Evaluating studies

Question 1

what does GROVE stand for?

Answer 1

Generalisability
Reliability
Objectivity
Validity
Ethics

Question 2

what is generalisability?

Answer 2

how well a study’s findings can be applied to behaviour outside the research situation
related - ecological validity

Question 3

what things do you need to look at when considering the generalisability of results?

Answer 3

sample - was it representative?
setting - was it realistic?

Question 4

what is a sample?

Answer 4

the participants that take part in the research/study
related - target population

Question 5

what is the target population?

Answer 5

the group of individuals you want to apply the findings to (the sample should be representative of the target population)
related - sample

Question 6

what is mundane realism?

Answer 6

everyday tasks like going to school (high mundane realism = realistic task)
related - ecological validity, generalisability

Question 7

what is ecological validity?

Answer 7

the extent to which you can apply findings to the real world
related - generalisability

Question 8

what is validity?

Answer 8

the accuracy of your research
related - internal validity, extraneous variables, demand characteristics, researcher bias

Question 9

what is internal validity?

Answer 9

the extent to which your experiment or observation measures what it intends to measure
related - validity

Question 10

what are extraneous variables?

Answer 10

any variable other than the one you are measuring that could impact the outcome of your research
related - validity, internal validity, demand characteristics, researcher bias

Question 11

what is a confounding variable?

Answer 11

an extraneous variable which systemically affects the participants in one condition but not another
related - validity, extraneous variable

Question 12

what are demand characteristics?

Answer 12

the cues that participants use to work out the aim of the study/what the researcher expects to find (causes them to change their behaviour)
related - validity, internal validity, extraneous variables , researcher bias

Question 13

what is researcher bias?

Answer 13

when the researcher intentionally/unintentionally impacts the outcome of the research
related - validity, internal validity, extraneous variables, demand characteristics

Question 14

what is a standardised procedure?

Answer 14

a step-by-step method on how to carry out the study which reduces researcher bias
related - validity, researcher bias

Question 15

what is a benefit of quantitative data?

Answer 15

it is numerical so less likely to have researcher bias as it can’t be interpreted in different ways

Question 16

what is a blind study?

Answer 16

when participants are unaware of the aims and key facts of a study to try and remove demand characteristics
related - validity, demand characteristics

Question 17

what is social desirability?

Answer 17

when participants give a response or behave in a way that they think will make them more socially desirable
related - validity, demand characteristics

Question 18

what is reliability?

Answer 18

how consistent your results are (so if the experiment is repeated the results should be the same)

Question 19

what is test-retest reliability?

Answer 19

when you do the same test on the same people repeatedly, to see if you get the same result

Question 20

what is inter-observer reliability?

Answer 20

the amount of agreement between two observers (if this is higher it means the observation is more reliable)

Question 21

how can you improve inter-observer reliability?

Answer 21

use a behaviour checklist (make it specific)
train the observers

Question 22

what is objectivity?

Answer 22

when an experiment/the results are not subject to interpretation

Question 23

what are the four ethical principles all psychologists must follow?

Answer 23

respect, competence, responsibility, integrity

Question 24

ethics - what does respect mean?

Answer 24

the psychologist or researcher should show respect for the dignity and individual differences of participants and recognise that all humans are worthy of equal moral consideration

Question 25

ethics - what should psychologists consider regarding respect?

Answer 25

confidentiality, shared values within communities, consent, self-determination, importance of compassion

Question 26

ethics - what does competence mean?

Answer 26

the psychologist should have the skills and experience that make them competent to do what they are attempting to do and shouldn’t provide professional services outside their areas of knowledge, skill, training and experience

Question 27

ethics - what should psychologists consider regarding competence?

Answer 27

possessing appropriate skills to serve people, limits of competence and potential need to refer onto another professional, need to maintain technical and practical skills, matter of decision making

Question 28

ethics - what does responsibility mean?

Answer 28

the psychologist mustn’t harm people in the course of their work, and avoid causing distress, pain or suffering whilst accepting responsibility for what is within their control

Question 29

ethics - what should psychologists consider regarding responsibility?

Answer 29

responsible use of knowledge and skills , respect for welfare of humans, animals and the living world

Question 30

ethics - what does integrity mean?

Answer 30

the psychologist should be honest and accurate in their work and respect professional boundaries by putting self-interest aside to be objective and open to challenges to their behaviour

Question 31

ethics - what should psychologists consider regarding integrity?

Answer 31

honesty, accurate and unbiased representation, avoiding conflict of interest, maintaining boundaries, addressing misconduct

Question 32

what are the six ethical guidelines for psychologists?

Answer 32

Consent
Deception
Confidentiality
Debriefing
Right to withdraw
Protection from harm
(can do can’t do with participants)