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ALevel AQA Psychology > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

What is in the BPS ethical guidelines?

A
  • Informed consent
  • Deception
  • Protection from harm
  • Right to withdraw
  • Confidentiality
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2
Q

What is a variable ?

A

Any ‘thing’ that can change or vary within an investigation

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3
Q

What is the independent variable ?

A

The variable that is changed by the researcher

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4
Q

What is the dependent variable ?

A

The variable that is measured

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5
Q

What is operationalisation ?

A

Defining the variables in such a way as to make them easy to measure

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6
Q

What is a hypothesis ?

A

a precise , testable statement about the expected outcome of an investigation

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7
Q

What are the four types of hypothesis ?

A
  • Null hypothesis
  • Alternative hypothesis
  • Directional hypothesis
  • Non- Directional hypothesis
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8
Q

What is a null hypothesis ?

A

States the IV will have no effect on the DV

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9
Q

What is a Alternative hypothesis ?

A

This predicts that the IV will have an effect on the DV

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10
Q

What is a Directional hypothesis ?

A

States the direction of the predicted difference between conditions

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11
Q

What is a Non- Directional hypothesis ?

A

Does not state the direction of the predicted difference between conditions

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12
Q

What is a extraneous variable?

A

Any variable that could have an influence on your findings , this variable could have an effect on the DV and make it look like there was a effect , sometimes the variable can confound /disturb the result

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13
Q

What is a confounding variable ?

A

A variable that if not controlled will have a direct effect on findings . The DV could change due to the confounding variable and not through the IV , making results meaningful

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14
Q

What is a situational variable ?

A

variables that are found in the environment or situation

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15
Q

What is a participants variable?

A

Variables to do with the individual person like mood , attention span and motivation to do the task

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16
Q

What is demand characteristics ?

A

when participants act differently because they think they have figured out the aim of the study , this then causes participants to behave in the way they believe the experimenter wants them to

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17
Q

What is social desirability ?

A

Participants behave in a way they think is expected , can act to please the experimenter ‘please effect’ or can deliberately sabotage the experiment ‘screw you effect’

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18
Q

What is the experimenter effect ?

A

Subtle cues given by the researcher that might influence the participants answer . Expectancy effects:tone or other verbal cues , individual differences

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19
Q

What is reliability?

A

Research can be seen as reliable when the same research is carried out again and produces the same result

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20
Q

What is Internal reliability?

A

the degree to which an observed effect was due to experimental manipulation or another variable

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21
Q

What is validity ?

A

how well a scientific test or a piece of research actually measures what it sets out to or how accurately the results found reflect real life

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22
Q

What is internal validity

A

concerned with whether the research measures what it sets out to measure in the hypothesis

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23
Q

What is External validity?

A

Concerned with the extent to which the result can be generalised across populations

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24
Q

What is a Blind experiment ?

A

When the participants doesn’t know the details of the study

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25
Q

What is a double blind experiment ?

A

Wen the participants and the research facilitator don’t know the details of the study

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26
Q

What is deception ?

A

Hiding the true aims of the study until afterwards

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27
Q

What is counterbalancing ?

A

Balancing the grouping of experimental groups to avoid bias or extraneous variable

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28
Q

What are standardising procedures ?

A

Ensuring the procedure allows each participant to receive the same experience

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29
Q

What is experimental realism ?

A

Ensuring the study has external validity

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30
Q

What is Randomisation ?

A

Removing bias by making as many decisions as possible free from researcher choice

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31
Q

What is a Lab experiment ? and give a example

A

Conducted in a controlled environment where the IV is directly influenced and measured by the dependent variable, looking for cause and effect

  • Peterson & Peterson
  • Asch line study
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32
Q

What are the strengths of conducting a lab experiment ?

A
  • High level of control of IV and any possible EV
  • Easily possible to replicate the experiment
  • cause and effect can be determined
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33
Q

What are the limitations of conducting a lab study ?

