Research Methds Flashcards
Fearures-
What is objectivity?
Data interpretation should not be affected by a person’s beliefs, expectations and biases
Features-
What is empirical methods?
Hypothesis should be tested by carrying out research using a recognised technique
Features-
What is replicability?
Studies should be able to be repeated to check reliability
Features-
What is falsifiability?
Studies should be able to be proven right or wrong
Features-
What is theory construction?
Theories explain human behaviour, they represent our best current understanding. Theories should be based on empirical evidence
Features-
What is hypothesis testing?
Hypothesis should be tested using empirical methods
Features-
What are paradigms?
Set ways of approaching and understanding something. A paradigm shift is when a new theory replaces an old one.
Features-
What is an independent variable?
The thing that is changed/manipulated
Features-
What is a dependant variable?
The thing you measure/ the thing being manipulated by the independent variable
Features-
What are demand characteristics?
When a participant changes their response to the experiment to appeal to the study
Features-
What does it mean when we say operationalise?
To make the study less vague
Experimental methods-
What are the experimental methods?
Laboratory, field, natural, quasi
Experimental methods-
What are two advantages of empirical methods?
- high control over variables
- increase replicability and reliability
Experimental methods-
What are two disadvantages of experimental methods?
- artificial (low ecological validity)
- demand characteristics
Experimental methods-
Which method has the highest level of control?
Lab
Experimental methods-
Where are field experiments conducted?
In a pps natural environment
Experimental methods-
In a natural experiment is the IV manipulated?
The IV is not directly manipulated and in a natural experiment it is something that was going to change anyway.
Experimental methods-
What is a quasi experiment?
It has an IV which forms a part of the participant (age/ gender) which cannot be controlled by the researcher
Experimental methods-
Replicability is an advantage of which experimental methods?
Lab and Quasi
Experimental methods-
Replicability is a disadvantage of which experimental methods?
Field and natural
Experimental methods-
Control is a strength of which methods?
Lab and quasi
Experimental methods-
Control is a disadvantage of which methods?
Field and natural
Experimental methods-
Demand characteristics are an advantage of which methods?
Field
Experimental Methods-
Demand characteristics are a disadvantage if which methods?
Lab
Experimental methods-
Ecological validity is a strength of which methods?
Field and natural
Experimental methods-
Ecological validity is a disadvantage of which methods?
Lab
Experimental math odd-
Which studies successfully allow the study of sensitive issues?
Natural
Experimental methods-
Which method means the random allocation of roles is not possible?
Quasi
Experimental methods-
In which method would it be difficult to find good samples?
Quasi
Experimental design-
What are the three different types?
Independent, repeated measures and matched pairs
Experimental design-
What is an independent design?
Different pps used in each condition
Experimental design-
What are the advantages of independent design?
- no orders effects
- less chance of demand characteristics
Experimental design-
What are some disadvantages of independent design?
- more pps needed
- individual differences
Experimental design-
What is repeated measures experimental design?
Same participants are used in each condition
Experimental design-
How do you counteract order effects in repeated measures design?
Counter balancing
Experimental design-
What are the advantages of repeated measures design?
- no individual differences
- fewer pps needed
Experimental design-
What are some limitations of repeated measures?
- order effects may be present
- if there is a gap between participants they may not return
Experimental design-
What is the matched pairs experimental design?
Different but similar pps, but the participants are matched on characteristics
Experimental design-
What are the advantages of matched pairs?
- no order effects
- individual effect are minimised
Experimental design-
What are the disadvantages of matched pairs?
- matching is difficult and time consuming
- twice as many people needed
Hypothesis and variables-
What is a hypothesis?
A testable and predictive statement often generated from a theory
Hypothesis and variables-
What are the types of hypothesis?
Directional, non-directional and null
Hypothesis and variables-
What is a directional hypothesis (one tail)?
States the direction of the predicted difference
Hypothesis and variables-
What is a non-directional hypothesis (two tail)?
Predicts a difference but not a direction
Hypothesis and variables-
What is a null hypothesis?
There is no difference between the conditions
Hypothesis and variables-
What is a confounding variable?
Variables other than the IV that have effected the DV
Hypothesis and variables-
What is extraneous variables?
Variables other than the IV that could have effected the DV
Hypothesis and variables-
What is a participant variable?
Anything to do with the people used in the study, which could affect the DV
Hypothesis and variables-
What is a situational variable?
Anything to do with the environment that the study is conducted in
Hypothesis and variables-
What does standardise mean?
Keep everything the same for every participant
Hypothesis and variables-
What are standardised instructions?
Set instructions for all participants
hypothesis and variables-
What are standardised procedures?
Detailed instructions on how research should be carried out
Participant sampling-
What are the five types of sampling?
Random, opportunity, volunteer , systematic and stratified
Participant sampling-
What is random sampling?
Everyone in the target population has equal chance of being chosen
Participant sampling-
What is opportunity sampling?
Select anyone who is convenient at the time of the study
Participant sampling-
What is volunteer sampling?
Advertising for participants and participants volunteer
Participant sampling-
What is systematic sampling?
A sampling frame is produced and every nth person is chosen
Participant sampling-
What is stratified sampling?
Possible participants are put into categories, the final sample represents a percentage of each category
Participant sampling-
What are the advantages of random sampling?
- unbiased
- can be generalised
Participant sampling-
What are disadvantages of random sampling?
- selected pps may not take part
- difficult to get population details
- not guaranteed a representative sample
Participant sampling-
What are the advantages of opportunity sampling?
- more convenient
Participant sampling-
What are the disadvantages of opportunity sampling?
- likely to be biased
Participant sampling-
What are the advantages of volunteer sampling?
- practical
- easy
Participant sampling-
What are the disadvantages of volunteer sampling?
- lack of generalisability
Participant sampling-
What is an advantage of systematic sampling?
- unbiased
Participant sampling -
What are some disadvantages of systematic sampling?
- difficult to gather names
- every nth person could be one gender
Types of data-
What is qualitative data?
Represented in non-numerical forms (worded)
Types of data-
What is quantitative data?
Data represented in numerical form (numbers)
Types of data-
What are some advantages of quantitive data?
- easier to analyse
- more scientific and objective
Types of data-
What is a disadvantage of quantitive data?
- does not offer an in depth picture for researchers
Types of data-
What is an advantage of qualitative data?
- offers in depth picture to researchers
- tells us why a behaviour occurs
Types of data-
What are some disadvantages of qualitative data?
- less scientific and more objective
- harder to analyse and cannot be easily represented
Types of data-
What is primary data?
researchers collect their own data
Types of data-
What is secondary data?
Researchers analyse someone else’s data
Types of data-
What is meta data?
A type of secondary data analysis which includes drawing conclusions from several studies with the same aim
Types of data-
What are some advantages of primary data?
- can ensure all data is relevant to the aim
- researcher is aware of all potential issues
Types of data-
What are some disadvantages of primary data?
- time consuming and expensive
- (likely) a smaller sample so samples may not be representative
Types of data-
What are some advantages of secondary data?
- quicker and cheaper
- more representative
types of data-
What are some disadvantages of secondary data?
- not all data may be relevant
- researcher isn’t sure of any potential issues
Observations-
What are the two types of locations?
Naturalistic and controlled