Intro to Psych

Question 1

What is a population

Answer 1

the whole group of people of interest to the researchers

Question 2

What is a sample

Answer 2

the participants being studied in the research. A smaller group selected from the population as it would be impossible to conduct a study using the entire population

Question 3

Why must a sample be large and how large

Answer 3

A sample must be large enough to be statistically convincing and diverse enough to accurately represent the population. 10% of population is representative.

Question 4

Sample and generalisation

Answer 4

• The results obtained from a representative sample can be generalised to the relevant population. We can draw conclusions about the population based on the results from the sample. The bigger the sample, the more reliable the results.

Question 5

Three types of designs

Answer 5

• Experimental
• Quantitative observational
• Qualitative

Question 6

What is an experimental design

Answer 6

• An experimental design is used to test whether one variable influences of causes a change in another variable.

Question 7

Where can an experimental design be tested

Answer 7

a laboratory or field setting

Question 8

4 characteristics of an experimental group

Answer 8

• IV and DV
• random allocation
• cause and effect
• control groups

Question 9

Placebo effect

Answer 9

• The placebo effect is a participant variable that refers to an improvement in health or wellbeing due to an individual belief that the treatment given to them is effective, rather than due to the actual treatment.

Question 10

What are extraneous variable

Answer 10

• Extraneous variables are all other variables other than the IV and DV that may affect results they can be participant based, situational or researcher based.

Question 11

Way to reduce researcher variables

Answer 11

• A way of reducing researcher variables is a double-blind procedure in which both the person collecting the data and the participants are unaware of the conditions to which the participants have been assigned.

Question 12

Quantitative observational

Answer 12

• The collection of quantitative data by observing pre-existing criteria and variables.
• Conducted when the IV cannot be manipulated for a range of reasons
• Does not provide a cause and effect, but a correlation
• There is no random allocation as the groups already exist
• The independent variable occurs naturally.
• Extraneous variables are less controlled hence why we cannot establish a cause and effect

Question 13

Qualitative design

Answer 13

• This design method produces data in comprehensive verbal and written form.
• They do not seek to test a specific hypothesis
• Focus groups and Delphi technique.

Question 14

Focus group

Answer 14

• A method of conducting group interviews for collecting data for research.
• Provides the opportunity of talking to people to find out what they think and feel
• Snowball effect
• 6-12 people

Question 15

Delphi Technique

Answer 15

• A method of using questionnaires to collect data about opinions from a group of participants who are experts on a topic.
• The questionnaire is sent out, answer, then sent out again, aiming to form a consensus.

Question 16

Content Analysis

Answer 16

• Used to analyse data from focus groups and the Delphi technique
• A process called coding is used, reducing large amounts of text into a few categories.
• The process involves
• Careful reading of all responses
• Identifying, naming and sorting core themes within the data
• Identifying sub themes
• Noting the frequency with which these occur
• Looking for patterns in what people say.

Question 17

Advantages of experimental

Answer 17

• cause and effect
• control over variables
• replicable

Question 18

Disadvantages of experimental

Answer 18

• artificial
• Unethical
• Extranous variables decrease validity

Question 19

advantages of Quantitative observational

Answer 19

can study topics experiments cannot.

Question 20

Disadvantages of quantitative observational

Answer 20

does not allow for cause and effect

Question 21

Advantages of qualitative

Answer 21

very good for investigating attitudes
avoid ethical problems
illiterate

Question 22

Disadvantages of qualitative

Answer 22

no cause and effect
can’t test a hypothesis
time consuming

Question 23

Quantitative

Answer 23

numerical quantities

Question 24

Qualitative

Answer 24

non-numerical qualities

Question 25

Objective

Answer 25

can be directly observed or verified

Question 26

Subjective

Answer 26

depends on perception or opinion

Question 27

inventory/standardised

Answer 27

Objective

Question 28

Face validity

Answer 28

refers to whether a measurement tool actually measures what it is supposed to measure. If a questionnaire is designed to measure people’s attitude then if it is valid it will give a good indication as to what a person’s attitude really is.

Question 29

Social desirability

Answer 29

the tendency of some respondent to report an answer in a way they deem to be more socially desirable than their true answer. They do this to project a favourable image of themselves.

Question 30

External validity

Answer 30

this refers to whether or not the conclusions drawn from the results are correct in other situations. Are they representative of population? Are they applicable in the real world.

Question 31

Reliability

Answer 31

refers to how consistent the results of a measurement are.

Results can be reliable but not valid (consistent but wrong)

Question 32

Results bunched up on graph

Answer 32

Low standard deviation

Question 33

Results spread out on graph

Answer 33

High standard deviation

Question 34

Statistical Power

Answer 34

• in small sample sizes, extraneous variables have greater impacts.