A
  • setting is artificial and so the research lacks ecological and validity and mundane realism
  • high chance of demand characteristics
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34
Q

What is a field experiment ? and give an example

A
  • carried out in an environment natural to the participants , IV still directly manipulated and still looking for cause or effect but participants not aware of the study
  • Pillavin et al New York subway ‘Good Samaritan’ experiment
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35
Q

What are the strengths of conducting a field experiment ?

A
  • Higher ecological validity
  • lower chance of demand characteristics
  • cause and effect can be determined
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36
Q

What are the limitations of conducting a field experiment?

A
  • less control over EV
  • less control over the sample
  • difficult to replicate
  • time consuming
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37
Q

What is a Natural experiment ? and give a example

A

Conducted in a nature environment , IV naturally occurring ( not manipulated) , looking for cause and effect , participants not aware of the study
- Charlton et al : effects of TV , found no difference in social behaviour with the introduction of western TV

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38
Q

What are the strengths of conducting a natural experiment?

A
  • High level of ecological validity

- Useful when when its impossible or unethical to manipulate the IV

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39
Q

What are the limitations of conducting a natural experiment ?

A
  • less control over EV
  • less control over sample
  • difficult to replicate
  • far more difficult to determine cause and effect
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40
Q

What is a Quasi experiment ? and give a example

A

Used when the researcher is interested in a IV that cannot be randomly assigned , usually when the IV is a innate characteristics
- Sheridan and king (obedience)

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41
Q

What are the strengths of conducting a Quasi experiment ?

A
  • Allows us to create comparisons between types of people
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42
Q

What are the limitations of conducting a Quasi experiment ?

A
  • Demand characteristics could happen
  • low internal validity
  • Dependent variable may be artificial
  • reduces mundane realism
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43
Q

What is Repeated measures ( participants design)?

A
  • recruit a group of participants
  • Condition one , the group does the experimental task with the IV set for condition one , same group does condition 2 with IV set for condition 2
  • compare the results for the two conditions
44
Q

What are the strengths of repeated measures ?

A
  • No individual differences

- fewer participants have to be found

45
Q

What are the limitations of repeated measure ?

A
  • order effect , can use counter balancing

- Demand characteristics as participants see the whole experiments

46
Q

What is Independent measures ( participants design )?

A
  • recruit a group of participants
  • Randomly divide them into two groups
  • One group does the experimental task with Iv set for condition one
  • the other groups does the experimental task with the IV set for condition two
  • Measure the DV for each group and compare
47
Q

What is the strengths of Independent measures ( participants design )?

A
  • no order effect

- no demand characteristics

48
Q

What are the limitations of Independent measures ?

A
  • Individual differences could effect results

- more participants required

49
Q

What are matched pairs ?

A
  • recruit a group of participants
  • condition 1 , find out what sorts of people you have in the group
  • Condition 2 - recruit another group that matches them one for one ( similar age or IQ)
  • compare the results for the matched pairs
50
Q

What are the strengths of matched pairs ?

A
  • no order effect
  • demand characteristics are less likely
  • Individual differences are controlled to a extent
51
Q

What are some limitations of matched pairs ?

A
  • some individual differences and participants variables may still occur
  • require more participants
  • time consuming
52
Q

What is Random sampling ?

A
  • All members of the target population have an equal chance of being selected
  • A complete list of all members of the target population is obtained
  • All name son the list are assigned a number
  • The sample is generated using some sort of lottery method
53
Q

What is Opportunity sampling ?

A
  • Involves using people who are readily available to the researcher
  • The researcher approaches people who happen to be available at the time and asks them if they are willing to take part in the research
54
Q

What is stratified sampling ?

A
  • The composition of the sample reflects the proportions of people in certain sub-groups within the target population ( e.g football supporters in Manchester)
  • The researcher identifies the different strata that makes up the population ( e.g Manchester city , Manchester United )
  • Proportions needed for the sample to be representative are worked out
  • The participants that make up each stratum are selected using Random sampling
55
Q

What is Volunteer sampling ?

