Data analysis Flashcards
What are the components of psychological research
Abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, conclusions/ limitations
What is the abstract
Gives us an overview of what we are about to read
What is the introduction
Sets the scene, sets out aims of research, reviews current research
What is the methods section for
Explains how the research was conducted and justifies why and what they have done
What is the results section
Presents the findings and shows it in a format that is understandable
What is discussions section
Discusses the findings, impact and their relevance
Looks at these findings against what else is out there
What is the conclusion and limitations stage
Tells us the key findings
Implications in the future
The way that our methodology had an impact on the validity and generalisability
Ways that the research may not be perfect
Pros of Quantitative data
Simpler to analyse, better external validity, more objective, free from bias
Weaknesses of quantitative data
Gives less detail to experimenter
Strengths of qualitative data
Gives richer detail to experimenter
Weaknesses of qualitative data
Harder to analyse
Hard to generalise in uncontrolled environment
More subjective
Can be bias
What is primary data
Data that has been collected by the researcher, data that is participant generated and may have been gathered from an experiment, interview, questionnaire or observation
What is secondary data
Data that has been collected by someone other than the person conducting the research
Often secondary data has already been subject to statistical testing and significance has been shown
May be gathered from journal articles, books, websites, government data, etc.
Strengths of primary data
Data is fit for purpose as it is authentic data gathered to fit the purpose of a particular investigation
Weaknesses of primary data
Data requires excessive planning, preparation and resources to gather it
Strength of secondary data
The data is relatively inexpensive and easily accessed and requires minimal effort for the researcher
Weaknesses of secondary data
Little control over the quantity and quality of the data
the content of the data may not perfectly fit what the investigator is trying to research
What is meta-analysis
A form of research that utilises secondary data
It is a process in which data from lots of studies that use the same techniques and research questions are combined
A statistical analysis is then performed on the results of these studies to produce an effect size as the dependent variable in order to assess overall trends
What is content analysis
Content analysis is a widely used research technique that systematically examines and interprets textual, visual, or multimedia content to identify patterns, themes, and meanings
Why is content analysis used
- Understanding Communication: It helps researchers explore the meaning, structure, and function of communication.
- Tracking Trends: Content analysis is useful for monitoring changes in cultural norms, public opinion, or market behaviour over time.
- Cross-Disciplinary Applications: This method is used in various fields, including sociology, marketing, media studies, and psychology.
What is a coding frame
Coding framework is used to establish categories to classify data systematically.
How can researchers ensure the results of a content analysis are reliable and valid
Establishing clear coding schemes, training coders, and checking inter-coder reliability
What is the difference between content and thematic analysis
Thematic analysis focuses on extracting high-level themes from within data, while content analysis—especially sub-categorical methods like summative content analysis—focus on the reoccurrence of concepts or keywords at a more surface-level of analysis i.e. their frequency
What is test-retest reliability
The consistency of a measurement when applied multiple times to the same individual
What is inter-rate reliability
The degree of agreement between multiple observers
What are the 8 key features of a scientific subject
The use of a paradigm and paradigm shifts
The role of theory
Falsification
The role of hypothesis testing
The use of empirical methods
Replication
Generalisation
The role of peer review
What is the use of paradigm shifts
Brings all the assumptions that scientists within the subject are prepared to accept about what they are studying, how they will think about it and how they will study it
What is the role of theory
Theories give purpose and direction to research by organising facts and patterns into a set of general principles
Theories therefore generate testable hypotheses, which offer testable predictions of the facts organised by the theory
What is a theory
Explains the observable behaviours and events, using a set of general principles. It can also be used to predict observations
What is falsification
For a theory to be scientific it should be open to falsification/ the possibility of being able to prove something wrong
The researcher should be able to imagine some occurrence that would contradict it
What is the role of hypothesis testing
Hypothesis testing allows researchers to refute or support theory
This is done in a controlled and organised way by altering one variable at a time
The degree of support for a hypothesis determines the degree of confidence in a theory
What is the use of empirical methods
The use of careful observations and experiments to gather facts and evidence
Variables are highly controlled and objectively measured so that cause and effect relationships can be established
What is replication
Repeating the experiment using the same methods if the same results can be achieved
More repeats= more confidence= stronger theory
More reliability suggests more accurate results
What is Generalisation
Applying results from a sample to a wider population and other situations
For a theory to be scientific it should be possible for the results to be generalised to a wider population
What is the role of peer review
Peer review is essential for checking the quality and relevance of research
It also ensures that research is carried out honestly, rigorously and with integrity
