Personal investigation 2

Question 1

State the IV and DV used in your research.

Answer 1

IV - In an observation, there is no IV however the groups we were comparing were males and females
DV- In this observation , we measured the usage of phones into categories:
-No use
-Brief or intermittent
-Frequent/ continuous use

Question 2

With reference to your own research, explain the ethical considerations

Answer 2

• The privacy of participants, some participants may feel judged if they see we are observing their interaction their mobile device, therefore we will keep to an appropriate distance
• Confidentiality, no one will be named tried or identified
• Right to withdraw- Participants cannot withdraw as their name and identity we re not taken/ written down
• Informed consent, They’re in public space , therefore their is a level of implied consent, retrospective consent and full debrief

Question 2

Identify and justify the inferential statistics test that would be used

Answer 2

We used Chi-squared inferential statistics test because it tests for Nominal data, this fits with our results as we used categories to measure the frequency of phone usage. This categories included; no use , brief use and Frequent use. It also tests independent measures, this fit because our groups were split into males and females. Furthermore, the Chi-squared test , tests for a difference this fits because we tested for a difference in the frequency of phone use between males and females.

Question 3

Explain whether or not this led to your results being significant

Answer 3

The Chi-squared test showed that our results were significant, therefore we can reject the null hypothesis.
The observed value (14.2), is greater than the critical value (5.99), this reveals that the results are significant because for this test , the observed value had to be greater than the critical value. (two tailed test p<0.05)

Question 4

State the operationalised alternative hypothesis for your observation

Answer 4

There will be a difference in the frequency of mobile phone use (no use, brief use, frequent use) when males are compared to females

Question 5

2 Weaknesses of On-line research

Answer 5

1- A researcher is not in control of who is taking part in their research therefore , the some Participants taking part may not fit into the researcher’s target Population
2- Another weakness is that a researcher cannot be sure that whoever is taking part in the on-line research is of age to consent, this is an ethical issue as a researcher has not obtained valid consent to obtain information for participants.

Question 6

Define the term ‘target population’.

Answer 6

A large group of people in which , the research is interested in.