Key facts- research methods

Question 1

Examples of research methods

Answer 1

-experimental
-observational
-self report

Question 2

Examples of experimental designs

Answer 2

-independent
-repeated measures
-matched pairs

Question 3

Benefits to experiment

Answer 3

Can see cause and effect

Question 4

types of validity

Answer 4

-face validity
-concurrent validity

Question 5

whats face validity

Answer 5

asking other people if … are a good measure of …
-does test appear to measure what it says to measure

Question 6

whats concurrent validity

Answer 6

giving participants an alternative / established test and checking to see that the two sets of data are positively correlated

Question 7

what’s temporal validity

Answer 7

-another form of external validity which refers to how findings can be applied across time

Question 8

how to improve validity in experiments

Answer 8

-use a control group which allows comparison
-single or double blind ensuring knowledge of conditions doesn’t result in demand characteristics or investigator effects
-use standardised instructions so participants are less likely to have different interpretations of what to do

Question 9

how to improve validity in questionnaires

Answer 9

-include a lie scale to check consistency of participants response e.g. my sleeping has become worse and i generally sleep well- rate from 1 to 5
-ensure participants know their responses will be kept anonymous