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psychology yr12 > research methods > Flashcards

research methods Flashcards

1
Q

when carrying out research scientists can use _______ or _______ methods

A

primary or secondary

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2
Q

what are primary methods

A

the psychologists carries out research first hand for their own purpose

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3
Q

what are secondary methods

A

the psychologists makes use of existing information that was collected for someone else’s purposes

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4
Q

primary & secondary methods can produce either ________ or________ data

A

quantitative, qualitative

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5
Q

what is quantitative data and give an example

A

data in numerical form e.g. government statistics

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6
Q

what is qualitative data and give an example

A

data in non numerical form e.g. newspaper art

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7
Q

what is an aim

A

a statement of intention (what the researcher wants to investigate)

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8
Q

what is a hypothesis

A

a testable statement that predicts the relationship between variables

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9
Q

a hypothesis can either be _______ or ________

A

directional or non directional

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10
Q

what is a directional hypothesis and how do we know if a hypothesis is directional

A

directional - states the direction of the relationship

a hypothesis will be directional if there is existing research correlated to the experiment

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11
Q

what is a non directional hypothesis and how do we know if a hypothesis is non directional

A

non directional - does not state the direction of the relationship
we know a hypothesis is non directional when there is no existing research correlated to the study

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12
Q

a directional hypothesis can also be referred to as ____ tailed

A

one

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13
Q

a non directional hypothesis can also be referred to as ____ tailed

A

two

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14
Q

what is the independent variable

A

the variable we change

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15
Q

what is the dependent variable

A

the variable we measure

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16
Q

define operationalisation

A

clearly defining variables in a way they can be measured

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17
Q

why is operationalisation important

A

allows research to be replicated + means research is accurate

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18
Q

the ability to be repeated and give the same results can be defined as …..

A

reliability i.e. consistency

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19
Q

measuring what you intended to measure can be defined as …..

A

validity i.e. accuracy

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20
Q

what are extraneous variables

A

any variable , other than the IV but NOT linked to the study, that MIGHT impact the DV

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21
Q

what are confounding variables

A

any variable , other than the IV but LINKED to the study, that WILL impact the DV

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22
Q

name two possible extraneous variables

A

noise outside or around the experiment

temperature of room e.g. too hot or too cold

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23
Q

name two possible confounding variables

A

shy participants

tiredness

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24
Q

what are demand characteristics

A

cues that might reveal the purpose of the research to the participant, leading to them changing their behaviour

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25
Q

demand characteristics can lead to participants either trying to _______ or _______

A

overperform or underperform

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26
Q

what are investigator effects

A

the investigator unconsciously behaves in a way which gives cues to the participants or the instructions give away clues

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27
Q

what are the 4 ways of controlling research so it is not impacted by EV’S , CV’S , demand characteristics & investigator effects

A

standardisation
randomisation
single blind procedure
double blind procedure

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28
Q

what is standardisation

A

keeping conditions, environment , resources & instructions the same for all participants which minimises the influence of EV’s

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29
Q

what is randomisation

A

using chance and random selection wherever possible to minimise investigator effects as they are less in control so can give off less cues

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30
Q

what is single blind procedure

A

the researcher knows the aim and whose in which condition the participants don’t know which minimises demand characteristics

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31
Q

what is double blind procedure

A

neither researcher or participant know which condition they are in, there will be a third party to carry out the test without knowing the aim & minimises investigator effects

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32
Q

what is a pilot study

A

a small scale trial run of the research before the real thing

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33
Q

why do researchers carry out pilot studies give three reasons

A

to check the procedures work , to save time & money if it doesn’t, change anything they need to make better

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34
Q

who the researcher wants to study (the group) is known as

A

the population

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35
Q

populations can be very ___ & very ____

A

large, small

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36
Q

due to constraints on ___ , ____ & _____ researchers take a _____ of their population

A

time , money & access

sample

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37
Q

a sample is…..

