-rater, split-half and test-retest

108
Q

What is reliability?

A

This is the consistency of research or findings or whether the test can be used more than once to produce consistent results

109
Q

What is internal reliability?

A

Internal refers to the consistency of results of a test across items within the test.

110
Q

What is external reliability?

A

External refers to the extent to which a test score varies from one time to another.

111
Q

What is inter-rater reliability?

A

Inter-rater, in order to avoid observer bias inter-rater reliability needs to be established. This is means there are more than one observer observing the same behaviour. If they gain the same results it is inter-rater reliable

112
Q

What is split-half reliability?

A

Split-half is a way to test internal reliability. It would test half the questions and gain a score from it and then test the the other half. If they showed the same score they are reliable

113
Q

What is test-retest reliability?

A

The test-retest method tests external validity of a questionnaire or piece of research. A high level of standardisation makes a piece of research replicable.

114
Q

What is validity?

A

This is how accurate a piece of research or test is at measuring what aims to measure

115
Q

Name the 8 types of validity

A

Internal, external, face, construct, concurrent, criterion, population and ecological

116
Q

What is internal validity?

A

Internal is how the research is measuring the DV and the effect of the IV on it, a lower interval validity would be caused by extraneous variables

117
Q

What is external validity?

A

External is how much the research can be generalized to other settings

118
Q

What is face validity?

A

Face validity is how good the test or research looks to be at testing what is meant to be tested.

119
Q

What is construct validity?

A

Construct validity is where a test or study measures the actual behaviour it sets out to measure.

120
Q

What is concurrent validity?

A

Concurrent validity is where a test or piece of research gives the same results as another test to study which claims to measure the same behaviour

121
Q

What is criterion validity?

A

Criterion validity refers to how much one measure predicts the validity of another measure.

122
Q

What is population validity?

A

Population validity is how accurately the test or study measures behaviour in the general population.

123
Q

What is ecological validity?

A

Ecological validity is considered to be how like real life a piece of research is

124
Q

What are demand characteristics?

A

This is where participants interpret the aims of the experiment/research and change their behaviour to fit it

125
Q

What is social desirability?

A

Where participants try to present an image that participants feels will present her/him in a good light as being good members of society

126
Q

What is researcher/observer effect?

A

These are effects on participants (and their behaviours and responses) which are brought about by the researchers or observers presence

127
Q

Name ethical consideration need to be taken into consideration?

A 
Informed consent
Right to withdraw
Confidentiality
Protection of participants
Debrief
Competence: you must be knowledgeable in that area
Deception
128
Q

What is the order of section in a practical report?

A 
Abstract
Introduction
Method
Results
Discussion
References
Appendices
129
Q

What is in a practical report abstract?

A

This is a summary of the research. Outlining the aim, method, participants, results and conclusions

130
Q

What is in a practical report introduction?

A

This considers the area that is being studied and focuses on previous research which has been carried out in the same area

131
Q

What is in a practical report method?

A

This is a lengthy section which includes all the details to carry out the same research. Outlining the design, sample, material/apparatus and procedure.

132
Q

What is in a practical report results?

A

This refers to the raw data and provides verbal summaries and descriptive statistics (central tendency, measures of dispersion and graphical tendency)

133
Q

What is in a practical report discussion?

A

This focuses on what the study has discovered, relating it to the research in the introduction. It includes an evaluation and alternative explanations

134
Q

What is in a practical report references?

A

This is where you reference where you collected external information using the Harvard referencing system

135
Q

What is in a practical report appendices?

A

These includes materials, raw data and anything else the reader needs to fully understand the research

136
Q

What system is used for referencing?

A

Havard

137
Q

What is peer review?

A

Peers are people of the same standing as you and in the world of scientific research peer review is the quality assurance process used to assess whether recently completed research has been carried out in an important area, in an acceptable manner with appropriate methodology and what the impact of the findings are.

138
Q

What is cause and effect?

A

this is where research can show that one factor actually caused a change in behaviour (effect)

139
Q

What is deduction?

A

This is when you create a hypothesis and then conduct research to prove or disprove this. However it is often hard to prove that one variable is the only thing affecting the behaviour.

140
Q

What is induction?

A

This is the concept of having results or observing behaviour and then developing a hypothesis from this.

141
Q

What is hypothesis testing?

A

Once a theory has been identified based on observation or a research question. Then a scientific enquiry with a hypothesis is created and then this can be tested by empirical research.

142
Q

What is the manipulation of variables?

A

The IV must be manipulated, so we can see its effects on the DV.

143
Q

What is standardisation?

A

Keeping the test conditions the same for every participant. It is a method of controlling situational variables, or environmental factors which might influence participant behaviour.

144
Q

What is replicability?

A

To be able to repeat and therefore support or refute the findings from another piece of research is important in the consideration of psychology as a science.

145
Q

What is quantifiable measurements?

A

Quantitative data, which is observable and objective should be used to identify the impact of the independent variable

146
Q

What is objectivity?

A

Allowing personal theories or expectations to cloud judgment in research will make it less scientific. All sources of bias should be eliminated

147
Q

What is falsification?

A

This is when you prove a theory wrong thus proving it false

Psyhcology (4 decks)

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