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Research Methods > Methods and techniques > Flashcards

Methods and techniques Flashcards

1
Q

What is an aim?

A

Aims are developed from theories and are general statements that describe the purpose of an investigation.

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2
Q

What is a hypothesis?

A

A testable statement which predicts the outcome at the start of the study and states the relationship between the variables to be investigated.

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3
Q

What are the 2 types of hypotheses?

A

Directional

Non-directional

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4
Q

What is a directional hypothesis?

A
  • States the direction of the difference or relationship.

- Used when there has been previous research.

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5
Q

What is a non-directional hypothesis?

A
  • Does not state the direction.

- Used when there is no previous research.

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6
Q

What is an independent variable?

A

Variable that is manipulated by the experimenter.

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7
Q

What is a dependent variable?

A

Variable that is measured by the experimenter.

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8
Q

What is operationalisation?

A

Variables being investigated should be clearly defined and measurable.

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9
Q

What are the 2 levels of the IV?

A

Control condition

Experimental condition

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10
Q

What are the 4 types of experiment?

A

Laboratory
Field
Natural
Quasi

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11
Q

What is a laboratory experiment?

A
  • Takes place in a controlled environment within which the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV, whilst maintaining strict control of extraneous variables.
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12
Q

State 2 positives of using a laboratory experiment.

A
  • High control over extraneous variables - ensures cause and effect so high internal validity.
  • Replication is more possible.
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13
Q

State 3 negatives of using a laboratory experiment.

A
  • May lack generalisability - artificial so low external validity.
  • Participants may be aware they’re being tested in a lab - demand characteristics.
  • Tasks carried out may not represent real-life experiments - low mundane realism.
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14
Q

What is a field experiment?

A

An experiment that takes place in a natural setting within which the researcher manipulated the IV and records the effect on the DV.

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15
Q

State 2 positives of using a field experiment.

A
  • High mundane realism - environment is more natural.
  • Produces behaviour that is more valid and authentic so high external validity as participants are unaware they’re being tested.
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16
Q

State 2 negatives of using a field experiment.

A
  • Loss of control of extraneous variables - more difficult to establish cause and effect so replication is often not possible.
  • Ethical issues - cannot give consent so invasion of privacy.
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17
Q

What is a natural experiment?

A

An experiment where the change in the IV is not brought about by the researcher but would have happened even if the researcher has not been present. The researcher then records the effect on the DV.

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18
Q

State 2 positives of using a natural experiment.

A
  • Provide opportunities for research that may not be otherwise undertaken for practical/ethical reasons.
  • High external validity - study of real-life issues, e.g. effects of natural disaster on stress levels.
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19
Q

State 2 negatives of using a natural experiment.

A
  • Naturally occurring events may be rare, reducing the opportunities for research - limit the scope for generalising findings.
  • Participants may not be randomly allocated to experimental conditions so researchers are less sure whether the IV effected the DV.
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20
Q

What is a quasi experiment?

A

A study that is almost an experiment but lacks key ingredients (the IV is not determined by anyone) and the variables simply just exist (e.g. age).

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21
Q

What is a positive of a quasi experiment?

A

Carried out under controlled conditions so has the sam strengths as a lab experiment.

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22
Q

What is a negative of a quasi experiment?

A

Cannot randomly allocate participants to conditions and therefore there may be confounding variables.

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23
Q

What is a naturalistic observation?

A

The setting/context of the observation is where the target behaviour would usually occur.

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24
Q

State a positive of a naturalistic observation.

A

High external validity - findings can be generalised to everyday life.

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25
Q

State 2 negatives of a naturalistic observation.

A
  • Lack control over research situation so makes replication difficult.
  • Uncontrolled extraneous variables.
26
Q

What is a controlled observation?

A

Watching and recording behaviour in a structured environment.

27
Q

State a positive of a controlled observation.

A

Extraneous variables are less of an issue so replication is easier.

28
Q

State a negative of a controlled observation.

A

May produce findings that cannot be as readily applied to real-life settings.

29
Q

What is a covert observation?

A

Participants are unaware they are the focus of the study and their behaviour is observed in secret.

30
Q

State a positive of covert observation.

A

Validity increases as participants behaviour is more likely to be natural.

31
Q

State a negative of covert observation.

A

Ethics.

32
Q

What is an overt observation?

A

Participants know their behaviour is being observed and have given their informed consent.

33
Q

State a positive of overt observation.

A

More ethically acceptable.

34
Q

State a negative of overt observation.

A

Participants are aware they’re being observed so may change their behaviour.

35
Q

What is participant observation?

A

Necessary for observer to become part of the group they’re studying so gains first hand account.

36
Q

State a positive of participant observation.

A

Validity of findings may be increased as the researcher can experience the situation as the participants do and gain insight.

37
Q

State a negative of participant observation.

A

May lose objectivity as they may identify too strongly with those they’re studying.

38
Q

What is non-participant observation?

A

The researcher remains separate from those they are studying and records their behaviour in a more objective way.

39
Q

State a positive of non-participant observation.

A

Allows researcher to maintain objectivity.

40
Q

State a negative of non-participant observation.

A

May lose valuable insight.

41
Q

Name 2 self-report techniques.

A

Questionnaires

Interviews

42
Q

What 2 types of questions are used in questionnaires?

A

Open

Closed

43
Q

What is an open question?

A
  • No fixed range of answers.

- Produces qualitative data.

44
Q

What is a closed question?

A
  • Fixed number of responses.

- Produces quantitative data.

45
Q

State 3 positives of questionnaires.

A
  • Cost effective.
  • Gather large amounts of data quickly.
  • Can be completed without researchers being present.
46
Q

State 2 negatives of questionnaires.

A
  • Respondents may not always be truthful.
  • Social-desirability bias (demand characteristic).
  • May rush questionnaire - response bias - e.g. always ticking yes.
47
Q

What are the 3 types of interview?

A

Structured
Unstructured
Semi-structured

48
Q

What is a structured interview?

A

Made up of pre-determined set of questions that are asked in a fixed order.

49
Q

What is an unstructured interview?

A

Like a conversation so no set questions, with the general aim that a certain topic will be discussed.

50
Q

What is a semi-structured interview?

A

List of predetermined questions but interviewers are also free to ask follow up questions as the interview develops.

51
Q

State a positive of a structured interview.

A

Replication - due to their standardised format.

52
Q

State a negative of a structured interview.

A

Not possible to deviate from questions.

53
Q

State a positive of an unstructured interview.

A

More flexibility to gain insight.

54
Q

State a negative of an unstructured interview.

A

Harder to analyse and draw conclusions from.

55
Q

What is a correlation?

A

Illustrates the strength and direction of an association between 2 or more co-variables.
Plotted on scattergram.

56
Q

What are the 3 types of correlation?

A

Positive
Negative
Zero

57
Q

What is a positive correlation?

A

As one co-variable increases, so does the other.

58
Q

What is a negative correlation?

A

As one co-variable increases the other decreases/

59
Q

What is a zero correlation?

A

No relationship between the co-variables.

60
Q

What is the difference between correlations and experiments?

A

Experiment - researcher manipulates IV in order to measure the effect on the DV.
Correlation - no manipulation of variables so can’t establish cause and effect.

61
Q

State 3 positives of correlations.

A
  • Useful preliminary tool for research - may suggest ideas for future research.
  • Relatively quick and economical to carry out.
  • Secondary data can be used to less time consuming.
62
Q

State 2 negatives of correlations.

A
  • Cannot demonstrate cause and effect.
  • Cannot establish which co-variable is causing the other to change.
  • Third variable problem.

Research Methods (4 decks)

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