Experimental designs

Question 1

define single blind

Answer 1

the ppt is not aware of which level of the IV they are placed in. This prevents the ppt being aware of what the experiment is about and helps prevent ‘screw you effect’.

Question 2

define double blind

Answer 2

this is when the ppt and the researcher are not aware of what level the ppt is placed in during the experiment. This prevents any bias

Question 3

define ppt sampling

Answer 3

Smaller proportion of ppts that represent the larger study number

Question 4

how is a sample calculated?

Answer 4

it depends on the amount of people that is in the total population, eg <5% would be used for a population of 20,000.

Question 5

If you increase the sample size what happens to the representation of data? vice versa with if you decrease it.

Answer 5

The bigger the sample, more representative.
The smaller the sample, the less representative.

Question 6

What are the five types of sampling?

Answer 6

random - number generator etc
opportunity - sampling wherever and taking the opportunity to do so.
volunteer - somebody voluntarily entering for the sample.
stratified - subgroups ‘strata’
systematic - at every regular interval

Question 7

define aim of the experiment

Answer 7

the general intention of the study and what you’ll study in it.

Question 8

define hypotheses

Answer 8

a prediction of what you thin/ expect to happen in an experiment
It predicts the expected influence of the change in the IV on the DV

Question 9

Define operationalise

Answer 9

When you include units with a DV/ IV

Question 10

what are the four steps to writing a hypothesis?

Answer 10

-identify the research aim + type of study
-identify exactly what is being manipulated (IV, categories, co-variables)
-identify the specific measure that will be taken (DV or covariable)
-identify if the hypothesis should be directional or non directional

Question 11

what is the point of a experiment?

Answer 11

in these you are looking for a difference

Question 12

what is the point of a correlation?

Answer 12

in these you are looking for a relationship

Question 13

what are the two types of hypotheses?

Answer 13

directional
non-directional

Question 14

what are directional hypotheses?

Answer 14

these are used when there is previous research indicating the likely difference you will find. These allow you to used a ‘one tailed test’

Question 15

what are non directional hypotheses?

Answer 15

these are used when there isn’t previous research indicating the likely difference you will find. You have to use a ‘two tailed test’.

Question 16

What is the point to operationalising?

Answer 16

it allows for other researchers to know exactly what has been changed and what has been measured.

Question 17

How is something measured which is ‘intangible’?

Answer 17

the most common methods involve using a scale or statement with several options, e.g ‘how angry are you’?

Question 18

define likert side

Answer 18

this includes several options e.g SA, A, N, D, SD

Question 19

When it is a directional experiment/ correlation, do you write about the DV or IV first?

Answer 19

DV

Question 20

when it is a non directional experiment/ correlation, do you write about the DV or the IV first?

Answer 20

IV

Question 21

Define Null hypotheses

Answer 21

instead of making a prediction of what will be found in the experiment, the null hypothesis will state that there will be nothing found in the research.

Question 22

what are the two reasons as to why a null hypothesis is used by a researcher?

Answer 22

it covers the probability that the hypothesis is incorrect
it helps the researcher to stay objective by adding extra distance between themselves and the experimental hypothesis.

Question 23

what is difference between objectivity and subjectivity?

Answer 23

objectivity- unbiased study
subjectivity- biased study

Question 24

what is the difficulty with experiments?

Answer 24

it is more likely to say that you have found nothing rather than finding something new, therefore the results aren’t published for old results and only is for anything new.

Question 25

define correlational hypotheses

Answer 25

these look for a relationship instead of a difference. They predict there will be some form of relationship between the two covariables- usually starts with ‘ there will be a relationship between..’

Question 26

What must you include if it is a directional correlational hypothesis?

Answer 26

Use either positive or negative to describe the type of hypothesis

Question 27

define chi square statistical test

Answer 27

a test of association or difference and compares distant categories.

Question 28

give an example of a chi square statistical test

Answer 28

e.g there will be an association or difference between birth order ( first of second) and career choice (academic or vocational).