Personal Investigation Two

Question 1

What is the aim of this study?

Answer 1

To see if there is a correlation between creativity and performance on the Stroop test

Question 2

What are the two co-variables of this personal investigation?

Answer 2

Creativity score on Kellogg’s online test
Time taken to accurately complete the Stroop test

Question 3

What are possible confounding variables of this research?

Answer 3

Amount of sleep
Reading confidence
Nerves
Visual impairments

Question 4

How can these confounding variables be overcome?

Question 5

What are possible extraneous variables of this research?

Answer 5

Weather
Noise levels
Temperature
Lighting

Question 6

How can these extraneous variables be overcome?

Answer 6

Allow participants into a cool, well-lit and quiet place without distractions to complete test

Question 7

What type of hypothesis will be used in this experiment and why?

Answer 7

One tailed - directional
Because previous research has been done before

Question 8

What is the alternative hypothesis for this research?

Answer 8

There will be an decrease in time taken to accurately complete the Stroop test in seconds in those who scored above 58 on Kellogg’s creativity test compared to those who scored under

Question 9

What is the null hypothesis for this research?

Answer 9

There will be no significant difference in time taken to complete the Stroop test accurately in seconds in those with a Kellogg’s creativity score over 58, compared to those with under

Question 10

What is the methodology of this research?

Answer 10

A correlational study

Question 11

What are the strengths of a correlational study?

Answer 11

Repeatable
Find patterns and relationships
Can be used when the manipulation of the IV is unethical

Question 12

What are the weaknesses of a correlational study?

Answer 12

No cause and effect relationship established
May be an intervening variable affecting the study

Question 13

Why have we chosen a correlational study for this research?

Answer 13

We want to establish a relationship between two co-variables

Question 14

Who is the target population of the study?

Answer 14

Members of Notre Dame School

Question 15

Who is the sampling frame of the study?

Answer 15

Students and staff at Notre Dame School

Question 16

What sampling method is used in the study?

Answer 16

Opportunity sampling

Question 17

Justify the sampling method used in the study.

Answer 17

It is quicker to complete than others such as systematic as not all members of the sampling frame would have to be gathered

Question 18

How did we ensure the ethical issue of privacy?

Answer 18

Participants did not have to share or reveal personal details such as name, age or gender etc. as they used a made up participant code

Question 19

How did we ensure the ethical issue of deception?

Answer 19

A brief and debrief was given to each participant to make everyone aware of the aims, methods and predications of the study

Question 20

How did we ensure the ethical issue of right to withdraw?

Answer 20

Make participants aware of their right to withdraw before the study begins in the brief and allow them time to decide if they do not want their results to be used

Question 21

How did we ensure internal reliability in our study?

Answer 21

Give each participant the same instructions presented in the same way and read aloud the brief to each person

Question 22

How did we ensure external reliability in our study?

Answer 22

Used a standardised procedure with each participant however it is unlikely the research will be repeated

Question 23

How did we ensure internal validity in our study?

Answer 23

Reduced confounding and extraneous variables as much as possible

Question 24

What are some potential internal validity issues in our study?

Answer 24

Confounding and extraneous variable affecting the results

Question 25

How did we ensure external validity in our study?

Answer 25

Allow participants support and reassurance in debrief and brief in attempt to reduce social desirability

Question 26

What are some potential external validity issues in our study?

Answer 26

Demand characteristics
Social desirability bias

Question 27

Which descriptive statistic did we choose in our research and why?

Answer 27

The mean because we have ratio data and the mean only uses ratio data therefore was most suitable

Question 28

Which measure of dispersion did we choose in our research and why?

Answer 28

Descriptive statistics because we have a mean score due to ratio data

Question 29

Which graph did we choose to represent our data and why?

Answer 29

A scatter graph as we have studied a correlation

Question 30

Which inferential statistic did we choose in our research and why?

Answer 30

Spearman’s Rho - Correlation, ratio data

Question 31

Were our results significant? Which hypothesis should be accepted?

Answer 31

No, therefore accept the null hypothesis as observed is less than the critical value

Question 32

What conclusions can be drawn from the research?

Answer 32

There is a weak positive correlation between creativity and Stroop test performance
The correlation is not significant therefore the relationship could be due to chance

Question 33

What are ways in which we could improve our research?

Answer 33

Reduce extraneous variables more so, have participants’ in different rooms to one another
Use a bigger sample frame, students from other schools etc.