Research Methods 1: Experimental methods

Question 1

What is an aim?

Answer 1

This is a general statement describing the purpose of an investigation

Question 2

what is a hypothesis?

Answer 2

This states what you believe to be true. It is a prediction, precise and testable statement of the relationship between two variables.

Question 3

What is the independent variable?

Answer 3

This is the variable that the researcher manipulates or alters

Question 4

What is the dependant variable?

Answer 4

This is the measurement taken by the researcher

Question 5

What are the two types of hypothesis?

Answer 5

-Directional (one tailed)
-Non-directional (two tailed)

Question 6

What is a directional hypothesis?

Answer 6

-A specific prediction

Question 7

What is a non-directional hypothesis?

Answer 7

-A vague prediction

Question 8

What are extraneous variables?

Answer 8

Variables that could affect the results if they are not controlled

Question 9

What are confounding variables?

Answer 9

Extraneous variables that couldn’t be or was not controlled and DID affect the DV

Question 10

What are demand characteristics?

Answer 10

A clue in the investigation which may help the participant “second guess” the experimenters intentions

Question 11

What happens if a participant realises they are in an experiment?

Answer 11

They will show either the “please U effect” or the “screw U effect” in hope of either spoiling or supporting the experiment

Question 12

Are demand characteristics and investigator effects CVs or EVs?

Answer 12

Demand characteristics- EVs
Investigator effects- CVs

Question 13

What is randomisation?

Answer 13

The use of chance wherever possible to reduce the influence of the researcher on the design

Question 14

What is standardisation?

Answer 14

Where all participants are subject to the same environment, info and experience

Question 15

What are investigator effects?

Answer 15

Cues from an investigator that encourage participants to behave in a particular way. This can be conscious or unconscious

Question 16

What are the three main experimental designs?

Answer 16

-Independent measures
-Repeated measures
-Matched pairs

Question 17

What does independent measures involve?

Answer 17

Using different people in each condition that only do one condition

Question 18

What are the strengths and weaknesses of independent measures?

Answer 18

😀Demand characteristics and order effects less likely
😀Quicker to complete
😫Individual differences more likely to affect results
😫More participants are needed

Question 19

What does repeated measures involve?

Answer 19

Using the same people in each condition

Question 20

What are the strengths and weaknesses of repeated measures?

Answer 20

😀Individual differences are less likely to affect results
😀Less participants needed
😫Higher likelihood of demand characteristics
😫suffers from order effects

Question 21

How can we overcome order effects in a repeated measures design?

Answer 21

Counterbalancing

Question 22

What happens in counterbalancing?

Answer 22

The participants are divided into two groups and do the conditions in a different order. (AB and BA)

Question 23

Does counterbalancing eliminate order effects?

Answer 23

No it just balances out evenly across conditions

Question 24

What does matched pairs involve?

Answer 24

Using different participants in each condition, but these participants are matched with another similar participant

Question 25

What are the strengths and weaknesses of matched pairs?

Answer 25

😀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

Question 26

What is a target population?

Answer 26

the group of people who the researcher wants to apply their results to

Question 27

What is the sample?

Answer 27

A small number of people from the target population who take part in the investigation

Question 28

What should the sample do?

Answer 28

Represent the target population so that we can generalise the results to the rest of the target population

Question 29

What are the 5 sampling techniques?

Answer 29

-Random -Opportunity -Volunteer -Systematic -Stratified

Question 30

What is sampling bias and how do we prevent it?

Answer 30

It happens when the sample isn't representative of the population. Larger samples help prevent this.

Question 31

What are the strengths and weaknesses of random sampling?

Answer 31

😀No researcher bias 😀More likely to be a representative sample 😫Very time consuming for a psychologist 😫May still be unrepresentative

Question 32

What are the strengths and weaknesses of opportunity sampling?

Answer 32

😀Quicker and easier 😀Less likely to be representative 😫There may be researcher bias

Question 33

What are the strengths and weaknesses of volunteer sampling?

