different types of research method

Question 1

independent variable

Answer 1

the variable that is controlled and manipulated by the experimenter e.g. in an experiment on the impact of sleep deprivation on test performance the IV would be how sleep deprived you are

Question 2

dependent variable

Answer 2

the variable that is being tested or measured e.g. in an experiment on the impact of sleep deprivation on test performance the DV would be the scores on the test performance

Question 3

laboratory experiments

Answer 3

research done in a controlled environment e.g. Milgram’s study on obedience
positives = highly scientific and controlled
negatives = not natural participants may act differently

Question 4

field experiments

Answer 4

research done in an everyday environment of participants but IV is manipulated by experimenter e.g. medical clinical trials
positives = natural setting
negatives = difficult to isolate variables

Question 5

natural (quasi) experiments

Answer 5

research in which the IV has not been manipulated by experimenter ang how it affects the dependent variable e.g. an experimenter might look at the levels of aggression observed in boys and girls in a primary school without manipulating anything

Question 6

natural observation

Answer 6

observing behaviour in a natural environment e.g animals in their habitats

Question 7

controlled observation

Answer 7

observing behaviour in a controlled environment e.g. animals in a controlled and manipulated setting

Question 8

participant observation

Answer 8

becoming part of the group you are observing/ to observe first hand or directly e.g. taking part in activities with participants to observe them

Question 9

overt observation

Answer 9

when participants know they are being observed e.g. when teachers come into lessons to observe the lesson

Question 10

covert observation

Answer 10

when participants do not know they are being observed e.g. Laud Humphreys study on men in public toilets

Question 11

surveys/questionnaire/ interviews

Answer 11

psychologists conduct surveys questionnaires and interviews in structured or unstructured ways to retrieve information

Question 12

correlation studies

Answer 12

Allows scientists to determine the degree of relationship between variables e.g. the correlation between watching violent television and aggressive behaviour

Question 13

cross sectional study

Answer 13

A cross-sectional study involves looking at data from a population at one specific point in time

Question 14

cross cultural study

Answer 14

The study of similarities and differences in behaviour among individuals who have developed in different cultures e.g. the culture differences between someone who grew up in a western area compared to someone who grew up in a rural area

Question 15

reliability

Answer 15

refers to how if the research was repeated it should provide the same or similar results

Question 16

validity

Answer 16

refers to how accurately research reflects what is being tested e.g. how people would behave in the real world

Question 17

psychometric tests

Answer 17

a way of measuring an individual’s mental capabilities and behavioural style.

Question 18

brain scanning: mri/pet scans

Answer 18

used to show brain activity under certain psychological states and to understand what parts of the brain are responsible for different actions

Question 19

longidutinal study

Answer 19

looking at variables over an extended period of time

Question 20

content analysis

Answer 20

analysing text-based, qualitative data for example newspaper articles, children’s books, interview transcripts

Question 21

animal studies

Answer 21

studies on animals rather as they have similar behaviours and functions as humans due to evolution

Question 22

discourse analysis

Answer 22

the study of how talk and texts are used to perform actions

Question 23

generalisability

Answer 23

the extent to which the findings of a study could be applied to a wider population than just those individuals who took part in the research.

Question 24

replication

Answer 24

refers to if the research can be replicated and applied to other participants and circumstances

Question 25

reliability

Answer 25

refers to the consistency of a measure

Question 26

objectivity

Answer 26

refers to how research should be free of bias and personal ideas

Question 27

ethics

Answer 27

the correct rules of conduct necessary when carrying out research

Question 28

implications

Answer 28

whether there are barriers in the research or if it will have implications when applied in real life situations

Question 29

credibility

Answer 29

how trustworthy and believable a piece of work or research is

Question 30

methodology

Answer 30

the type of scientific procedures or methods used in research e.g. experiments, observations and surveys

Question 31

operationalisation

Answer 31

turning abstract concepts into measurable observations e.g. you cant measure anxiety but rating it on a scale on a survey

Question 32

subjectivity

Answer 32

when bias and personal opinions are part of a judgement. e.g. if you have a bad experience w something and then viewing that particular thing in a negative light due to ur experience

Question 33

empiricism

Answer 33

the idea that scientific research should be based on what be directly observed and measured

Question 34

reductionism

Answer 34

to focus on one small area in isolation rather than look at the whole area

Question 35

nomothetic

Answer 35

the nomothetic approach involves establishing laws or generalizations that apply to all people

Question 36

idiographic

Answer 36

studying individuals in terms of their uniqueness

Question 37

falsification

Answer 37

the possibility that a theory or hypothesis can be proven false by an experiment or observation

Question 38

hypothesis testing

Answer 38

what you expect to happen / prediction

Question 39

ethnocentric bias

Answer 39

when perceptions of others are influenced by the culture of someone’s own ethnic group

Question 40

androcentric

Answer 40

research from a male perspective

Question 41

alpha-bias

Answer 41

research that exaggerates the difference between men and women and perpetuates gender stereotypes

Question 42

beta-bias

Answer 42

research that minimises the differences between men and women when certain differences do exist