Conducting Research Flashcards
Three Experimental Designs
Repeated Measures
Independent Groups
Matched Pairs
Define Repeated Measures
The Same Participants are used in both conditions
Define Independent groups
Participants are randomly allocated to different groups which represent different conditions
Define Matched Pairs
Pairs Of Participants are closely matched and are then randomly allocated to one of the experimental conditions.
Strengths Of Repeated Measures
As the same participants are used in each condition, participant variables (i.e., individual differences) are reduced.
Fewer people are needed as they take part in all conditions (i.e. saves time).
Weakness Of Repeated Measures
There may be order effects.
Performance in the second condition may be better because the participants know what to do (i.e. practice effect).
Or their performance might be worse in the second condition because they are tired (i.e., fatigue effect).
Strength Of Independent Groups
Avoids order effects (such as practice or fatigue) as people participate in one condition only.
If a person is involved in several conditions, they may become bored, tired and fed up by the time they come to the second condition, or becoming wise to the requirements of the experiment!
Weakness Of Independent Groups
More people are needed than with the repeated measures design
Differences between participants in the groups may affect results, for example; variations in age, gender or social background. These differences are known as participant variables
Strengths Of Matched Pairs
Reduces participant variables because the researcher has tried to pair up the participants so that each condition has people with similar abilities and characteristics.
Avoids order effects, and so counterbalancing is not necessary.
Weakness of Matched Pairs
Very time-consuming trying to find closely matched pairs.
Impossible to match people exactly, unless identical twins!
Define Order Effect
Order effects refer to the order of the conditions having an effect on the participants’ behavior.
Define Practice Effect
Practice effects are influences on test results when a test is taken more than once.
Practice can increase your overall score
Define Fatigue Effect
Results from short-term sleep loss or from short periods of heavy physical or mental work
Define Counter Balancing
is a type of experimental design in which all possible orders of presenting the variables are included.
5 Sampling Techniques
Random Sampling Stratified Sampling Opportunity Sample Systematic Sampling Volunteer Sample
Define Random Sampling
Everyone in a entire target population has an equal chance of being selected
Define Stratified Sampling
Researcher identifies the different types of people that make up the target population and works out the proportions needed for them to be represented
Define Opportunity Sampling
Using people from a target population available at the time and willing to take part
Define Systematic Sampling
Chooses subjects in a systematic (Orderly/Logical) way from the target population like every nth participants on the list of names
Define Volunteer Sampling
A Sample Where participants self-select. They volunteer themselves to take part
Strength of a Random Sample
are that your sample should represent the target population and eliminate sampling bias
Strength of a Opportunity sample
This is a quick way and easy of choosing participants
Strength of a Volunteer Sample
Not time consuming
Easy
Minimal effort is required
Strength of a Systematic Sample
to this method is that is should provide a representative sample,
Strength of a Stratified Sample
is that the sample should be highly representative of the target population and therefore we can generalize from the results obtained.
Weakness of a Random Sample
is that it is very difficult to achieve (i.e. time, effort and money).
Weakness of a Opportunity sample
may not provide a representative sample, and could be biased
Weakness of a Volunteer Sample
Volunteer bias
Cannot be generalised
Weakness of a Systematic Sample
is that it is very difficult to achieve (i.e. time, effort and money).
Weakness of a Stratified Sample
Gathering such a sample would be extremely time consuming and difficult to do
Define Volunteer Bias
is the concept that people who volunteer to participate in research studies have some different characteristics, privileges, and lifestyles from those who do not volunteer. Therefore, research that aims to generalize, or rely on one sample to predict facts about a broader population, may draw inaccurate conclusions.
Define Validity
the quality of being logically or factually sound; soundness or cogency.
(Accuracy)
Define Internal Validity
Refers to whether the effects observed in a study are due to the manipulation of the independent variable and not some other factor.
Define External Validty
Refers to the extent to which the results of a study can be generalized to other settings (ecological validity), other people (population validity) and over time (historical validity).
Define Population Validity
Is a type of external validity which describes how well the sample used can be extrapolated to a population as a whole.
Define Ecological Validity
Refers to the extent to which the findings of a research study are able to be generalized to real-life settings
Define Face Validity
Face validity is simply whether the test appears (at face value) to measure what it claims to.
Define Demand Characteristics
Refers to an experimental artifact where participants form an interpretation of the experiment’s purpose and unconsciously change their behavior to fit that interpretation.
Define Investigator Effects
The experimenter unconsciously conveys to participants how they should behave - this is called experimenter bias. The experiment might do this by giving unintentional clues to the participants about what the experiment is about and how they expect them to behave.
Define Social Desirability Effects
A type of response bias that is the tendency of survey respondents to answer questions in a manner that will be viewed favorably by others.
Define Single Blind Technique
The researcher knows the aim of the study but the participants do not
Define Double Blind Technique
Neither the researcher nor the participants know
Define Pilot Study
Are small, trial versions of proposed studies to test their effectiveness and make improvements. They are helpful in identifying potential issues early, which can then be rectified before committing to the length and expense of a full investigation.
Why is it important to carry out a pilot study?
Can be used to help calculate sample size by providing data about the likely responses to questionnaire items. The steps in this pilot study demonstrate the benefits and the methods of this important phase of a research project
Ethical Issues
Deception Informed Consent Protection From Harm Right To Withdraw Confidentiality
What is the purpose of ethical guidelines
To make sure its an ethical study carried out in the right way where participants are safe.
Who set out the ethical guidelines
BPS: British Psychological Society
When can research be excused for not following some of the ethical guidelines
When Necessary such as deception for true behaviour and results.
How would you as a researcher control for the following ethical issues: Deception Informed Consent Protection From Harm Right To Withdraw Confidentiality
Deception = Debrief them after
Informed Consent = General consent / Reprospective consent
Protection From Harm = Psychologist on stand by/ after care
Right To Withdraw = Withdraw after study finished
Confidentiality = No full names or personal information
