Peach Pack 1

Question 1

Psychology can be defined as the science of human mind and behaviour therefore psychologist apply the scientific method when conducting their research.
What is the scientific method?

Answer 1

The scientific method is a way of gaining knowledge by forming theories, making predictions, gathering data and interpreting results. It is a set of principles and procedures that guide researchers to collect data and reach conclusions in a objective manner.

Question 2

What are the main steps of the scientific method?

Answer 2

1)A phenomenon or behaviour is noticed.
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2)Theories are developed to explain or describe this behaviour.
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3)Hypotheses (testable predictions) or research question are written
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4)Studies and procedures are designed to test these predictions and or answer these questions
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5)Systematic and controlled data collection takes place
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6)Analysis and interpretation of the data collected reaching conclusions
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Back to No.2

Question 3

What is a variable?

Answer 3

A variable is anything that varies that we can measure

Question 4

What is the difference between an experiment and a correlation?

Answer 4

In experiment the researcher is looking for a difference between two conditions.
In a correlation the researcher is looking for association between two variables.

Question 5

What are the IV and DV in an experiment

Answer 5

• The independent variable is the variable which is manipulated by the experimenter
• The dependent variable is the outcome which is measured by the experimenter.

Question 6

If an experimenter was looking to see if drinking water in an exam helped improve grades.
What would be the IV and the DV?

Answer 6

The independent variable would be whether the participant drank water or not during the exam.

The dependent variable would be the average exam scores of the two groups.

Question 7

What is an alternate hypothesis?

Answer 7

An alternative hypothesis is a prediction in the form of a testable statement. It is sometimes called the research hypothesis.

Question 8

How is an alternate hypothesis written in an experiment

Answer 8

In an alternate hypothesis for an experiment the IV is predicted to have a measurable affect on the DV.

Example:
There will be a SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE in the number of words recalled from a list of 20 words between those participants given 10 minutes to learn a list of words and those participants given 3 minutes to learn the same list or words.

Question 9

In a correlation, what are co-variables?

Answer 9

Co-variables: The two variables that are measured in a correlation.

And can change in association to each other

Question 10

How do you write a alternate hypothesis for a correlational study?

Answer 10

In a correlational study the two co-variables are used to write the alternative hypothesis. In an alternative hypothesis for correlation V1 is predicted to have a measurable association with V2.

Example:
There will be a significant negative correlation between a persons age in years and the hours per week they used the internet.

Question 11

Define operationalising variables:

Answer 11

To say in precise terms how we will measure it or manipulate it.

Question 12

Define validity

Answer 12

Validity refers to the extent to which a study measures was it claims measure. It is therefore very important that variables are operationalised in an appropriate manner.

Question 13

What are two things to consider when operationalising variables?

Answer 13

1) variables need to be operationalised in an objective manner this means we will collect the data without allowing personal interpretation or bias to influence the process
2) When operationalising the DV you could ask yourself what needs to be done to allow you to quantify or (count) how well the participant performed.

Question 14

In correlational studies there is NO IV or DV so we must identify how we will MEASURE BOTH variable 1 and variable 2 for each participant.
Give 4 ways we can collect data for these definitions:

Answer 14

• Give participants a test under controlled conditions
• Ask participants to self-rate themselves
• Gather data on participants from data bases
• Observe participants behaviour in a structured quantitative manner
• Give participants a questionnaire that results in quantitative data

Question 15

What is a Extraneous Variable?

Answer 15

Extraneous variables in an experiment are any variables that might have an effect on the DV (apart from the IV)

Question 16

What is a confounding variable?

Answer 16

Confounding variable therefore are uncontrolled extraneous variables that have had an effect on results.

Question 17

What are the issues with cofounding variables?

Answer 17

•When cofounding variables interfere with the variables that we are studying they can reduce the RELIABILITY of the research as it can be difficult to replicate the research.

