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Research Methods > Experimental Design > Flashcards

Experimental Design Flashcards

1
Q

what is a laboratory experiment?

experimental methods

A

an experiment carried out in a controlled environment where the IV is manipulated.

extranoeus variables are controlled

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2
Q

what are 3 key concepts of lab experiments?

experimental methods

A
  1. direct manipulation of IV
  2. contrl
  3. randomisation
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3
Q

what is direct manipulation of the IV?

experimental methods

A

when the IV is altered by experimenter to bring about a change

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4
Q

how is control achieved in a lab experiment?

experimental methods

A

all variables except the IV are held constant and a control group is present to act as baseline

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5
Q

why is control important in a lab experiment?

experimental methods

A

so that any change observed is known to have been caused by the IV manipulation

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6
Q

how is randomisation achieved in a lab experiment?

experimental methods

A

ppts randomly allocated to a condition e.g. by flipping a coin or pulling names out a hat

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7
Q

why is randomisation important in a lab experiment?

experimental methods

A

ensures any extraneous influence from one ppt is as likely to affect one group and it does the other -> little influence on DV

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8
Q

what are strengths of a lab experiment?

experimental methods

A
  • high levels of control
  • cause and effect can be established
  • high degree of replicability
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9
Q

what are limiations of a lab experiment?

experimental methods

A
  • low ecological validity
  • high risk of demand characteristics
  • high risk of expeirmenter bias
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10
Q

what is a field experiment?

experimental methods

A

a controlled study that takes place in a natural setting to measure natural behaviour

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11
Q

what are 2 key concepts of field experiments?

experimental methods

A
  1. ppts are often unaware of the study
  2. IV is manipulated to find a causal relationship
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12
Q

what are strengths of a field experiment?

experimental methods

A
  • cause and effect can be established
  • high ecological validity
  • low risk of demand characteristics
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13
Q

what are limitations of a field experiment?

experimental methods

A
  • time consuming
  • less control of extraneous variables
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14
Q

what is a natural experiment?

experimental methods

A

a study where naturally ocurring changes to the IV are observed

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15
Q

what are 2 key concepts of natural experiments?

experimental methods

A
  • IV is unplanned and chnages due to naturally occuring events
  • no control and no direct manipulation of variables
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16
Q

what are strengths of natural experiments?

experimental methods

A
  • high ecological validity
  • useful when unable to manipulate variables
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17
Q

what is a limitation of natural experiments?

experimental methods

A

difficult to pinpoint cause and effect

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18
Q

what is a quasi experiment?

experimental methods

A

a study when ppts cannot be randomly assigned to experimental/control groups

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19
Q

what is the point of a quasi experiment?

experimental methods

A

to create a comparison condition and see how a naturally occuring IV effects different people e.g ages or gender

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20
Q

how are quasi groups brought about?

experimental methods

A

ppts are matched in some way then put into groups

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21
Q

what is the difference between quasi and natural experiments?

experimental methods

A

in quasi experiments, its possible to have planned manipualtion whereas in natural it is not.

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22
Q

what is a strength of a quasi experiement?

experimental methods

A

high ecological validity.

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23
Q

what is a limitation of a quasi experiment?

experimental methods

A

unable to pinpoint cause and effect

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24
Q

what is an observational technqiue?

observational techniques

A

making objective systematic observations on behaviours that have been planned in advance.

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25
Q

what is observation useful for?

observational techniques

A

studying natural behaviours

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26
Q

what are the 6 types of observation?

observational techniques

A

controlled vs naturalistic
covert vs overt
participant vs non participant

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27
Q

what is a controlled observation?

observational techniques

A

an observation taking place in a highly controlled environment e.g. a laboratory

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28
Q

what are the strengths of controlled observation?

observational techniques

A
  • high levels of control
  • easy to establish cause and effect
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29
Q

what is a limitation of controlled observations?

observational techniques

A

low ecological validity

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30
Q

what is a naturalistic observation?

observational techniques

A

an observation of people in their natural environment with no control over variables

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31
Q

what are the strengths and limitations of naturalistic observations?

observational techniques

A

S: high ecological validity
L: no control of variables
L: cannot establish cause and effect

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32
Q

what is a covert observation?

