Investigative Behaviour Flashcards
What are the 4 types of correlations
Positive
Negative
No correlation
Curvilinear
What are correlations?
Methods used to analyse the association between two variables
What are correlations measured on?
Scale of +1 to -1
\+1= perfect 0= zero -1 = perfectly negative
Give an example of a positive correlation that isn’t big enough to be significant
Diener (+0.12)
How to write a hypothesis
There will be a positive/negative/correlations/relationship/ null correlation between the (Y) and (X) values
What is a curvilinear
A correlation that reaches an optimum arousal peak then decreases
What is a weakness of a graph?
Cannot establish a cause and effect between variables
What are the strengths of graphs?
1- leads to further investigations and can be used to analyse trends. If correlations have been discovered this can be the basis for more studies
2- high degree of replication so high reliability
What are the measures of central tendency?
Mean
Medium
Mode
The measures of central tendency are what type of data?
Quantitive data
What are the levels of measurement?
Nominal
Ordinal
Interval data
Ratio data
What is nominal?
Data split into categories
What is ordinal?
Ordered data (1st to last)
What is interval data?
Counting the correct answers or number of words recalled
What is ratio data?
Units of measurement with an agreed zero point e.g. Height
What are the measures of dispersion?
Range
Standard deviation
What are the steps of standard deviation
1- find the mean
2- subtract the man from one value of the data to get (y)
3- y^2
4- repeat steps 2-3 for each value
5- add all y^2 together
6- take this answer and divide it by the number of data
7- square root the answer
What is validity
A valid measure that discovers the truth
The method/ instrument measures exactly what it is suppose to measure (accuracy)
Primarily it refers to the control of variables
What is internal validity
What goes on inside a study
Questions to ask for internal validity
Where are variables controlled?
Mundane realism?
Can we claim the cause and effect between the IV and DV?
Did participants guess the aim? (Demand characteristics)
Did the experimenter infer with the results?
What is external validity?
The extent to which results can be generalised to other settings or populations
Samples+ sampling main focus
What is single bind?
Participants are unaware of aims/hypothesis
What is double bind?
Participants and experimenter are unaware of the aims/hypothesis
How to test reliability
- does the measure/method being used provide consistent results over time?
- internal validity
- can it be replicated?
How to test reliability in observations
- should have a category coding system to make observations consistent
- two or more observers should compare results (inter-rater reliability)
How to test reliability of self reports
Internal reliability - split test in half
External reliability- test and re-test
TP -> SF -> S
Target population- Sample frame- sample
What is a target population?
Groups psychologists are interested in studying
What is a sampling frame?
Smaller group within a target population
What is a sample
A group of participants that take part in the investigation
Drawn out from the sample frame and meant to represent the target population
What is the representation/ generalisation
The aim of any investigation is tore present the target population
What are the two forms of bias
Researcher bias
Sample bias
What is researcher bias
When the researcher manipulates who is selected
What is sample bias
When they’re dominated by a particular group
What are the main points of ethics
Informed consent Distress (risk of harm) Deception Confidentiality Privacy
How can you deal with ethical problems?
Right to withdrawal
Debrief
Think about long term consequences
What are the forms of graphical display
Scattergrams Bar charts Line graphs Histograms Pie charts
What is a laboratory experiment
A room equipped for scientific research
Used for experiments or observations
What’s the strength of a laboratory
Most scientific
Excellent control of variables and identification of IV and DV
What’s the weakness of a laboratory
Artificial (demand characteristics and low mundane realism)
What is a field setting
Outside of a lab in a more natural setting
What’s the benefit of using field research
Less artificial (less demand characteristics but more mundane realism)
What’s the weakness of using a field location
Less contro, over variables therefore harder to establish cause and effect
What is online research
When participants are accessed/selected
