Methods (general) Flashcards
Outline the process of conducting a sign test
1) Remove = scores
2) Add up positive scores and negative scores
3) Whichever is smaller is the calculated value
4) Using the table, find the critical value
5) Check if calculated value ≤ critical value
6) If so, the data is significant
When would you use a directional hypothesis?
When the findings from previous research on a similar topic suggest a particular outcome
When would you use a non-directional hypothesis?
When there is no previous research on the topic, or the findings of previous research on a similar topic have been contradictory
What are the strengths of correlational research?
Doing correlational research is cheap and easy. It can be useful when an carrying out an experiment would be unethical. It can be done before an experimental study to establish patterns.
Evaluate independent groups design
Strengths: not affected by order effects, less susceptible to demand characteristics
Weaknesses: affected by participant variables, requires twice as many participants
Evaluate repeated measures design
Strengths: not affected by participant variables, requires fewer participants
Weaknesses: affected by order effects, susceptible to demand characteristics
Evaluate matched pairs design
Strengths: not affected by order effects, less susceptible to demand characteristics, controls for participant variables
Weaknesses: time-consuming and expensive
What are the limitations of correlational research?
You cannot draw causal conclusions. Sometimes you do not know which co-variable caused the change in the other, and sometimes there is even a hidden variable affecting both variables (the third variable problem).
Evaluate laboratory experiments
Strengths: high control of EVs, good internal validity, good replicability
Weaknesses: artificial tasks, poor external validity, affected by demand characteristics
Evaluate field experiments
Strengths: high mundane realism, good external validity
Weaknesses: low control of EVs, poor replicability, ethical issues with lack of consent
Evaluate natural experiments
Strengths: high external validity, opportunities for research which may otherwise have ethical or practical limitations
Weaknesses: no random allocation, poor replicability, rarely occuring events
Evaluate quasi experiments
Strengths: high control of EVs, good internal validity
Weaknesses: no random allocation, affected by confounding varibales
What are the criteria for the sign test?
Related data (repeated measures design), it is a test of difference, nominal data (categories)
Evaluate random sampling
Strength: free from researcher bias
Weaknesses: time-consuming, may still result in an unrepresentative sample
Evaluate systematic sampling
Strengths: free from researcher bias, fairly representative
Weakness: time-consuming
Evaluate stratified sampling
Strengths: free from researcher bias, representative
Weakness: sub-groups cannot perfectly categorise participants
Evaluate opportunity sampling
Strengths: convenient, time and cost-effective
Weaknesses: researcher bias, unrepresentative
Evaluate volunteer sampling
Strengths: time and cost-effective
Weakness: volunteer bias (attracts a certain ‘profile’ of participants - curious, keen, helpful)
What do we need to know to use the critical values table for a sign test?
Whether the hypothesis is 1 or 2 tailed, the number of pieces of data, and the % of error allowed (usually 5%)
How do we deal with informed consent?
Participants should be issued with a consent letter detailing all relevant information. If the participant is younger than 16, their parents’ consent should be gained too.