PSYCHOLOGY UNIT 1 CHAPTER 02- Research Methods Flashcards
❓❓❓What are some research procedures?
- experiments
- observational studies
- case studies
- surveys
- interviews
- rating scales
- longitudinal
❓❓❓What are the 7 steps of psychological research?
- Identification of the research problem
- Construction of a hypothesis
- Designing the method (procedures)
- Collecting the data (raw data)
- Analysing the data (organising data in a meaningful way)
- Interpreting the data (generalisations)
- Reporting the research data (writing report, journal, conference)
❓❓❓What is raw data?
-data that has not been processed (coded, summarised) in a meaningful
❓❓❓What is a generalisation?
-a generalisation is a statement of how widely the research findings can be applied to other situations or people
❓❓❓What is an independent variable?
-the variable that is changed by the experimenter interested in its effect
E.g. “Does regular exercise help weight loss?”
IV = regular exercise
❓❓❓What is a dependent variable?
-measures effect of the IV and allows researchers to see if the IV caused a change in the DV
E.g. “Does regular exercise help weight loss?”
DV = weight loss
❓❓❓What is an extraneous variable?
-a random variable other than the IV and the DV that can cause change in the DV and therefore effect the results of an experiment
E.g. “Does regular exercise help weight loss?”
EV = diet, motivation, amount of exercise, type of exercise
❓❓❓What is a confounding variable?
-a variable whose consistent unwanted effect/s on the DV gets confused with the effect of the IV
E.g. “Does regular exercise help weight loss?”
CV = metabolism
❓❓❓What is a ‘population’?
-a group of research interest
❓❓❓What is a ‘sample’?
- a subsection or smaller group of research participants selected from the population
- must be truly a representation of the population
❓❓❓What is random sampling?
- a sampling technique which ensures that every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected
E.g. Picking names out of a hat
❓❓❓What is stratified sampling?
-dividing the population into distinct strata and selecting a seperate sample from each stratum, in the same proportions as they exist in the population.
Strata is usually characteristics e.g. Age, sex, religion, IQ, nationality, education level
❓❓❓What is convenience sampling?
-collecting participants who are easily accessible
E.g. Stopping people on the side of the street
❓❓❓What is random stratified sampling?
-the researcher first obtains accurate lists of all people within each stratum. The researcher will then draw a random sample of proportionate size from each of the strata
❓❓❓Participants in the Experimental Group are…
… Exposed to the experimental conditions
I.e the IV is present
❓❓❓Participants in the Control Group are…
…exposed to the control conditions
I.e. The IV is absent
❓❓❓What is random allocation?
-all participants who have been selected for an experiment are just as likely to be in one group as the other
❓❓❓What does descriptive research focus on?
-Focuses on studying and describing one or more of the aspects of thoughts, feelings or behaviour as they occur at a given time and place without necessarily explaining why they are caused
E.g. Case studies, observational studies
❓❓❓ What is a case study? Advantages? Disadvantages?
DEFINITION
-an intensive, in-depth investigation of some behaviour or event of interest in an individual, small group or situation
E.g. a study on someone with face agnosia
ADVANTAGES
- useful way of obtaining detailed and valuable descriptive information on behaviour and mental processes
- insight on how other May think, feel or behave under similar circumstances
- valuable source of hypotheses for further research
DISADVANTAGES
- cannot test hypotheses
- based on one or a limited number of individuals
- can get biased information from participant or researcher
- some participants might not remember clearly what they experience
❓❓❓What is an observational study? Explain ‘naturalistic’, ‘participant’ and ‘non-participant’ observational studies
Advantages? Disadvantages?
DEFINITION
-a research method that involves watching and describing a behaviour as it occurs
NATURALISTIC
-naturally occurring behaviour of interest is viewed inconspicuously so that the researcher has no influence
PARTICIPANT
-researcher participates in activity and tries to be mistaken as part of the study
NON-PARTICIPANT
-trying to conceal their presence while making observations
ADVANTAGES
- naturalistic enables researcher to gain more accurate information about typical behaviour of organisms
- some behaviours can only be studied as they occur
DISADVANTAGES
- can require a lot of patience for the behaviour of interest to occur
- difficult to determine cause of behaviour
- observer can be biased
❓❓❓What is qualitative data?
-information about ‘qualities’ or characteristics of what is being studied
E.g. Thoughts or feelings experienced
☀️☀️☀️Some psychologists use audio or video tapes to record data in this research
❓❓❓What is quantitative data?
-numerical information on the ‘quantity’ or amount of what is being studied
(How much of something there is)
E.g. Percentages of participant who answered ‘yes’ or ‘no’t to a survey
☀️☀️☀️QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
- experiments are usually described as quantitative research: participants responses during an experiment are usually measured then described in a numerical form
- research involving analysis of written information is usually described as qualitative research e.g. How did you feel when you were bullied?
- experiments can produce either qualitative or quantitative data
☀️☀️☀️operationalising the IV and the DV is identifying specifically how the experimenter will measure these variables
EXAMPLES
“Whether meditation can improve performance on a VCE exam”
IV-whether or not the participant meditated (operationalised as 1/2 hour of meditation 1 hour before the exam
DV- students outcome on the exam (operationalised as the score they receive out of 30)
“Whether students who have breakfast concentrate better in class”
IV- whether or not the participant eats breakfast (operationalised as eating 2 cups of cornflakes to 1cup of milk and a glass of juice)
DV- degree of concentration in class (operationalised as number of errors on a test taken at the end of a lesson)
❓❓❓Ethics refer to..
… Moral principles and codes of behaviour that psychologists must follow
-guidelines to ensure the participants physical and psychological welfare is protected during and after an experiment
☀️☀️☀️APS have a code of ethics (1997)
❓❓❓The researcher’s role is…?
-do not harm (beneficence)
☀️☀️☀️
- can’t distress participant
- if there is distress, experiment must stop
- access to counselling
❓❓❓The participants rights are…
- confidentiality
- voluntary participation
- withdrawal rights (allowed to leave)
- informed consent (written consent from participant)
- deception (tricking participants in cases where giving them information about an experiments beforehand might influence their behaviour and affect the results
- debriefing (share the results with the participants and offer counselling)
☀️☀️☀️USE OF ANIMALS IN RESEARCH
- 10% of psychological research involves animals
- mostly mice, rats, hamsters and pigeons
- 5% monkeys/other primates
FOR
- short life spans
- risk of harm too great to use humans
- starting point
- environment easily controlled
AGAINST
- can’t guarantee results
- humans should protect animals
- no right no dominate other species
- research must be justified
- if animals needs to be put down, do so humanly