Answer 33

😀Quicker and easier to do 😀no researcher bias 😫less likely to be representative

Question 34

What are the strengths and weaknesses of systematic sampling?

Answer 34

😀No researcher bias 😫less likely to be representative

Question 35

What are the strengths and weaknesses of stratified sampling?

Answer 35

😀Most representative sampling method 😀No researcher bias 😫Time consuming and difficult to do

Question 36

What is a pilot study?

Answer 36

A small scale trial run of the investigation/experiment before the study.

Question 37

Why are pilot studies done?

Answer 37

In order to find out if certain things don't work

Question 38

What is the ceiling effect and the floor effect?

Answer 38

If the study is too easy (ceiling effect) or too hard (floor effect)

Question 39

Where are lab experiments conducted?

Answer 39

In tightly controlled environments

Question 40

What does the experimenter do in a lab experiment?

Answer 40

Manipulate the IV

Question 41

The procedure and instructions are ........ in lab experiments?

Answer 41

scientific

Question 42

What are the strengths and weaknesses of lab experiments?

Answer 42

😀 It has high internal validity 😀High reliability 😫low ecological validity 😫likely to suffer from demand characteristics

Question 43

What do quasi experiments have?

Answer 43

An IV that is based on an existing difference between people

Question 44

Does the experimenter manipulate the IV in a quasi experiment?

Answer 44

No, it simply exists

Question 45

what are the strengths and weaknesses of quasi experiments?

Answer 45

😀High reliability 😫Confounding variables are present

Question 46

Where are field experiments conducted?

Answer 46

In a more natural environment

Question 47

What does the experimenter manipulate in a field experiment?

Answer 47

deliberately manipulates the IV

Question 48

Does the experiment control EVs in a field experiment?

Answer 48

The experimenter controls some of the EVs

Question 49

What are the strengths and weaknesses of field experiments?

Answer 49

😀High ecological validity 😀Fewer demand characteristics 😫Lack of control 😫May break ethical issues

Question 50

Where are natural experiments conducted?

Answer 50

In a natural environment

Question 51

Does the experimenter control the IV of a natural experiment?

Answer 51

No, they have no control

Question 52

Does the experimenter control the EVs in natural experiments?

Answer 52

No, they have no control

Question 53

What are the strengths and weaknesses of natural experiments?

Answer 53

😀High ecological validity 😀Fewer demand characteristics 😫Lack of control 😫They cannot be easily replicated

Question 54

What is an ethical issue?

Answer 54

A conflict between what the researcher needs and the rights of the participant

Question 55

What identifies and proposes ethical issues for psychologists?

Answer 55

British Psychological Society (BPS)

Question 56

What are the 6 ethical issues named in the BPS?

Answer 56

-Deception -Informed consent -Protection of participants -Right to withdraw -Confidentiality -Privacy

Question 57

How can we deal with deception?

Answer 57

Debriefing

Question 58

Which 3 situations are consent not available?

Answer 58

-When children are participating -When deception is necessary -In field experiments

Question 59

What are the three forms of consent?

Answer 59

-Prior general consent -Presumptive consent -Parental consent

Question 60

What level of distress is considered acceptable in an experiment?

Answer 60

No more than they would experience in everyday life

Question 61

Which example study did the participants feel they lost the right to withdraw?

Answer 61

Milgram (1965)

Question 62

How can you resolve the issue of right to withdraw?

Answer 62

Inform participants that they can stop participating in the study at any time.

Question 63

How can you resolve the issue of confidentiality?

Answer 63

Maintain anonymity, this can be done by referring to participants with initials or numbers.

Question 64

How can you resolve the issue of privacy?

Answer 64

Participants shouldn't be studied in situations where they wouldn't expect to be "normally" seen.

Question 65

What 3 things must a consent form include?

Answer 65

-Purpose of investigation -Procedural information -Ethical information

Question 66

What should the procedural section of a consent form include?

Answer 66

-The way participants will be assessed before and after. -The researchers training to conduct -Duration of procedure -Random allocation of participants

Question 67

What should the ethical information in a consent form include?

Answer 67

-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