observational techniques

A

an observation where ppts are unaware

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33
Q

what are the strengths and limitations of covert observations?

observational techniques

A

S: natural behaviour observed so increase in validity
L: lack of informed consent = ethical issues

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34
Q

what is an overt observation?

observational techniques

A

an observation where ppts are aware

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35
Q

what are the strengths and limitations of overt observations?

observational techniques

A

S: ppts able to give informed consent
L: increased risk of demand characteristics

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36
Q

what is a participant observation?

observational techniques

A

an observation where the experimenter becomes part of the group being observed

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37
Q

what are strengths and limitations of participant observations?

observational techniques

A

S: greater insight into behaviour so increase in validity
L: objectivity is affected

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38
Q

what is a non participant observation?

observational techniques

A

an observation where the experimenter observes from a distance and is not part of the group

39
Q

what are the strengths and limitations of non participant observation?

observational techniques

A

S: objectivity increases
L: data lacks richness e.g feelings of ppts

40
Q

what is self reporting?

self report techniques

A

when ppts report on themselves

41
Q

what are the two self report techniques?

self report techniques

A

questionnaires
interviews

42
Q

what are the strengths and limitations of self reporting?

self report techniques

A

S: more detailed access to ppts thoughts and feelings, can investigate what ppt will do in future.
L: rely on honesty, social desirability effects possible

43
Q

what is a questionnaire?

self report techniques

A

a list of predetermined questions to which ppts must respond to, in presence or absence of researcher.

44
Q

what are the strengths and limitations of questionnaires?

self report techniques

A

S: cheap and time efficient -> easily mass administered.
L: attracts certain type of person (people pleaser) and difficult to phrase in a way that isnt open to interpretation.

45
Q

what should a researcher consider when designing a questionnaire?

self report techniques

A
  1. clarity: is it clear what the Q is asking?
  2. analysis: is it written so answers be analysed easily?
  3. sequence: easy to hard Qs will build up confidence in ppts
46
Q

what are the two type of questions in a questionnaire?

self report techniques

A

open and closed

47
Q

what is closed question?

self report techniques

A

one where ppts can only respond in a certain way by being given a fixed number of responses to choose from (yes, no)

48
Q

what are the strengths and limitations of closed questions?

self report techniques

A

S: saves time for both ppt and reseacher, minimum effort required
L: can frustrate ppt when preferred answer isnt offered, large amount of questions = fatigue

49
Q

what is an open question?

self report techniques

A

one where the ppts are able to answer freely w/o restriction -> can express opinion and give qualitative data

50
Q

what are the strengths and limitations of open questions?

self report techniques

A

S: offers flexibility, can access ppt’s motivations and feelings
L: difficult to analyse, more time consuming for both researcher and ppt

51
Q

what is an interview?

self report techniques

A

when ppts answer face to face with researcher.

52
Q

what are the strengths and limitations of using an interview?

self report techniques

A

S: well deisgned one can address complex issues, good source of qualitative data
L: answers can be easily influenced by researcher, works bets with confident ppts.

53
Q

what must a reseracher consider when conducting an interview?

self report techniques

A
  1. how will info be recorded?
  2. has informed consent been given by ppt?
  3. has a quiet comfortbale location has been chosen?
  4. are the starting Qs basic neutral ones so more valuable answers are given later when anxiety is lower?
54
Q

what are the two types of interviews available

self report techniques

A

structured and unstructured

55
Q

what is a structured interview?

self report techniques

A

one that follows a set of predetermined questions.

56
Q

what are the strengths and limitations of a structured interview?

self report techniques

A

S: can compare responses to others and identify patterns
L: more time consuming than a questionnaire witth similar structure

57
Q

what is an unstructured interview?

self report techniques

A

one which follows a flexible framework and allows interviewer to seek clarification if needed.

58
Q

what are the strengths and limitations of unstructured interviews?

self report techniques

A

S: more in depth and detailed answers
L: increased risk of invetsigator bias, information hard to analyse afterwards.

59
Q

what is a correlation?

correlations

A

when two or more variables are associated in someway.