A

a sub group of the population

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38
Q

what is a sampling frame

A

a list of all members of the population

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39
Q

what are the two categories sampling techniques are divided into

A

random & non random

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40
Q

in order for a sampling technique to be random …..

A

all members of the population have to have an equal chance of being selected (used if a sampling frame is available)

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41
Q

in order for a sampling technique to be non random …..

A

all members of a population have to not have an equal chance of being selected (used if a sampling frame is not available)

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42
Q

what sampling techniques are non random

A

opportunity & volunteer sampling

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43
Q

what sampling techniques are random

A

random, stratified & systematic sampling

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44
Q

which non random sampling technique relies on the participant approaching the researcher

A

volunteer sampling

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45
Q

which non random sampling technique relies on the researcher approaching the participants

A

opportunity sampling

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46
Q

random sampling is ….

A

when the participants are randomly picked out to participate in the experiment e.g. names in a hat pick at random

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47
Q

dividing the population into sub-categories then randomly selecting from each category until the sample reflects the population is known as….

A

stratified sampling

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48
Q

ethics refer to the ….

A

moral guidelines that state how participants of research should be treated

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49
Q

what is informed consent

A

participants know what they are agreeing to

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50
Q

what are the 3 alternatives to informed consent

A 
prior general consent ( ask if they would partake in a study which involves deception )
presumptive consent ( ask others )
retrospective consent ( ask afterwards )
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51
Q

what are 4 ethical issues

A

protection from harm
privacy & confidentiality
deception
right to withdraw

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52
Q

what is protection from harm

A

participants are protected from physical , emotional & physiological harm

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53
Q

what is deception

A

lying or misleading a participant about the research (no informed consent)

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54
Q

give one way of ensuring privacy & confidentiality

A

pseudonyms

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55
Q

if informed consent is not obtained during briefing what must be done after the research

A

debriefing with full information

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56
Q

lab experiments take place in any ______ or _______ settings where the ___ is manipulated and the __ is measured

A

artificial or controlled

IV, DV

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57
Q

an example of a lab experiment is

A

Zimbardo’s Stanford prison experiment

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58
Q

what is internal validity

A

the experiment accurately measures what it intended to measure

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59
Q

what is external validity

A

accurately represents the real world

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60
Q

what are the pros of lab experiments

A 
internal validity (accurate)
replicable & reliable
61
Q

what are the cons of lab experiments

A

artificial = low external validity

may produce DC’s and lack generalisability

62
Q

field experiments take place in any _____, ______ setting where the ___ is manipulated and the __ is measured

A

natural , everyday

IV , DV

63
Q

what is an example of a field experiment

A

Rosenhan’s ‘Sane in insane places’ experiment

64
Q

what are the pros of field experiments

A

natural environment = generalisable & high in external validity

65
Q

what are the cons of field experiments

A

low control = lacks internal validity & cannot be replicated
participants often unaware = ethical issues

66
Q

natural experiments take place in either a _______ or a ________ environment but the ___ itself is naturally occurring and would change regardless of the researchers investigation

A

controlled, natural

IV

67
Q

an example of a natural experiment is

A

Rutter’s Romanian orphanage study

68
Q

what are the pros of a natural experiment

A

high external validity (often study real life issues)

can study issues it would be unethical to manipulate

69
Q

what are the cons of a natural experiment

A

may be rare and ungeneralizable

lack of control - cant be sure the IV impacted the DV

70
Q

Quasi experiments often occur in a _______ setting but the ___ is a naturally occurring difference between participants , this __ cant be _______

A

controlled , IV

IV , manipulated

71
Q

what is a con of a quasi experiment

A

cant randomly allocate participants - harder to control EV’s & CV’s

72
Q

what are the pros of a quasi experiment

A

control so has internal validity

replicable & reliable

73
Q

what are the three different types of experimental design

A

Matched pairs
Independent groups
Repeated measures

74
Q

what is a independent groups design

A

One group of ppts do the experimental condition
A different set of people then do the control condition
Researchers then compare the results