A
  • Involves participants selecting themselves to be a part of the sample
  • Researcher may place an advert in a newspaper or in the common room noticeboard at school
  • It could be as simple as putting your hand up to volunteer when the researcher asks
56
Q

What is the target population?

A

refers to a group of people who are the focus of the researchers interest from which a smaller sample is drawn
- The sample should be representative of the target population so that findings can be generalised to the general population

57
Q

What is Systematic Sampling ?

A

This involves a system of randomly selecting a sample , Every person is given a number and using the system randomly selected e.g every 3rd person on the list

58
Q

What is a Naturalistic Observation ? and give a example

A

Watching and recording behaviour in the setting which would naturally occur
-Watching worker in a factory

59
Q

Evaluation point for Naturalistic observations ?

A

Strengths :
- gives a realistic picture of spontaneous behaviour , high ecological validity

Weakness :
- Little control of all the things happening , meaning something could happen that the observer did not account for

60
Q

What is a controlled observation ? and give a example

A

Watching and recording behaviour within a structured environment
-Mary Ainsworth , strange situation

61
Q

Evaluation points of controlled observations

A

Strengths :
- An observer can focus on particular aspects of behaviour

Limitations :
- Control means that the environment could feel natural and this could reflect in the behaviour of the participants

62
Q

What is a Overt observation? and give a example

A

Participants behaviour is watched and recorded with their knowledge and consent
- head teacher observing teacher in a school

63
Q

Evaluation points of a overt observation ?

A

strengths :
-more ethical than covert

weakness :
- Aware they are being watched , may affect the naturalness of their behaviour

64
Q

What is a covert observation ? and give a example

A

Participants behaviour is watched and recorded without their knowledge
- observing someone from across the room

65
Q

Evaluation points for conducting a covert observation

A

Strengths:
- participants unaware they are being watched , behaviour more natural

Weakness :
- Ethical issues by definition cannot give informed consent

66
Q

what is participant observation ? and give a example

A

The researcher becomes a member of the group of whose they are watching
- joining a tennis club

67
Q

Evaluation points for participants observation

A

strengths:
- participants observations may provide special insights into behaviour from the ‘inside’ that may otherwise not be gained

weaknesses:
- more likely to be overt , issues with participants awareness

68
Q

What is non- participants observations ? and give a example

A

The researcher remains outside of the group who they are watching
-older researcher cannot join a year 7 football club

69
Q

Evaluation points for a non - participant observation

A

Strengths:
- observers are likely to be more objective because they are not part of the group being observed

Weaknesses :
- more likely to be covert so there could be ethical issues

70
Q

What is observer bias ?

A

If the observer knows the purpose of the study then they may see what they want to see

71
Q

Whats a way of avoiding observer bias ? and its called …

A

one way to avoid the observer bias is to have two independent observers to check if the results collected by the researcher actually correlate
its called inter-rater reliability

72
Q

What is a unstructured observation ?

A

the researcher writes down everything they see

  • provides a rich and detail account
  • appropriate for small scale observations
73
Q

What is a structured observation ?

A

Target behaviour that will be the main focus of the observation are chosen

  • used when there is too much going on to record everything
  • can quantify their observations using a predetermined list of behaviour
74
Q

Behavioural categories should be …

A
  • be objective , no need for inference
  • cover all possible component behaviour ( no ‘other’)
  • be mutually exclusive , shouldn’t have to mark two categories at one time
75
Q

What is Event sampling ?

A

A target behaviour is first established then the researcher records this event every time it occurs

76
Q

What is time sampling ?

A

A target individual /group is established , the researcher records their behaviour in a fixed time e.g 60 seconds

77
Q

What is a self- report technique?

