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PSYCH5121 exam notes > LU2: Research Methods In Psychology > Flashcards

LU2: Research Methods In Psychology Flashcards

1
Q

Psychologists and other scientists share what 3 sets of interrelated goals?

A
  1. Measurement and description
  2. Understanding and prediction
  3. Application and control
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2
Q

What encompasses the measurement and description step?

A

Developing measurement techniques to describe behaviour clearly and precisely.

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3
Q

What encompasses the understanding and prediction step?

A
  1. Hypothesis: Statinga relationship between 2/ more variables.
  2. Variables: measurable conditions etc.
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4
Q

What encompasses the application and control step?

A

Information gathered can be of practical value to help solve problems.
Once understood they can exert more control over it.

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5
Q

What is the aim of a scientific method?

A

Make observations of phenomena in order to collect data and improve the quality of human lives.

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6
Q

Scientists observe nature in what way?

A

A systematic way & follow rules.

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7
Q

Psychology is……, uses direct observation to gather knowledge.

A

Empirical

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8
Q

What are the goals of the science of psychology?

A
  1. Describe how people and animals behave.
  2. To understand and explain the causes of behaviour.
  3. To predict how people and animals will behave under certain conditions.
  4. To control behaviour through knowledge & control of its causes.
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9
Q

What are the 8 steps in a scientific investigation?

A
  1. Identify a problem
  2. State the rationale
  3. Formulate a hypothesis
  4. Collect data
  5. Analyse the data
  6. Report the results
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10
Q

What is the difference between the quantitative research approach and the qualitative

A

Quantitative- number approach
Qualitative- people approach

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11
Q

What does true experimental research involve?

A

Experimentation

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12
Q

What is true experimental research?

A

One or more of the variables are manipulated while the other variables are held constant. Provide answers to questions of interest be establishing whether cause- and- effect relationships exist between variables.

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13
Q

What does “Quasi” mean?

A

Partly or resembling

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14
Q

What is Quasi- experimental research design?

A

Almost a true experimental design, (established cause and effect) except does not involve randomization. The independent variable is manipulated but does not account for full control of extraneous variables due to lack of random assignment of participants to groups.
Eg) for practical/ ethical reasons.

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15
Q

What is descriptive research design approach?

A

A summary of data.
Describes thoughts, feelings or behaviour of individuals regarding a particular phenomenon.
Used to describe the frequency with which a particular variable occurs, or 2 variables are associated.
Helps answer the what, when, where and how questions regarding the research problem, rather than the why.

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16
Q

What is survey design?

A

Asking a large sample of people questions about perceptions, attitudes & behaviour. Gather information about prevalence, distributions and associations between variables.

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17
Q

What is correlation research design?

A

Describes the strength of the relation between 2/ more variables or characteristics. Determines whether a relationship among variables and predict future events from present knowledge.

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18
Q

Define independent variable

A

A condition/ event that an experimentor varies in order to see its impact on another variable.

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19
Q

Define a dependent variable

A

The variable that is thought to be affected by manipulation of the independent variable.

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20
Q

Define an experimental group

A

A test sample that receives an experimental procedure.

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21
Q

Define a control group

A

A group separated from the rest of the group experiment such that the independent variable being tested cannot influence the results.

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22
Q

Define an extraneous variable

A

Variables that may compete with the independent variable in explaining the outcome of a study.

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23
Q

What is internal validity?

A

Degree to which the results are attributable to the influence of the independent variable and not other competing rival explanation.

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24
Q

What is external validity?

A

This is concerned with the extent to which the results of a study can be generalized to the larger population/ across environments.

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25
Q

What are the 6 threats to internal validity?

A
  1. Selection bias
  2. Mortality
  3. Instrumentation threat
  4. History threat
  5. Maturation threat
  6. Testing threat
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26
Q

Explain 3 of those 6 internal threats…

A
  1. Selection bias: pre- existing differences.
  2. Mortality: drop out of a study during the follow up.
  3. History threat: unrelated event that can affect responses of participants.
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27
Q

What are the 2 threats to external validity?

A
  1. Multiple treatment effect.
  2. Small sample size.
28
Q

What is multiple treatment effect?

A

When 3 or more treatments post test, scores for treatment to demonstrate the best results.

29
Q

What is a small sample size?

A

More susceptible to individual deviations & anomalies which can skew the results.

30
Q

What is an observational design?