60
Q

what are co-variables?

correlations

A

the variables measured in correlational analysis

61
Q

what is correlation?
* a research method
* analysis technique?

correlations

A

an analysis technique

62
Q

what do correlations allow researchers to do?

correlations

A

infer relationships between co-variables

63
Q

when are correlations useful?

correlations

A

in situations where it is impossible to do an experimental study e.g. investigating if smoking causes lung cancer.

64
Q

what are the 4 types of correlational relationship?

correlations

A
  1. positive
  2. negative
  3. curvilinear
  4. zero
65
Q

what is a positive correlation?

correlations

A

when one variable increases, another increases. e.g temperature and ice cream sales

66
Q

what is a negative correlation?

correlations

A

when one variable increases, another decreases e.g. time off work and pay

67
Q

what is a curvilinear correlation?

correlations

A

when there is both a positive and negative correlational relationship. e.g. anxiety and achievement

68
Q

what is a zero correlation?

correlations

A

when there is a no clear relationship between variables

69
Q

what are the strengths of correlations?

correlations

A
  • can investigate situtations that can’t be experimentally studied
  • indicates both the presence and strength of a relationship
70
Q

what are the limitations of correlations?

correlations

A
  • the smaller the sample size, the less accurate the coefficient
  • cannot reliably establish cause and effect
  • only work for linear relationships
71
Q

how can we indicate the strength and direction of a correlation?

correlations

A

correlation co-efficient

72
Q

what is the correlation co-efficient?

correlations

A

numerical representation of the relationship between co-variables, calculated by Spearman’s Rho

73
Q

what does the correlation co-efficient range between?

correlations

A

+1 and -1 (the sign indicating if P or N)

74
Q

what does +1 mean?

correlations

A

the perfect positive correlation

75
Q

how can the correlation co-efficient be used to determine strength?

correlations

A

the closer the correlation is to +/-1, the stronger the correlation. the correlation grows weaker as it nears 0.

76
Q

how can the correlation co-efficient be used to determine significance?

correlations

A

rule of thumb (not always true)
when the co-efficient falls below either +0.5 or -0.5, the relationship is said to be not be significant.

77
Q

what is the difference between correlations and experiments?

correlations

A

correlations do not reliably point to cause and effect and do not tell us why there is a relationship. they give us an indication.

78
Q

what must a researcher decide after correlational analysis?

correlations

A

how the relationship is interpreted.

79
Q

what 3 choices does a researcher have when interpreting a relationship?

correlations

A
  1. cause and effect explanation
  2. third variable explanation
  3. chance explanation
80
Q

what is the cause and effect explanation?

correlations

A

the researcher could decide one variable actually caused the other to increase/decrease.

81
Q

what is the third variable explanation?

correlations

A

researcher could decide another, in the background variable created the apparent relationship

82
Q

what is the chance relationship explanation?

correlations

A

the relationship has no meaning beyond chance - a statistical anomaly

83
Q

what is content analysis?

content analysis

A

the analysis of the content of the media

84
Q

what does content analysis NOT study?

content analysis

A

behaviour directly

85
Q

what does content analysis instead investigate?

content analysis

A

the content of the medium in which behaviour is recorded

86
Q

what are examples of media analysed in content analysis?

content analysis

A
  • mass media (TV, films, magazines)
  • historical documents
87
Q

what is an example of content analysis?

content analysis

A

the different ways in which tabloids stereotype genders when discussing men and women

88
Q

when is content analysis used?

content analysis

A

when the information needed is too costly or not possible/practical to obtain in other ways

89
Q

what are the strengths of content analysis?

content analysis

A
  • straight forward to gain access to media that provides rich information
  • investigators cannot influence behaviour as no direct contact with people
90
Q

what are the limitations of content analysis?

content analysis

A
  • may lack objectivity
  • description of behaviour, not an explanation.
91
Q

what is a case study?

case studies

A

an in depth study of an individual or a group. usually someone whos unique.

92
Q

how can information be gathered in a case study?

case studies

A

observation, interview, psychological tests, record analysis

93
Q

what are the strengths of a case study?

case studies

A
  • large amount of both qualitative and quantitative data can be collected
  • detailed insight into the person
  • allows research to study things there may not be any way to
94
Q

what are the limitations of a case study?

case studies

A
  • cannot be replicated
  • researcher can become too involved, affecting objectivity
  • near impossible to generalise findings

Research Methods (5 decks)

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