•Uncontrolled extraneous variables are also a threat to the validity of the research as they can influence how accurately we measure the DV.
This means our results have been confounded because we would not have been sure which variables have caused the effects we have observed

Question 18

List the different types of extraneous variables:

Answer 18

• Situational Variables
• Participant Variables
• Order Effects
• Demand Characteristics

Question 19

What are situational variables?

And how can we control them.

Answer 19

Variables in the research situation itself can have an effect on dependent variable.
To control this outcome standardisation procedures are used to ensure all participants experience exactly the same environment during the study.
Standardised intrusions are also used to make sure all participants are given the same information and same time limits etc.

Question 20

What are participant variables and how can we control them?

Answer 20

Participant variables come from the individual participants and can have an effect on their performance.
We can control this variable by random allocation of participants (randomisation). This allows us to assume that the differences between individual participants are passed out across the conditions.

Question 21

how can we control the selection and use of materials to stop them from becoming situational variables?

Answer 21

• Standardisation: The materials used usually have to be exactly the same for all participants so that they experience the same conditions.
• Pilot Studies: Researchers often carry out pilot studies to test their materials. A pilot study is a smaller version of the actual study and allows identification of problems and modification of materials. This may be particularly important in the wording of questions in the questionnaire or the behaviour categories in an observation.

Question 22

What is order effect and how can we control it?

Answer 22

The order in which the participants carry out the tasks in a study will have an affect on the outcome. Order effects occur in research when the same group of participants are required to carry out the task twice.

Counterbalancing is often used to control order effects- half the participants complete the tasks in one order and the other half in the opposite order. The order effects are still present in the study but their effects are balanced out.

Question 23

What are demand characteristics and how can we control them?

Answer 23

This term refers to all the cues that participants might receive that indicate the purpose of the research.
Low levels of deception are sometimes used throw throw participants off and controls this extraneous variable.

Question 24

What are researcher effects and how can we control them?

Answer 24

Research effects refer to the idea that if a researcher knows the aims of the study and an expected outcome then they may struggle to remain objective and influence the results (intentionally or unintentionally) to reflect the expectations.
These come form the thoughts and actions from the researcher and may create demand characteristics.
Standardised procedures where everything that happens in the research is set down like a set of instructions that researchers must follow this can help control researcher affects

Question 25

Define a alternate hypothesis (Ha)

Answer 25

A prediction in the form of a testable statement.

They can be either experimental or correlational.

Question 26

What is a experimental hypothesis?

Answer 26

A experimental hypothesis- predicts a cause and effect relationship between the IV and the DV.
There predicting that manipulating the IV will cause a change or difference in the DV.

Question 27

What is a correlational hypothesis?

Answer 27

A correlational hypothesis predicts a consistent association between 2 co-variables.

BUT if a hypothesis predicts a correlation between two variables we cannot talk about cause and effect.

Question 28

Alternate hypotheses may predict direction of the outcome.

What is a directional and non- directional hypothesis?

Answer 28

1) Directional hypothesis (one tailed) -This type of hypothesis predicts what the direction the difference or correlation will be.
2) Non-directional (two tailed)- This type of alternate hypothesis predicts only that there will be a difference or correlation thus allowing for an outcome in either direction.

Question 29

Alternate hypothesis always have a Null hypothesis (Ho)

What is a null hypothesis?

Answer 29

Null hypothesis predicts that the results that the researcher gets are due to chance or are not significant enough to have any meaning.

Null hypothesis are always non-directional (two tailed).

Question 30

Variables in Hypotheses must be operationalised.

True or False?

Answer 30

True

Question 31

What does “significant” mean in a hypothesis?

Answer 31

There will be a notable difference in the DV due to one of the variables which can not be achieved by chance.

Question 32

State the difference between one-tailed and two-tailed hypothesis:

Answer 32

One tailed hypothesis predict what direction the difference or correlation will be. Where as Two tailed hypotheses predicts only that there will be a difference or correlation allowing a outcome in either direction or predicts a null hypothesis where any outcome with be due to chance/ not significant.

Question 33

How do researchers decide whether to accept the alternate or null hypothesis?

