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AS Psychology > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a laboratory experiment

A

It’s a controlled situation in which the researcher manipulated one variable to discover its effects on another variable.
The other variables are held constant

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2
Q

And kind of an environment and what kind of tasks are completed in lab experiments?

A

Artificial tasks and environment

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3
Q

What are the advantages of a lab experiment

A

Control variables to discover the effects of one on another (clear measure)
For that same reason it can be replicated so it’s more reliable

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4
Q

What are disadvantages of laboratory experiments?

A

It is unnatural so there are demand characteristics because peoples behaviour changes so it questions validity
It is an artificial task so the results can’t be generalised to real life (ecological validity)

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5
Q

What is a field experiment

A

Research with a manipulated independent variable and measured dependent variable but in the participants environment

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6
Q

What are the advantages of a field experiment

A

It isn’t artificial so there is more ecological validity

There aren’t as many demand characteristics because it isn’t artificial

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7
Q

What are the disadvantages of a field experiment

A

Less control over variables so it’s harder to replicate and less reliable
This also means there isn’t a clear measure of cause and effect
Ethics issue - no consent and deception

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8
Q

What is a case study?

A

In depth, detailed investigations of one individual or small group

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9
Q

What are two advantages of a case study

A

Rich detail - provide great depth and understanding about individuals

The only possible method to use - allow psychologists to study unique behaviours or experiences that can’t be studied any other way

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10
Q

What are two disadvantages of a case study

A

Not representative - no two case studies are alike so generalisations can’t be made

Researcher bias - researchers conducting car studies may be biased in their interpretations or method of reporting making findings suspect

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11
Q

What is content analysis?

A

A method of quantifying qualitative data through the use of coding units and is commonly used with media research

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12
Q

What are the two advantages of content analysis

A

Ease of application - easy to perform, inexpensive method of research

Reliability - establishing reliability is simple as content analysis is easy to replicate

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13
Q

What are two weaknesses of content analysis

A

Descriptive - content analysis is purely descriptive and doesn’t reveal underlying reasons for behaviour/attitude

Flawed results - limited availability of material so observed trends may not reflect reality. Negative events receive more coverage than positive ones

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14
Q

What are the strengths of qualitative data

A

Rich and detailed

Meaningful and high validity

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15
Q

What are the strengths of quantitative data

A

East to analyse
Can replicate
More objective

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16
Q

What are limitations of qualitative data?

A

Difficult to replicate
Difficult to analyse
Low reliability

17
Q

What are the limitations of quantitative data?

A

Less meaningful

low in ecological validity

18
Q

What is standard deviation?

A

Measures the average difference of each score or item of data from the mean

19
Q

What are descriptive statistics?

A

They provide a summary of a set of data drawn from a sample that can be applied to a target population

20
Q

What is a hypothesis?

A

A precise, testable prediction of the outcome of a study

21
Q

What is an alternate (H1) and null (H0) hypothesis?

A

A null hypothesis is the expected/original hypothesis which is non directional
An alternative hypothesis is the other possible outcomes which are non directional or directional

22
Q

What is volunteer sampling?

Advantages and disadvantages

A

When individuals have chosen to be involved in a study
Convenient and ethical (consent)
Unrepresentative as it leads to bias from participant

23
Q

What is stratified sampling?

Advantages and disadvantages?

A

Selecting members in proportion to the occurrence in the population
Deliberate attempt to be representative
Can be time consuming

24
Q

What is systematic sampling?

Advantages and disadvantages?

A

Every nth person is chosen
Avoids bias by selection
Could be unrepresentative

25
Q

What is random sampling?

Advantages and disadvantages?

A

Everyone with equal chance of selection
Best chance of unbiased representative sample
Time consuming for long lists

26
Q

What is opportunity sampling?

Advantages and disadvantages?

A

Selecting those who are available
Quick, convenient and cheap
Very unrepresentative and biased

27
Q

What are the 6 ethical issues of research in psychology?

A

Informed consent - Ps aware of aims, procedures, their rights so they can consent
Deception - misleading Ps

Right to withdraw - able to leave whenever

Protection from harm - no more risk than normal

Confidentiality - law for data protection

Privacy - control info about them

28
Q

How do you deal with the ethical issues

A

Participants asked for their consent

Made clear they can leave whenever

Participants debriefed if deceived

Study not designed to cause harm

Fake names not real names for participants

Gain prior consent for observations when appropriate

29
Q

What is a structured interview and what are the advantages?

A

Questions are decided before and it’s always the same questions and order

Has a focus so it can generate answers that stick to the objective
Time is saved
Can compare interviews and more reliable for the objective

30
Q

What are disadvantages of a structured interview?

A

Lack of flexibility so things could be missed out that help with the objective

Investigator effects may intimidate the participant into answering the questions how they think the investigator wants them to be answered - bias

31
Q

What is an unstructured interview?

What are advantages of it?

A

More conversational and relaxed. Questions lead on from each other

More flexible with follow up questions and more likely to gain truthful answers in a relaxed environment

AS Psychology (14 decks)

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