Methods - cognitive psychology Flashcards
What is independents group design?
Participants are divided into two groups. One group does the experiment with variable 1 and the other group does the experiment with variable 2. The results are compared.
What is repeated measures design?
Participants are divided into two groups. Instead, all participants do the experiment with variable 1 and the same participants do the experiment with variable 2. Results are compared.
What is matched pairs design?
A type of independent groups design
Participants are selected. Then, the researchers recruit another group of participants one by one to match the characteristics of each member of the original group. This provides two groups that are relevantly similar and controls for difference between groups
What is a lab experiment?
An experiment conducted in an artificial controlled environment
-An example is Craik and Tulving who used a lab experiment to measure levels of processing by measuring the number of words recalled and whether they were processed semantically or phonetically
+ Extraneous variables are controlled
+ Reliable as its a standardised procedure
— Lacks ecological validity because location is unrealistic
— Demand characteristics as participants were aware they are studied
What is a field experiment?
An experiment carried out in a natural, real world environment
-An example is Hofling as this study uses nurses who were on duty at the time and measured whether nurses obeyed a phone call from an unknown doctor
+ Participants will act naturally as they aren’t aware they are being studies
+ High ecological validity
— Time consuming to set up
— No control over extraneous variables
What are hypotheses?
Experimental hypothesis - a prediction that changing the IV will cause a change in the DV
Null hypothesis - a prediction that changing the IV will have no effect on the DV
What is operationalisation?
Operationalisation of variables is where researchers clearly and measurably define variables in their study
If variables aren’t properly operationalised, the experiment cannot be properly replicated, experimenters subjective interpretations may skew results
What do case studies do?
Case studies collect qualitative and quantitative data
It uses a combination of research methods which is called triangulation
What are the benefits of case studies?
High validity - focuses on data collection and triangulation as supporting evidence
Ecological validity - Case study requires individuals to be studied in their natural setting
What are the drawbacks of case studies?
Lacks generalisability - sample is a small group so doesn’t apply to majority
Lacks reliability - can’t be supported because a case study is specific to small groups
Subjective
