Method Research Flashcards
What is the definition of psychology?
The scientific study of human and animal behaviour with the object of understanding why living beings behave the way that they do.
What are the 4 ethical principles?
- Responsibility
- Respect
- Integrity
- Competency
What are the 7 ethical guidlines?
- Competency
- Confidentiality
- Deception
- Debrief
- Right to withdraw
- Informed consent
- Psychological harm
What is replacement?
Use alternative methods, protect certain species.
What is refinement?
Minimise suffering, enhance welfare.
What is reduction?
Use the fewest number of animals as possible.
What is Bateson’s decision cube?
It plots the benefit of the research against the cost of the research in terms of animal suffering and the quality of the research.
What is opportunity sampling?
Simply selecting those people that are available at the time. EG] Going up to people in cafes and asking them to be interviewed.
What is a strength of opportunity sampling?
- It’s quick and convenient
- It’s economical and most common type of sampling in practise.
What is a weakness of opportunity sampling?
- Unrepresentative samples
- Biased
What is random sampling?
Every member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected.
What is a strength of random sampling?
- Provides very large samples
- Best chances of unbased
- Equal chances of selection
What is a weakness of random sampling?
- Time consuming
- If it’s a small sample it is biased
What is statisfied sampling?
Dividing target population into important sub categories. Selecting members in proportion that they occur in the population. EG] 2.5% of British are of an Indian origin, so 2.5% of your sample should be Indian …
What is a strength of stratisfied sampling?
Deliberate effort is made to make the sample representative of the target population.
What is a weakness of stratisfied sampling?
It can be time consuming as the sub categories have to be identified and proportions calculated.
What is a sample?
The participants involved in the research selected from the target population.
What is volunteer sampling?
Individuals who have chosen to be in the study. mainly applying via an advert.
What is a strength of volunteer sampling?
- Convient
- Ethical if it leads to informed consent
- Access to a large variety of participants, which leads to more representative data samples
What is a weakness of volunteer sampling?
- Unrepresentative as leads to bias on the part of the participant
- Biased
What is a target population?
The total group of people from which a sample can be drawn.
What are matched pairs?
Different but similar participants are in each condition of the experiment. Group A and B are matched on a certain trait.
What are repeated measures?
The participants repeat the experiment for every condition.
What are independent groups?
Different participants in every condition of the experiment.
What is a directional question? [1 tailed]
- States the direction of the difference or correlation
- Close ended
- States what the group will do
What is social desirability?
When a participant changes their behaviour or response to be seen in a better light [positive view].
What are older effects?
Effects that occur due to the order the participants experiences during the conditions.
What is response bias?
When a participant responds to a question in a pattern. EG] A,B,C,A,B,C…
What is a null hypothesis?
- Opposite to a null hypothesis
- Predicts no significant difference or correlation
- Any differences will be due to chance
- One will be rejected, one will be accepted
What is correlation?
A way of analysing the relationship between two co variables. It will be used to gain data from other research methods, questionnaire or observation. Presented with scatter graph.
What is a strength of a correlation?
Identifying correlation can determine whether future additional research needs to take place.
What is a weakness of a correlation?
- Researchers can’t establish cause and effect between the 2 variables
- Can’t assess impact of additional variables
What is alternate/alternative hypothesis?
The significant difference or correlation you expect to observe.
What is an observation?
Researcher watches and records participants behaviour without interfering. They can be naturalistic or structured. Theyccan be overt or covert.
What is a strength of an observation?
Naturalistuic observations are high in ecological validity.
What is a weakness of an observation?
- Structural observations may lack ecological validity
- Bias issues
What is an interview?
Interviewer verbally asks participant a series of questions, either face to face or via phone. They can ask open or closed questions in order to gain quantitative data or qualitative data.
What is a strength of an interview?
If structure interview is used, data is high in reliability as interview can be easily replicated.
What is a weakness of an interview?
When unstructured is used, it’s difficult to replicate.
What is a field experiment?
Takes place in an environment that’s natural to participants.
What is a strength of a field experiment?
- A natural setting means that data ia high in ecological validity
- Participants behaviour will be true to everyday life
What is a weakness of a field experiment?
- Researcher has limited control on extraneous variables
- Results shown can be effected by environment
What is a lab experiment?
They take place in an artificial controlled environment.
What is a strength of a lab experiment?
Experimenter can control extraneous variables
What is a weakness of a lab experiment?
Behaviour shown by participants may not reflect their everyday behaviour, meaning data is low in validity.
What are conditions?
Different variants of the independent variable
What is a dependent variable?
The variable affected by the independent variable, which is measured by the researcher.
What is a hypothesis?
A prediction about the results of a study. It’s a testable statement, that can be supported or rejected by research.
What is demand characteristics?
When a participant changes their behaviour or response in order to please the researcher. Mainly happens when participants try and guess the aim of the research.
What is an extraneous variable?
Variables that MIGHT impact the results of a study. [DV that aren’t the IV].
What is a confounding variable?
Variables that DID impact the results of a study [DV] that aren’t the IV.
What is an independent variable?
The variable changed by the researcher.
What is quantitative data?
Data in a numerical form.
What is qualiltative data?
Non-numerical data in a descriptive form.
How can you test a hypothesis?
- Lab experiment
- Interview
- Observation
- Questionnaire
- Field experiment
- Case study
- Correlational study
- Analysing secondary data
What is a non-directional study? [2 tailed]
- States there will be a difference or correlation but doesn’t suggest the direction
- Open ended
- Could go any way
What makes a hypothesis SOFT?
- Specific
- Operationalised
- Falsifiable
- Testable
What is a C and C writing frame?
Claims and components
What is SODA writing frame?
- Supporting evidence
- Opposing evidence
- Different theory
- Applications
What is independent groups design?
When different participants are used in each condition of the independent variable.
What is a participant variable?
The differing characteristics that may impact how a participant responds in an experiment.
What is a situational variable?
They can be situational [to do with the setting or task] or ppt [to do with the sample] variables.
What is demand characteristics?
When a participant changes their behaviour or respons in order to please the researcher. This happens when they guess the aim of the research.
What does BPS stand for?
British Psychological Study.
