past papers Flashcards
explain what is meant by ‘event sampling’
•researchers decide on a specific event relevant to the investigation
•relevant event is recorded every time it happens
briefly discuss how observational research might be improved by conducting observations in a controlled environment
•controlled environment affords the opportunity for control of extraneous variables
•examples of extraneous variables that might be controlled and why they could affect the outcome of a study of not controlled
•exclusion of extraneous variables allowed for greater reference about cause and effect
•exclusion of extraneous variables means researcher can replicate the observation to check for reliability of the effect
explain how a study could be modified by checking the sleep questionnaire for test-retest ability
•the same participants would complete the sleep questionnaire on more than one occasion
•each participants’ scores from the first occasion should be correlated with their results from the later occasion to be down on a scatter graph to describe the correlation, with scores from the first test plotted on one axis and the scores from the second test plotted on the other axis
•the strength of the correlation should then be assessed using either a Spearman’s rho test (or a Pearson’s r test)
•the degree of reliability is then determined by comparing the correlation with the statistical table to determine the extent of correlation- there should be a strong positive correlation between two sets of scores
what is the sign test
The sign test is a non-parametric statistical test of difference that allows a researcher to determine the significance of their investigation. It is used in studies that have used a repeated measures design, where the data collected is nominal.
what are some factors that are relevant for the use of the sign test?
•nominal/ categorical data
•test of difference
•repeated measures design
what is nominal data?
Nominal data is a type of qualitative data which groups variables into categories. You can think of these categories as nouns or labels; they are purely descriptive, they don’t have any quantitative or numeric value, and the various categories cannot be placed into any kind of meaningful order or hierarchy
explain two factors that the researcher had to take into account when deciding to use the sign test
•nominal data as parents are assigned to one of three categories (improved, deteriorated, neither)
•testing for difference in the number of absences in the year following and prior to treatment
•repeated measures as the same patients work records are compared before and after treatment
in what ways would the use of primary data have improved an investigation?
•primary data is obtained ‘first-hand’ from the participants’ themselves so are likely to lead to greater insight (eg to the patients experience of treatment)
•primary data is more authentic and provide more than a surface understanding
•the content of the data is more likely to match the researchers needs and objectives because questions, assessment tools can be specifically tailored
what are the 4 definitions of abnormality (with an explanation)
•statistical deviation
•deviation from social norms
•failure to function adequately
•deviation from ideal mental health
evaluate the statistical deviation and deviation from social norms definition of abnormality
•statistical deviation- fails to account for behaviour that is statistically rare but desirable such as having a very high IQ; it may be a good thing, and not everyone benefits from having a label
•deviation from social norms- eccentric behaviours are not necessarily abnormal, social norms may vary with time and culture
evaluate the failure to function adequately and deviation from ideal mental health definition for abnormality
•ftfa- many mental disorders do not cause personal distress, aims to take into account patient perspective and offers a subjective interpretation
•dfimh- the criteria are too demanding, most people would be judged as abnormal, standards are too high. culture bound- many of the criterial reflect western cultural norms of psychological normality
state one advantage of an independent groups design
•removes order effects/ effects of practice/ fatigue
•participants are less likely to work out the sun and change their behaviours/ are less influenced by demand characteristics
select an appropriate measure of central tendency (that isn’t the mean) for a table of data and explain why it would be appropriate
•median
•the median would be better as there is a large anomalous result in the data set. this woukd risotto the mean value making it unrepresentative of the data set as a whole
why would the researchers questionnaire produce primary data? suggest one limitation of primary data
•the questionnaire will be used to collect data specifically for the purpose of the investigation, the data will be gathered first-hand from the participants themselves
•limitation- requires time and effort on the part of the researcher, may be costly compared to secondary data which can be easily accessed
explain how the validity of a questionnaire could be improved
•the researcher could compare the two questionnaires and note any differences
•the researcher could identify and remove/ deselect any items on the questionnaire that are problematic
•items might be problematic because they are leasing, ambiguous, too complex, double-barrelled ect
•the researcher could incorporate a lie scale, so respondents are less aware that locus of control is being tested