A
  1. Direct observations of individuals in a natural setting.
  2. Collects data without manipulating any variables.
  3. No intervention.
31
Q

What does a case study design provide?

A
  1. In depth observation.
  2. Descriptive records of experiences and behaviour.
  3. Analyzing collection of case studies to look for patterns.
  4. Provide a compelling, real life illustrations that support a theory.
32
Q

What is a phenomenology design?

A
  1. Reality is a socially constructed thing.
  2. Study of individuals real life experiences.
  3. Provides an understanding of issues from their perspective.
  4. Rich lived experiences.
  5. Subjective experience.
33
Q

What is a primary collection method?

A

Direct forms of data collection & include information collected through methods such as surveys, questionnaires, interviews & experiments.

34
Q

What is a secondary collection method?

A

Indirect ways of collecting data & comprise sourcing information from a range of sources such as documents, electronic information, journals, newspapers. Use meta analysis (previous research).

35
Q

What are standardized test?

A
  1. Enables researchers to examine participants’ ability to solve problems.
  2. Assess knowledge & capacity to apply knowledge.
  3. Performance tests.
  4. Measured against a standard. (Eg, age).
  5. Norm referenced (others of same age).
36
Q

What is a negative to standardized tests?

A

Expensive
Time consuming

37
Q

What are questionnaires used for?

A

Used to elicit feelings, perceptions, beliefs and attitudes of participants.

38
Q

Questionnaires are economical but…

A

… have to be well designed.

39
Q

What are the 6 types of interviews?

A
  1. Face to face
  2. Telephone
  3. Focus group
  4. Structured
  5. Unstructured
  6. Semi- structured
40
Q

Describe face to face

A

Allows communication to be more personal.

41
Q

Describe telephone interviews

A

Gather information quickly
Cost effective
No travel

42
Q

What is a focus group interview?

A

Small group of people led by a trained moderator discussing opinions and attitudes.

43
Q

What is a structured interview?

A

Use of questions that are developed before the interview is conducted.

44
Q

What are unstructured interviews?

A

Conversational interviews interested in exploring the topic in more detail.

45
Q

What are semi- structured interviews?

A

Follow a script of prescribed questions that guide the interview guide.
Probe new leads while also covering pre- determined questions.

46
Q

What is naturalistic observation?

A

A field study, natural setting, no interference from experimenter.

47
Q

What is ecological validity?

A

The extent to which results can be used in real life situations.

48
Q

What is participant observation?

A

When the researcher immerses themselves in the setting to gain deeper understanding.

49
Q

What is laboratory observation?

A

Takes place in the artificial, extremely controlled environment.
Allows more control over variables.
Reduces influence of confounding variables that help increase internal Validity.

50
Q

Positives of laboratory observation?

A

Easier to replicate, less time and money than naturalistic.

51
Q

What do documents consist of?

A
  1. Personal documents.
  2. Public documents.
  3. Archival records.
52
Q

What is descriptive statistics?

A

Used to organize and summarise data.

53
Q

What are the 3 measures of central tendency?

A
  1. Mode
  2. Median
  3. Mean
54
Q

What is a measure of spread?

A

Used to describe the variability or spread of data in a sample or population.

55
Q

What is variance?

A

Average of the squared differences between each data value and the mean.

56
Q

What is the standard deviation?

A

Provides information about how the values of the data set vary from the mean of the data set.

57
Q

What is a correlation co- efficient?

A

A numerical index of the degree of relationship between two variables.

58
Q

What is a positive correlation?

A

Occurs when two or more variables vary in the same pattern.

59
Q

What is a negative correlation?

A

Occurs when two or more variables show patterns of variation directly opposite to one another.

60
Q

What are inferential statistics used to make?

A

Used to make predictions, inferences and draw conclusions.

61
Q

When does statistical significance exist?

A

When the probability that the observed findings are due to chance is very low.

62
Q

What are the HPCSA’s 5 mentioned guidelines?

A
  1. Voluntary participation
  2. Informed consent
  3. Confidentiality
  4. Debriefing
  5. Deception
63
Q

Finish the sentence:
Researchers are bound by regulated ethics and legislation to…

A

… protect the dignity and welfare of participants.

64
Q

Scientists often try to replicate research findings to double check their validity, so what is replication in evaluating research?

A

Replication- the repetition of a study to see if the same results can be achieved.

65
Q

How does bias affect research?

A

This is a form of systematic error that can affect scientific investigations and alter the measurement process.

PSYCH5121 exam notes (12 decks)

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