Research Methods

Question 1

What is a theory?

Answer 1

A systematic way of organising and explaining observations

Question 2

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 2

A prediction about the relationship between two or more variables

Question 3

What is Naturalistic Observation?

Answer 3

Researcher carefully observes behaviour without intervening

Question 4

What is a case study?

Answer 4

In-depth investigation of an individual person / situation

Question 5

What is a survey?

Answer 5

Use questionnaires or interviews to gather information about specific aspects of behaviour

Question 6

What is correlational research?

Answer 6

Looking for relationships among variables
Useful for studying variables that the researcher can’t manipulate
Can demonstrate that a relationship exists, but can’t demonstrate causality

Question 7

What is Experimental Research?

Answer 7

Used to establish causation. Researchers manipulate an independent variable to assess the impact on a dependent variable?

Question 8

What is a population?

Answer 8

The entire group of people we are interested in studying

Question 9

What is a sample?

Answer 9

A subset of the population selected for study

Question 10

What is Operationalising of variables?

Answer 10

Turning abstract concepts into concrete variables that we can measure or manipulate

Question 11

What is reliability?

Answer 11

Does the measure produce consistent results?

Question 12

What is Validity?

Answer 12

Does it measure what it’s supposed to measure?

Question 13

What are measures of reliability?

Answer 13

• Test-retest reliability
Does the test give similar values if the same participant takes it two or more times?

• Internal consistency
Different items that measure the same variable should produce similar answers – be consistent.

• Inter-rater reliability
Two testers who rate the same person on the same variable, should give similar ratings to the participant.

Question 14

How can you measure correlations?

Answer 14

• Scatterplot
Plot one variable against another and look at the relationship

• Correlational coefficient
Measures the direction and strength of the relationship between two variables

Question 15

What is random assignment?

Answer 15

Participants are equally likely to be assigned to the experimental or control condition

Question 16

What are potential sources of bias? How can you control for them?

Answer 16

Participant
Single-blind study

Experimenter
Double-blind study

Confounding variables
Ensuring all variables are accounted for

Sampling bias
Ensure sample is representative of population as a whole

Question 17

What is research ethics?

Answer 17

• Honesty is also key
	• Reporting
	• Analysing
	• Interpreting data
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