A

Any technique or method in which person is asked to state or explain their own feelings , opinions , behaviours and experiences related to a given topic

78
Q

What are the three types of questions asked ?

A
  • open questions
  • closed questions
  • Linert scale
79
Q

What are the types of data collected? , give definitions

A

Qualitative , data that consists of words that describe the participants views
Quantitative . data that can be reduced to numbers and quantities

80
Q

What are the two main common types of self - report techniques ?

A

Questionnaires

Interviews

81
Q

What are questionnaires ?

A

Where data is collected trough the use of written questions , there are objective and scientific

82
Q

Evaluation points for questionnaires

A

Strengths:
- Once designed and tested , can be distributed to a large number

Limitations :
- Sample could be biased , only filled in by people who can read / write or have time to complete them

83
Q

What is a structured interview ?

A

Any interview in which the questions are decided in advance , similar to questionnaires but is delivered face to face

84
Q

Evaluation points for structured interview

A

Strengths:
- easily repeated because questions are standardised , can reach a bigger sample size

Limitations:
- Interviewer bias , interviewer expectations could influence responses

85
Q

What is a unstructured interview ?

A

Interview starts with some general aims and some questions , lets the interviewees answer guide conversation

86
Q

Evaluation points for unstructured interview

A

Strengths:
- more detailed information obtained

Limitation :
- Interviewer bias could occur

87
Q

What is a meta - analysis ?

A

A researcher looks at the findings from a number of different studies and produces a overall conclusion to represent the overall trend / pattern across all the different studies

88
Q

How do you find the mean ?

A

The mean is calculated by adding up all the data and dividing by the number of data terms

89
Q

How do you calculate the median ?

A

The median is the middle value. To find it , arrange all the data in numerical order and the central value is the median , if the middle value is between two number find the midpoint.

90
Q

How do you find the mode ?

A

The mode is the value that is the most common value in a data set

91
Q

What are the three measures of central tendency ?

A
  • Mean
  • Median
  • Mode
92
Q

What do you calculate the range ?

A

to find the range , subtract the highest number from the lowest value in the data set

93
Q

What is standard deviation ?

A

It’s a more precise method of expressing dispersion . This is a measure of the average distance between each data point from the mean

94
Q

What are the two types of measures of dispersion ?

A
  • Range

- Standard deviation

95
Q

Strengths of using the mean

A
  • Very sensitive measure of central tendency because it takes account of the exact distance between all the values of all data
96
Q

Limitations of using the mean

A

The sensitivity of the mean means that it can be easily distorted by extreme values

97
Q

Strengths of the median

A

the median is not affected by extreme scores

98
Q

Limitations of using the median

A

Not as sensitive as the mean because the exact values are not reflected in the final calculation

99
Q

Strengths of using the mode

A

The mode is unaffected by extreme values

100
Q

Limitations of using the mode

A

Tells us nothing about the other values in a distribution

101
Q

Strengths of using the range

A

easy to calculate

102
Q

Limitations of using the range

A

It’s affected by extreme values

103
Q

Strengths of using standard deviation

A

It’s a precise measure of dispersion because takes all the exact values into account

104
Q

Limitations of using standard deviation

A

May hide some of the characteristics of the data like extreme values , its best used together with the mean

105
Q

What is peer review ?

A

Peer review is the assessment of scientific work by others who are experts in the same field . Peer review is done to ensure that any research conducted and published is of high quality

106
Q

What does The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (2002) suggest the three main purposes of peer review are ?

A
  • Allocation of research funding
  • Publication of research in academic journals and books (prevents incorrect or faulty data entering the public domain )
  • Assessing the research rating of university departments
107
Q

How has the internet impacted peer review ?

A
  • Due to the sheer volume and pace of information available on the internet so new solutions are needed in order to maintain the quality of information.
  • Due to the sources of information online being policed by the general public where readers decide whether its valid
  • The peer review is now done by everyone and this can reduce quality of information available

ALevel AQA Psychology (5 decks)

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