Research methods Flashcards
What is an aim?
A general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate
What is a hypothesis? Name the different types
- A clear, testable statement that states the relationship between the variables being investigates
- Directional (used when there’s findings from previous studies) and non-directional (used when there’s no theory or contradictory findings)
What are the 2 levels of the IV?
A control condition and an experimental condition
What is operationalisation?
Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured
What are extraneous variables?
Any variable other than the IV that affects the DV if not controlled.
What are confounding variables?
A kind of extraneous variable that varies systematically with the IV. Therefore we cant tell if any change in DV is due to the IV or CV.
What are demand characteristics?
Any cues that reveal the purpose if investigation to ppts. Can lead to them changing their behaviour.
What are investigator effects?
When the investigator effects the DV.
What is randomisation?
Use of chance methods to control for the effects of bias when designing materials and deciding the order of experimental conditions
What is standardisation?
Using the same exact formalised procedure snd instructions for all ppts
What is independent groups design?
When 2 separate grps of ppts experience different conditions
What are the strengths of independent measures design?
-Order effects aren’t a problem
What are the limitations of independent measure’s design?
- Participant variables can exist (so use random allocation)
- Less economical than repeated measures as it only gives one result per person
What are the strengths of repeated measures design?
- Ppt variables are controlled
- Fewer ppts needed
What are the limitations of repeated measures design?
- Order effects can occur (use counterbalancing)- ppl can get bored and perform worse or become more experienced so perform better
- Demand characteristics as they work out the aim
What are the strengths of matched pairs design?
-Order effects and demand characteristics are less of a problem
What are limitations of matched pairs design?
- Can’t be matched exactly so still ppt variables
- Time consuming and expensive
Laboratory experiment- strengths
- High control over confounding and extraneous variables (high internal validity)
- Replication is more possible
Lab experiment- limitations
- Lack generalisability (low external validity)
- Demand characteristics
- Low mundane realism
What is a field experiment?
- IV manipulated in a natural more everyday setting
- Researcher goes to ppts usual environment
Field experiment- strengths
- Higher mundane realism
- Higher external validity
Field experiment-limitations
- Cause and effect is harder to establish (due to loss of control of CVs snd EVs)
- Ethical issues (consent and privacy)
What is a natural experiment?
Researcher has no control of IV and can’t change it- someone or something else does.
- It is the IV that is natural, not necessarily the setting
- DV may also be naturally occurring or devised by the experimenter then studied in the field or lab
Natural experiment- strengths
- Provide opportunities for research otherwise not done for practical or ethical reasons (Rutter et al orphan study)
- High external validity
What is a quasi experiment?
Have a pre existing IV which is an existing difference between ppl e.g. gender, age. IV can’t be changed. DV can also be naturally occurring
Quasi experiment- strengths
-Controlled conditions (same strengths as lab)
Quasi experiment- limitations
- Confounding variables as ppts aren’t randomly allocated conditions
- IV isnt manipulated so cant directly see any change by it
Systematic sampling
When every nth member of target pop is selected
Evaluate random sampling
- S: Unbiased
- L: difficult and time consuming
- L: can still be unrepresentative
- L: chosen ppts can refuse to take part
Evaluate systematic sampling
- S: objective
- L: time consuming and ppts may refuse to take part
What is stratified sampling?
Composition of sample reflects the proportions of ppl in strata within target pop.