75
Q

What is a repeated measures design

A

The same ppts do all conditions

The results are then compared

76
Q

what is a matched pairs design

A

Match ppts in pairs on any factors important to our research e.g. personality , chattiness
Then divide the pairs so that one from each experiences one of the conditions
Compare the results

77
Q

give three strengths of the independent groups design

A

Fewer materials needed
No order effects
Demand characteristics reduced

78
Q

give two limitations of the independent groups design

A

Individual differences could be a confounding variable

More ppts needed than in repeated measures

79
Q

give two strengths of the repeated measures design

A

Individual differences are eliminated

Fewer ppts needed than other designs (cost reduced)

80
Q

Give three limitations of the repeated measures design

A

Order effects
Demand characteristics more likely
More materials are needed

81
Q

give three strengths of the matched pairs design

A

No order effects
Individual differences are reduced
Fewer materials are needed

82
Q

Give three limitations of the matched pairs design

A

More ppts needed than other designs
Time consuming
Individual differences reduced but not eliminated

83
Q

What can be used to minimise order effects

A

Counterbalancing e.g. half ppts do A then B and ten half do B then A

84
Q

what 3 components make up an observation

A

The setting
The involvement of the researcher
The knowledge of the participants

85
Q

What are the 6 types of observation

A

Observations must have one from each section

Naturalistic or Controlled
Covert or Overt
Participant or Non- participant

86
Q

What is a naturalistic observation (setting)

A

Happens in a ppt’s natural environment

(where they would have been anyway)

87
Q

What is a controlled observation (setting)

A

Happens in an artificial setting

88
Q

What is a covert observation (knowledge)

A

When participants are unaware that they are being watched

89
Q

What is a overt observation (knowledge)

A

Participants are aware that they are being observed

90
Q

What is a participant observation (researcher)

A

Researcher joins the group they are observing

91
Q

what is a non participant observation (researcher)

A

Researcher does not join the group they are observing

92
Q

A researcher secretly joins a religious cult to see if people are being brainwashed - what type of observation is this

A

Naturalistic , covert , participant

93
Q

A researcher watches primary school children through a two way mirror in a playroom to investigate co-operation - what type of observation is this

A

Controlled , covert , non - participant

94
Q

What is a strength of a naturalistic observation

A

Higher external validity as behaviour is studied in its natural setting - generalisable

95
Q

What is a limitation of a naturalistic observation

A

Less control which makes it harder to replicate others - unreliable

96
Q

what is a strength of a controlled observation

A

High levels of control means it is easy to replicate - reliable

97
Q

What is a limitation of a controlled observation

A

Lower external validity - controlled setting may lead to less natural behaviour - ungeneralisible

98
Q

What is a strength of a covert observation

A

Lower demand characteristics - participants unaware they are being observed - high internal validity

99
Q

What is a limitation of a covert observation

A

Ethical concerns (deception)

100
Q

what is a strength of an overt observation

A

More ethical than covert has informed consent

101
Q

what is a limitation of a overt observation

A

Demand characteristics more likely to effect the results as they know they are being watched - so lacks internal validity

102
Q

What is a strength of a participant observation

A

Greater insight into behaviours they are studying

103
Q

What is a limitation of a participant observation

A

Researchers may become too attached and lose objectivity

104
Q

What is a strength of a non participant observation

A

The researcher are objective and maintain a safe distance

105
Q

What is a limitation of a non participant observation

A

Lose valuable insight gained from participant observation

106
Q

The observer’s notes can either be _________ or __________

A

Structured , unstructured

107
Q

What is unstructured note taking

A

Writing down everything you see - only really possible for small scale interactions with few people

108
Q

What is structured note taking

A

Involves making specific behavioural categories and tallying when you see them
Used for larger scale more complex interactions

109
Q

What is event sampling

A

Tallying every time you see a target behaviour

110
Q

what is time sampling

A

Tallying every time you see a behaviour within a time frame

111
Q

What is inter observer reliability

A

Researchers improve the reliability of their results by having 2+ observers carry out the research - should use the same categories , observe same targets at same time - results compared
The more similar the results are the more reliable