Answer 33

Researchers analyse their results and then assess using statistical techniques whether they were significant or not. On this basis they decide whether to accept the null hypothesis or not.

Question 34

What is the target population?

Answer 34

The target population is the particular group we are interested in studying from which we draw our sample.

Question 35

What is a representative sample?

Answer 35

A representative sample is a group of participants drawn from the target population that is typical of that target population.

Question 36

Why is a representative sample important?

Answer 36

A representative sample is important because it allows us to generalise our results to the rest of the target population.

Question 37

What is sampling bias?

Answer 37

Sampling bias exists when a sample becomes weighted because of the overrepresentation of one group of people. This means that it is no longer appropriate to generalise from the sample.

Question 38

What is a random sample?

Answer 38

A random sample is a sample in which every member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected.

Question 39

What are the advantages of random sampling?

Answer 39

random sampling provides the best chance of an unbiased representative sample. This is because everyone has an opportunity to be chosen.

Question 40

What are the disadvantages of random sampling?

Answer 40

One disadvantage of random sampling is that it’s very easy to end up with an biased sample simply by chance.

Also the larger of the target population the harder it is to compile the original selection lists.

Question 41

The target population was all individuals who had attended a stress clinic in June 2006. 15 participants were selected by sticking a pin in an alphabet list of names.

Is this random sampling?

Answer 41

No

Question 42

The target population was the general public in the Guildford area. Participants were selected by placing an advertisement in one edition of the Surrey advertiser asking for volunteers.

Is this random sampling?

Answer 42

No

Question 43

The target population was all residents in Coronation Street.
Participant selected with residents from houses with even numbers.

Answer 43

No

Question 44

What time is the population was all council employees in Redhill. Names from the payroll were written on separate pieces of paper and put into a hat 25 names were then withdrawn.

Is this random sampling?

Answer 44

Yes

Question 45

What is a opportunity samples?

Answer 45

Opportunity sampling involves a researcher selecting those participants available at the time of the study.

Question 46

What are the advantages of opportunity sampling?

Answer 46

Opportunity sampling is a quick, convenient and economically efficient method of sampling.

Question 47

What are the disadvantages of opportunity sampling?

Answer 47

Opportunity sampling is biased because it’s:
•Drawn from the small sector of the population that the researcher has access to
•The researcher may choose participants who look helpful/friendly
•Only participants who are willing to participate will take part
Therefore it tends to give unrepresentative sample.

Question 48

Define volunteer samples

Answer 48

Volunteer samples are made up of individuals who have consciously decided to take part in a study.

Question 49

What are the advantages of volunteer sampling?

Answer 49

• Very ethical as all participants have consented.
• Participants are likely to be cooperative
• Access to a wide variety of participants

Question 50

What are the disadvantages of volunteer sampling?

Answer 50

Biased and unrepresentative sample because:
•Volunteers may have different personalities to non-volunteers (they may be more highly motivated)
•Not everyone in the target population may see the advertisement
•Of those who see it, not all will respond.

Question 51

Define stratified sampling

Answer 51

stratified sampling divides the population into strata, or sub-categories. Members in these subcategories are often selected in the same proportions as they appear in the target population.

Question 52

What are the advantages of stratified sampling?

Answer 52

Sample should be representative of the target population because a deliberate effort has been made to identify and then select the most important characteristics of the target population

Question 53

What are the disadvantages of stratified sampling?

Answer 53

In stratified sampling bias may occur if the researcher has been biased when deciding which categories are relevant. This would mean that some sub-categories might be ignored, which would mean that the sample would not represent the target population.

Question 54

What is the advantage of a large sample?

Answer 54

The larger the sample the less likely sampling bias is to occur because the effects of participant variables all weakened.

Question 55

What is the disadvantage of a large sample?

Answer 55

Large sample are time consuming in terms of data collection and analysis.

Question 56

Explain the purpose of sampling

Answer 56

The purpose of sampling is to use a smaller group, taken from the target population, to find out about the target population.