Research Methods 1: Experimental methods Flashcards
What is an aim?
This is a general statement describing the purpose of an investigation
what is a hypothesis?
This states what you believe to be true. It is a prediction, precise and testable statement of the relationship between two variables.
What is the independent variable?
This is the variable that the researcher manipulates or alters
What is the dependant variable?
This is the measurement taken by the researcher
What are the two types of hypothesis?
-Directional (one tailed)
-Non-directional (two tailed)
What is a directional hypothesis?
-A specific prediction
What is a non-directional hypothesis?
-A vague prediction
What are extraneous variables?
Variables that could affect the results if they are not controlled
What are confounding variables?
Extraneous variables that couldn’t be or was not controlled and DID affect the DV
What are demand characteristics?
A clue in the investigation which may help the participant “second guess” the experimenters intentions
What happens if a participant realises they are in an experiment?
They will show either the “please U effect” or the “screw U effect” in hope of either spoiling or supporting the experiment
Are demand characteristics and investigator effects CVs or EVs?
Demand characteristics- EVs
Investigator effects- CVs
What is randomisation?
The use of chance wherever possible to reduce the influence of the researcher on the design
What is standardisation?
Where all participants are subject to the same environment, info and experience
What are investigator effects?
Cues from an investigator that encourage participants to behave in a particular way. This can be conscious or unconscious
What are the three main experimental designs?
-Independent measures
-Repeated measures
-Matched pairs
What does independent measures involve?
Using different people in each condition that only do one condition
What are the strengths and weaknesses of independent measures?
😀Demand characteristics and order effects less likely
😀Quicker to complete
😫Individual differences more likely to affect results
😫More participants are needed
What does repeated measures involve?
Using the same people in each condition
What are the strengths and weaknesses of repeated measures?
😀Individual differences are less likely to affect results
😀Less participants needed
😫Higher likelihood of demand characteristics
😫suffers from order effects
How can we overcome order effects in a repeated measures design?
Counterbalancing
What happens in counterbalancing?
The participants are divided into two groups and do the conditions in a different order. (AB and BA)
Does counterbalancing eliminate order effects?
No it just balances out evenly across conditions
What does matched pairs involve?
Using different participants in each condition, but these participants are matched with another similar participant
What are the strengths and weaknesses of matched pairs?
😀Individual differences less likely to affect the results
😀Lower likelihood that participants suffer from order effects/demand characteristics
😫time consuming
😫impossible to exactly match two individuals
What is a target population?
the group of people who the researcher wants to apply their results to
What is the sample?
A small number of people from the target population who take part in the investigation
What should the sample do?
Represent the target population so that we can generalise the results to the rest of the target population
What are the 5 sampling techniques?
-Random
-Opportunity
-Volunteer
-Systematic
-Stratified
What is sampling bias and how do we prevent it?
It happens when the sample isn’t representative of the population. Larger samples help prevent this.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of random sampling?
😀No researcher bias
😀More likely to be a representative sample
😫Very time consuming for a psychologist
😫May still be unrepresentative
What are the strengths and weaknesses of opportunity sampling?
😀Quicker and easier
😀Less likely to be representative
😫There may be researcher bias
What are the strengths and weaknesses of volunteer sampling?
😀Quicker and easier to do
😀no researcher bias
😫less likely to be representative
What are the strengths and weaknesses of systematic sampling?
😀No researcher bias
😫less likely to be representative
What are the strengths and weaknesses of stratified sampling?
😀Most representative sampling method
😀No researcher bias
😫Time consuming and difficult to do
What is a pilot study?
A small scale trial run of the investigation/experiment before the study.
Why are pilot studies done?
In order to find out if certain things don’t work
What is the ceiling effect and the floor effect?
If the study is too easy (ceiling effect) or too hard (floor effect)
Where are lab experiments conducted?
In tightly controlled environments
What does the experimenter do in a lab experiment?
Manipulate the IV
The procedure and instructions are …….. in lab experiments?
scientific
What are the strengths and weaknesses of lab experiments?
😀 It has high internal validity
😀High reliability
😫low ecological validity
😫likely to suffer from demand characteristics
What do quasi experiments have?
An IV that is based on an existing difference between people
Does the experimenter manipulate the IV in a quasi experiment?
No, it simply exists
what are the strengths and weaknesses of quasi experiments?
😀High reliability
😫Confounding variables are present
Where are field experiments conducted?
In a more natural environment
What does the experimenter manipulate in a field experiment?
deliberately manipulates the IV
Does the experiment control EVs in a field experiment?
The experimenter controls some of the EVs
What are the strengths and weaknesses of field experiments?
😀High ecological validity
😀Fewer demand characteristics
😫Lack of control
😫May break ethical issues
Where are natural experiments conducted?
In a natural environment
Does the experimenter control the IV of a natural experiment?
No, they have no control
Does the experimenter control the EVs in natural experiments?
No, they have no control
What are the strengths and weaknesses of natural experiments?
😀High ecological validity
😀Fewer demand characteristics
😫Lack of control
😫They cannot be easily replicated
What is an ethical issue?
A conflict between what the researcher needs and the rights of the participant
What identifies and proposes ethical issues for psychologists?
British Psychological Society (BPS)
What are the 6 ethical issues named in the BPS?
-Deception
-Informed consent
-Protection of participants
-Right to withdraw
-Confidentiality
-Privacy
How can we deal with deception?
Debriefing
Which 3 situations are consent not available?
-When children are participating
-When deception is necessary
-In field experiments
What are the three forms of consent?
-Prior general consent
-Presumptive consent
-Parental consent
What level of distress is considered acceptable in an experiment?
No more than they would experience in everyday life
Which example study did the participants feel they lost the right to withdraw?
Milgram (1965)
How can you resolve the issue of right to withdraw?
Inform participants that they can stop participating in the study at any time.
How can you resolve the issue of confidentiality?
Maintain anonymity, this can be done by referring to participants with initials or numbers.
How can you resolve the issue of privacy?
Participants shouldn’t be studied in situations where they wouldn’t expect to be “normally” seen.
What 3 things must a consent form include?
-Purpose of investigation
-Procedural information
-Ethical information
What should the procedural section of a consent form include?
-The way participants will be assessed before and after.
-The researchers training to conduct
-Duration of procedure
-Random allocation of participants
What should the ethical information in a consent form include?
-No pressure to consent
-Can withdraw at any time
-Can withdraw data from study
-Their data will be kept confidential and anonymous
-Feel free to ask questions
