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research methods Flashcards

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1
Q

what is a lab experiment

A

an experiment conducted under controlled conditions

iv is manipulated

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2
Q

adv of lab experiments

A

high level of control

standardised so it can be replicated

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3
Q

disadv of lab experiments

A

artificial environment
may not apply to real life
participants may behave unnaturally

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4
Q

what is a field experiment

A

a real life environment

the iv is still manipulated

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5
Q

adv of field experiments

A

participants will behave more natural

can relate more to everyday life

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6
Q

disadv of field experiments

A

hard to repeat
there may be no consent from participants making it unethical
lacks internal validity

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7
Q

what is a natural experiment

A

there is a natural independant variable and the researcher has no control

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8
Q

adv of natural experiments

A

people behave naturally so if can reflect real life

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9
Q

disadv on natural experiments

A

expensive
no control over variables
difficult to repeat

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10
Q

what is a quasi experiment

A

independent variable is a pre existing difference.

the experiment lacks control

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11
Q

adv of quasi experiments

A

cheap and easy to carry out

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12
Q

disadv of quasi experiments

A

not scientific so they lack validity

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13
Q

what does validity mean

A

the extent to which a test measures what it claims to measure

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14
Q

what does reliability mean

A

results are consistent and dependable

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15
Q

what is an aim

A

a clear and precise statement for the meaning of the study

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16
Q

what is a direct hypothesis

A

a prediction made by a researcher regarding a change in a positive or negative direction or the difference between two variables.
this is used when previous research has been done

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17
Q

what is a non direct hypothesis

A

it predicts that the independent variable of the experiment will have an effect of the result but it does not specify the direction.
used when there is no previous research

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18
Q

what is an independent variable

A

a characteristic that is manipulated or changed by the researcher
e.g time

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19
Q

what is a dependant variable

A

the thing in the experiment that you measure

e.g memory

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20
Q

what is an extraneous variable

A

a variable that could effect the DV

the researcher should try control this e.g lighting

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21
Q

what is an confounding variable

A

factors other than the IV may change the result of the experiment
e.g a study of caffeine (some people may of got more sleep)

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22
Q

what is a demand characteristic

A

participants change their behaviour based on the clues given by the researcher to produce unnatural results in the experiments

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23
Q

what is an investigator effect

A

when the researcher consciously or unconsciously influences the results of the experiment

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24
Q

what is an experimental design

A

the way in which ppts are allocated to the two conditions of the independent variable of the of them experiment

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25
Q

what is the meaning of an independent group design

A

there are different ppts in each group

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26
Q

what is the meaning of no order effects

A

no one gets better through practise or worse by being tired or bored

27
Q

repeated measures design

A

the same ppts repeat the two conditions of the IV

28
Q

matched pairs

A

every ppts in group A is matched with someone in group B based on their age, sex, wealth etc
people are paired of relative characteristics that suit the experiment

29
Q

what does sampling mean

A

the method used to select people from the population to take part in the experiment

30
Q

generalisability meaning

A

the extent to which we can apply the findings of our research to the target population

31
Q

biased sampling meaning

A

when certain groups are over/ under represented within one sample

32
Q

random sampling meaning

A

every person in the target population has an equal chance of being selected

33
Q

adv of random sampling

A

removes researcher bias

fair selection

34
Q

disadv of random sampling

A

time and cost to produce a list of the population

chosen ppts might refuse to take part

35
Q

systematic sampling meaning

A

every nth member (e.g every 5th member)

36
Q

adv of systematic sampling

A

no bias

representative of the population

37
Q

disadv of systematic sampling

A

time, effort and money to produce

38
Q

stratified sampling meaning

A

divides population into sections, each representing a key group that should presented in the final sample
e.g if the pop is more males then the sample should include more males than females

39
Q

adv of stratified sampling

A

represents population well

no bias

40
Q

disadv of stratified sampling

A

very time consuming

41
Q

opportunity sampling meaning

A

taking people who are there at that moment and using them in the investigation

42
Q

adv of opportunity sampling

A

quick and easy

43
Q

disadv of opportunity sampling

A

bias

not representative of the population

44
Q

volunteer sampling meaning

A

self-selected

e.g could be from an advert

45
Q

what does ethics mean

A

a conflict of interest between the researcher and the participants rights

46
Q

informed consent

A

ppts are aware of the aims of the research and their rights
however this means participants behaviour will not be natural
ppts should be sent a consent form detailing all information that may affect their decision

47
Q

deception

A

deliberately misleading or withholding information from ppts
this means behaviour may be more natural
ppts should be aware of the true aims of the research and what their data will be used for

48
Q

protection from harm

A

ppts aren’t at anymore risk than they would be in everyday life
protected from physical and psychological harm

49
Q

privacy and confidentiality

A

can control what information about themselves is used in the research

50
Q

what is the BPS code of conduct

A

ethical guidelines for all psychological researchers to follow

51
Q

what is a pilot study?

A

an initial run through of the procedure which is helpful to identify any issues
it may test validity, instructions, debriefs etc
they DO NOT test the results of the investigation only the procedures

52
Q

what is a briefing and debriefing statement

A

a briefing statement is given to the ppts before the research is carried out outlining the investigation
a debriefing statement is given to the ppts after the research is carried out

53
Q

controlled observation

A

conditions are manipulated by the researcher
lab study
+ high levels of control
+ study can be replicated
- demand characteristics
- artificial environment means low ecological validity

54
Q

naturalistic observations

A 
no manipulation of variables 
natural environment 
\+ less cost/ time
\+ real world environment means high ecological validity 
- impossible to replicate
- low control over extraneous variables
55
Q

covert observation

A 
ppts unaware the are part of the study 
public environment 
\+ removes demand characteristics 
\+ high validity for natural behaviour 
- ethical issues as no informed consent so a debriefing statement would be used
- difficult to set up/ find behaviour
56
Q

overt observation

A

know they are being observed and have given informed consent
+ ethical as informed consent in advance
- demand characteristics

57
Q

participant observation

A

researcher joins ppts to get first hand account
+ high validity as researcher has insight into behaviour
- lose objectivity

58
Q

non-participant observation

A

remains separate from ppts
+ less risk of losing objectivity
- may lose valuable insight

59
Q

correlations

A

the relationship between the x and y variables
positive = right, neg = left
strong = close together, weak = far apart

60
Q

interview

A

ppts give information in response to direct questions asked by the interviewer

61
Q

questionnaire

A

ppts give information in response to questions that are sent out to them eg. post, online

62
Q

open questions

A

questions are answered with no direction. you can give long answers and gives qualitative data (non numerical answers)

63
Q

closed questions

A

yes or no, likehurt scales, set answers. quantitative data that can be numerical and put into graphs

psychology a level (16 decks)

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