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Psychology A level > Research methods > Flashcards

Research methods Flashcards

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1
Q

What is an experimental design?

A

How ppts are allocated to the different conditions (or IV groups) in an experiment

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2
Q

What are the two types of conditions in an experiment?

A

Control

Experimental

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3
Q

What is the control condition?

A

Nothing is manipulted so that we have a baseline to complare the results with

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4
Q

What is the experimental condition?

A

Manipulate IV to see effect on DV

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5
Q

What does IV stand for?

A

Independent variabele

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6
Q

What is the IV?

A

Something that is manipulated by an experimenter in order to test an effect

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7
Q

What does DV stand for?

A

Dependent variable

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8
Q

What is the DV?

A

A measurable outcome of the action of an independent variable in an experiment

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9
Q

What is operationalisation?

A

Ensuring that the IV and DV are in a form that can be tested in an experiment

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10
Q

What is an example of an operatinalised experiment?

A

Addtional testing every Friday leads to higher mock grades in January

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11
Q

What is an example of an unoperatinalised experiment?

A

More exam practise leads to students getting higher grades

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12
Q

What are order effects?

A

Refers to the order of the conditions having an effect on the ppts behaviour

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13
Q

What are the two types of order effects?

A

Practise

Fatigue

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14
Q

What is the practice effect?

order effects

A

Performance in the second condition may be better because the ppts know what to do

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15
Q

What is the fatigue effect?

order effects

A

Performance in the second condition may be worse because the ppts are tired

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16
Q

How can a researcher deal with order effects?

A

Counterbalancing

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17
Q

What is counterbalancing?

A

The researcher counterbalances the order in which ppts perform different conditions, so although order effects do happen, they occur equally in both groups so balance each other out in the results

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18
Q

What is an example of counterbalancing?

Groups 1 and 2 must complete conditions A and B

A

Group 1 does condition A then B

Group 2 does condition B then B

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19
Q

What are the 3 types of experimental design?

A

Repeated measures design
Independent group design
Matched parts design

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20
Q

What is the repeated measures design?

A

The same ppts take part in each condition of the IV

21
Q

What is a strength of the repeated measures design?

Less people needed

A

Less people to find and pay making the experiment quicker and cheaper
This means more time and money can be put into designing a better experiment

22
Q

What is a limitation of the repeated measures design?

A

Order effects
This is because each condition of the experiment includes the same group of ppts, so their performance in the second condition may be better as the ppts know what to do (practice effect) or worse because they are tired (fatigue effect)
This means the behaviour may be unnatural and so lacks validity

23
Q

What is the independent group design?

A

Different ppts are used in each condition of the IV

24
Q

How should ppts be assigned to groups in the independent group design?

A

This should be done by random allocation to ensure that each ppts has an equal chance of being assigned to one group or the other

25
Q

What is a strength of the independent group design?

Avoids…

A

Avoids order effects

This means the results are higher in validity as the ppts won’t change their behaviour in different conditions

26
Q

What is a limitation of the independent group design?

More people needed

A

More people are needed which is expensive and time consuming to find

27
Q

What is a limitation of the independent group design?

… variable

A

Participant variables are differences between ppts in a group, such as age, gender and background
This is a type of extraneous variable
Can affect the results an unwanted way

28
Q

What is the matched pair design?

A

Two people with similar qualities are matched up, then randomly assigned to different conditions

29
Q

What are some examples of similar qualities between ppts in a matched pairs design?

A

Age
Gender
Ethnicity
Upbringing

30
Q

What is an example of the ppts in a matched pairs design?

A

Two 10 year old girls with similar grades and upbringing

31
Q

What is a strength of the matched pairs design?

Avoids…

A

Avoids order effects

This means the results are higher in validity as the ppts won’t change their behaviour in different conditions

32
Q

What is a strength of the matched pairs design?

Reduces … variables

A

Reduces ppt variables
This is because the researcher matches up the ppts so that each condition has people with similar abilities and characteristics

33
Q

What is a limitation of the matched pairs design?

More specific people are needed

A

Very time consuming and expensive to find closely matched pairs

34
Q

What is a limitation of the matched pairs design?

Imposible to match…

A

Impossible to match people exactly so ppt variables will still be present
Even identical twins differ in some ways

35
Q

What is a hypothesis?

A

A precise and testable statement of what you want to

investigate

36
Q

What are the two types of hypothesis?

A

Directional/ one tailed hypothesis

Non- directional/ two tailed hypothesis

37
Q

What is a directional hypothesis?

A

There will be a change in one particular direction

e.g. increase

38
Q

When is a directional hypothesis used?

A

Directional hypothesis is used if pre- existing research has shown there is a correlation, so you are confident it can only go in one direction

39
Q

What is an example of a directional hypothesis?

A

Studying will increase exam results

40
Q

What is a non- directional hypothesis?

A

The change could go in either direction

e.g. increase or decrease

41
Q

What is an example of a non- directional hypothesis?

A

Studying may change the final grade

42
Q

What are extraneous variables?

A

Unwanted variables which may interfere and effect the IV

They should be identified at the start of the experiment and controlled

43
Q

What is validity?

A

Refers to how sure a researcher is that only the desired IV (and no other EV) has an effect on the DV

44
Q

What are examples of extraneous variables?

A

Age
Gender
Background noise
Difficulty of words

45
Q

What are the two types of extraneous variables?

A

Participant variables

Situational variables

46
Q

What are ppt variables?

A

Differences between ppts

47
Q

What are situational variables?

A

Features of the experimental situation

48
Q

What are confounding variables?

A

Does not affect the IV but may affect the DV

This means you could explain the results of the DV with a factor other than the IV

Psychology A level (12 decks)

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