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Psychology AS > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

What is an aim?

A

A general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate
The purpose of the study

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2
Q

What is an hypothesis?

A

A clear, testable statement that states the relationship between the variables to be investigated

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3
Q

What is a directional hypothesis?

A

States the direction of the difference of relationship

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4
Q

What is a non-directional hypothesis?

A

Does not state the direction

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5
Q

What is operationalisation?

A

Clearly definition variables in terms of how they can be measured

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6
Q

‘To investigate whether drinking energy drinks makes people more talkative’

Aim or (directional/non-directional) hypothesis?

A

Aim

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7
Q

‘People who drink SpeedUpp become more talkative than people who don’t’

Aim or (directional/non-directional) hypothesis?

A

Directional hypothesis

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8
Q

‘People who drink SpeedUpp differ in terms of talkativeness compared with people who don’t drink SpeedUpp’

Aim or (directional/non-directional) hypothesis?

A

Non-directional hypothesis

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9
Q

Is this operationalised?

‘After drinking 300ml of SpeedUpp particiants sat more words in the next 5 minutes than participants who drink 300ml of water’

A

Yes

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10
Q

What is extraneous variable?

A

Any variable, other than the IV that may have an effect of the DV if it not controlled.

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11
Q

What are confounding variables?

A

Any variable other than IV that may have affected the DV so we cannot be sure of the true source of the changes to the DV.

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12
Q

What are demand characteristics?

A

Participants change their behaviour to present themselves in a good way or because they have guessed the aim of the research

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13
Q

Is age and lighting in the lab a confounding variable or extraneous variable?

A

extraneous

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14
Q

Is personality a confounding variable or extraneous variable?

A

confounding

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15
Q

What are investigator effects?

A

Any effect of the investigators behaviour (conscious or unconscious) on the research outcome (DV). E.g. interaction, design of study

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16
Q

What is randomisation?

A

The use of chance wherever possible to reduce the researcher’s influence on the design of the investigation

17
Q

What is standardisation?

A

Using exactly the same formalised procedures and instructions for all participants in a research study

18
Q

What is laboratory experiments?

Strengths:

Limitations:

A

Lab experiments are conducted in highly controlled environments (e.g., classroom)

  • High control over extraneous variables
  • High internal validity
  • Highly replicable
  • Low external validity
  • Can have demand characteristics
  • Low ecological validity
19
Q

What is field experiments?

Strengths:

Limitations:

A

In field experiments, the IV is manipulated in a natural, more everyday setting

  • High external validity
  • Less influence by demand characteristics
  • Loss of control over extraneous variables (cause and effect between IV and DV more difficult to establish)
  • Hard to replicate
  • Ethical issues (unaware of being studied, no consent)
20
Q

What is natural experiments?

Strengths:

Limitations:

A

Natural experiments are when the researcher takes advantage of a pre-existing independent variable. IV is natural, not the setting.

  • Provide research that may not be undertaken for ethical/practical reasons
  • High external validity
  • Rare, reducing opportunity for research (natural disasters etc)
21
Q

What is quasi-experiments?

Strengths:

Limitations:

A

Quasi-experiments have an IV that is based on an existing difference between people (e.g. age, gender).

May be confounding variables as cannot randomly allocate participants to conditions

22
Q

What is validity?

A

How far a test measures what it set out to measure

23
Q

What is internal validity?

A

The extent to which we can testify that the IV has effected the DV due to the high level of control

24
Q

What is ecological validity?

A

The extent to which the results can be applied to real life

25
Q

What is temporal validity?

A

This is high when research findings successfully apply across time

26
Q

What is external validity?

A

The external validity of an experiment can be assess and improved by replicating a study at different times and places, obtaining similar results. extent to which it can be generalised

27
Q

What ism BPS code of ethics?

A

A quasi-legal document produced my the British Psychological Society that instructs the psychologists in the UK about what behaviour is and not acceptable when dealing with participants. It is built around four major principles: respect, competence, responsibility and integrity

28
Q

What are ethical issues?

A

Arise when a conflict exists between the rights of participants in research studies and the goal of research to produce authentic, valid and worthwhile data

29
Q

What are the four major ethical issues that face participants and researchers?

A
  • Informed consent - Participants must be aware of aims of the research and mist have the right to withdraw, and what data is used for. Allows participants to make judgment, although researchers point of view, will be unnatural as they know the aims
  • Deception - Must be able to make informed consent. Can be justified in situations that does not cause distress
  • Protection from harm - Must be protected from physical and psychological harm. Must not be embarrassed, feel inadequate and placed under stress and pressure. Must have right to withdraw
  • Privacy and confidentiality - Have right to control information about themselves. Data protection act - personal data protected. Right to privacy extends to the area where the study took place, no institution named
30
Q

How to deal with informed consent:

A
  • Participants issued with a consent letter or form detailing all relevant information that might affect their decision to participate
  • If agrees, then signed for
  • If involved children under 16, a signature of parental consent required
31
Q

How to deal with deception and protection from harm:

A
  • At the end of the study the participants should be given debrief and made aware of all true aims of investigation and any details they were not given during study (other group or experimental conditions)
  • Participants should also be told what their data will be used for and given right to withhold data with they wish
  • Potentially provide counselling if needed
32
Q

How to deal with confidentiality:

A
  • Personal details must be protected
  • More usual to maintain anonymity and use number or initials instead
33
Q

What are three types of consent?

A
  • Presumptive consent - asking a similar group of people if the study is acceptable and the consent of original participants presumed
  • Prior general consent - participants give permission to take part in a number of different studies including one that will involve deception. By consenting, participants are effectively consenting to be deceived
  • Retrospective consent - participants asked for consent in debriefing having already taken part
34
Q

What is naturalistic observation?

Strengths?

Limitations?

A

Watching and recording behaviour in the setting within which it would normally occur

  • High external validity
  • Lack of control, hard to replicate
  • Many extraneous variables
35
Q

What is controlled observation?

Strengths?

A

Watching and recording behaviour within a structured environment (one where some variable are managed)

  • Extraneous variables may be less of a factor therefore replication easier
36
Q

What is covert observation?

Strengths?

Limitations?

A

Participants behaved and watched and recorded without their knowledge or consent

  • Removes problem of participants and ensures natural behaviour
  • Increases validity
  • Ethics
37
Q

What is overt observation?

Strengths?

Limitations?

A

Participants behaviour is watched and recorded with their knowledge and consent

  • More ethically acceptable
  • Demand characteristics
38
Q

What is participant observation?

Strengths?

Limitations?

A

The researcher becomes a member of the group whose behaviour their watching and recording

  • High validity as researcher can experience and insight into the lives
  • Lose objectivity as the researcher may come to identify too strongly with those they are studying
39
Q

What is non-participant observation?

Strengths?

Limitations?

A

The researcher remains outside of the group whose behaviour they’re watching and recording

  • Mainitain objective psychological distance
  • Lose valuable insight, too far removed from people and behaviour they’re studying

Psychology AS (5 decks)

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