112
Q

We can conduct interviews over the ______ or ____ to _____

A

Phone

Face to face

113
Q

Interviews can be ________ or _________

A

Structured

Unstructured

114
Q

What is a structured interview

A

A preset list of standardised closed questions

115
Q

What is a pro of a structured interview

A

Replicable / reliable

116
Q

What is a con of a structured interview

A

Inability to deviate may limit validity

117
Q

What is an unstructured interview

A

A general topic area the interviewer poses and engages in a conversation with the interviewer

118
Q

What is a pro of an unstructured interview

A

Flexibility + builds rapport

119
Q

What is a con of an unstructured interview

A

Analysis may be difficult

120
Q

What is a group interview

A

Interviewing multiple people at once

121
Q

What is a semi structured interview

A

Having preset list of questions but they are not standardised so the interviewer can deviate

122
Q

What is a pro of primary data

A

Authentically obtained for the researchers own purpose

123
Q

What is a con of primary data

A

Lengthy & costly for the researcher

124
Q

What is a pro of secondary data

A

Inexpensive and easily accessible

125
Q

What is a con of secondary data

A

May not be an exact match - could be outdated or incomplete

126
Q

Closed , structured questions produce _______ data

A

Quantitative

127
Q

Open , unstructured questions produce _________ data

A

Qualitative

128
Q

Students rate their enjoyment of research methods on a scale of 1-10 - will this produce quantitative or qualitative data

A

Quantitative

129
Q

A recovering patient describes his schizophrenia- will this produce quantitative or qualitative data

A

Qualitative

130
Q

What is a pro of qualitative data

A

Rich & broad in detail offering higher external validity

131
Q

What is a con of qualitative data

A

Analysed subjectively which is difficult & may produce bias

132
Q

What is a pro of quantitative data

A

Easily, objectively analysed allowing for comparisons + representativeness

133
Q

What is a con of quantitative data

A

Narrow & shallow, therefore may not reflect real life

134
Q

A correlation is a technique used to …..

A

Establish an association between two variables - called co-variables

135
Q

When a graph shows a ________ correlation one variable _________ ,so does the other

A

Positive

Increases

136
Q

When a graph shows a ________ correlation one variable ________ while the other _________

A

Negative
Increases
Decreases

137
Q

When a graph shows a ____ correlation there is no relationship between the __-_________

A

Zero

Co-variables

138
Q

A _________ hypothesis is written with the same principles as an __________ hypothesis

A

Correlational
Experimental
(Either directional or non-directional )

139
Q

What is the difference between an experiment and a correlation

A

E - IV manipulated , impact on DV measured , cause & effect established

C - no manipulation/ control , no cause & effect only relationship + association , may not account for intervening variables

140
Q

What is a strength of correlations

A

Often the starting point for future casual research

141
Q

What is a limitation of correlations

A

Correlation does not equal causation - two things can have a strong correlation but logically are not likely causal , a third intervening variable probably responsible

142
Q

What is the accepted level of significance for the sign test

A

0.05

143
Q

When is the sign test acceptable to use

A

There is difference (not relationship)
Repeated measures or matched pairs design
Categorical data (nominal) e.g. bar chart cannot put it in order

144
Q

What is step 1 of the sign test

A

Identify whether the hypothesis is one tailed (directional) or two tailed (non-directional)

145
Q

What is step 2 of the sign test

A

Calculate the sign for each participant (how many of the results increased or decreased after the experiment) whichever one you have fewer of is your S value (calculated value)

146
Q

What is step 3 of the sign test

A

Calculate the N value (number of participants - any non-signs)
Non signs = no difference before or after experiment

147
Q

What is step 4 of the sign test

A

Locate the critical value by using the level of probability (0.05) for the right hypothesis and the N value

148
Q

In order for significance in a table to be shown the ___ value must be less than or equal to the ________ value

A

S

Critical

psychology yr12 (8 decks)

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