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Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

ANALYSING RESULTS
Describe the three ways to measure central tendency

A

Mean, median and mode

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2
Q

ANALYSING RESULTS
Describe the two measures of dispersion

A

Range and standard deviation

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3
Q

ANALYSING RESULTS
What does more spread out results show?

A

A greater variation

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4
Q

ANALYSING RESULTS
Define standard deviation

A

How far results deviate from the mean

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5
Q

ANALYSING RESULTS
With standard deviation, what does a bigger number show?

A

More deviation

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6
Q

VARIABLES
Define the IV

A

Change

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7
Q

VARIABLES
Define the dependent variable

A

What you measure

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8
Q

VARIABLES
Define the control variable

A

What stays the same

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9
Q

SAMPLING
Random

A

Every member of the population having an equal chance to be chosen

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10
Q

SAMPLING
Opportunity

A

Using people who are available and convenient at the time

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11
Q

SAMPLING
Volunteer

A

Pps who respond to an advertisement

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12
Q

SAMPLING
Systematic

A

Selecting every nth member of a target population

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13
Q

SAMPLING
Stratified

A

Splitting the population into sub groups, samples which then consist of direct percentage representation

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14
Q

SAMPLING
Random strength and weakness

A
  • Free from bias
  • May not be representative
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15
Q

SAMPLING
Opportunity strength and weakness

A
  • Convenient, quick, easy
  • Unrepresentative
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16
Q

SAMPLING
Volunteer strength and weakness

A
  • Simple and easy
  • Volunteer bias
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17
Q

SAMPLING
Stratified strength and weakness

A
  • Representative of the pop
  • Time consuming
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18
Q

SAMPLING
Systematic strength and weakness

A
  • Free from bias
  • Time consuming
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19
Q

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS
Define an independent measures design

A

Pps only take part in one condition of the experiment

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20
Q

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS
Define a repeated measures design

A

Pps all take part in both conditions of the experiment

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21
Q

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS
Define a matched pairs design

A

Pps matched on characteristics relevant to experiment performance, they then do each different condition

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22
Q

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS
Positive of Independent measures design

A

Avoids order effects bc only doing one condition

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23
Q

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS
Negative of independent measures design

A

Individual differences may affect results: could use a random generator

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24
Q

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS
Positives of repeated measures design

A
  • Individual differences are reduced
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25
Q

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS
Negatives of repeated measures design

A

Order effects: fatigue or practice, ABBA

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26
Q

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS
Positives of matched pairs design

A

Avoids order effects

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27
Q

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS
Negative of matched pairs design

A

Time consuming

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28
Q

EXPERIMENTAL METHODS
Describe a lab experiment

A
  • To establish a cause and effect between IV and DV
  • Takes place in controlled environment
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29
Q

EXPERIMENTAL METHODS
Give two positives of lab experiments

A
  • Limiting extraneous variables
  • Accurate measure of DV
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30
Q

EXPERIMENTAL METHODS
Give two negatives of lab experiments

A
  • Low ecological validity
  • Low mundane realism
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31
Q

EXPERIMENTAL METHODS
Describe a field experiment

A
  • Take place outside of a lab, natural environment, basic scientific procedures are followed
  • IV manipulated, DV measured, non-controlled environment
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32
Q

EXPERIMENTAL METHODS
Give two positives of a field experiment

A
  • Ecological validity
  • Mundane realism: viable
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33
Q

EXPERIMENTAL METHODS
Give two negatives of a field experiment

A
  • Ethics: consent
  • Extraneous variables
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34
Q

EXPERIMENTAL METHODS
Describe a natural experiment

A
  • Researches make use of naturally occurring variables
  • No manipulation of an IV, but DV is measured
  • Impossible or unethical, so cannot be arranged
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35
Q

EXPERIMENTAL METHODS
Give two positives of a natural experiment

A
  • High ecological validity
  • Provide research opportunities
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36
Q

EXPERIMENTAL METHODS
Give two negatives of a natural experiment

A
  • Can lack generalisability
  • Lack of opportunity for full study
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37
Q

EXPERIMENTAL METHODS
Describe a Quasi experiment

A
  • All features of a lab experiment but IV is a pp characteristic, such as gender
  • Thus, IV is not fully under researchers control
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38
Q

EXPERIMENTAL METHODS
Give one positive of a quasi experiment

A

Controlled conditions

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39
Q

EXPERIMENTAL METHODS
Give one negative of a Quasi experiment

A

Cannot randomly allocate pps to a condition

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40
Q

CORRELATIONS
What are correlations plotted on?

A

Scatter graphs

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41
Q

CORRELATIONS
What do correlations look at?

A

The strength of the relationship between two variables

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42
Q

CORRELATIONS
What do correlations look at?

A

The strength of the relationship between two variables

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43
Q

CORRELATIONS
What are the variables often referred to as?

A

Co-variables

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44
Q

CORRELATIONS
Describe a positive correlation

A

Both variables increase

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45
Q

CORRELATIONS
Describe a negative correlation

A

As one increases the other decreases

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46
Q

CORRELATIONS
Define no correlation

A

There is no relationship between two variables

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47
Q

CORRELATIONS
How is the strength of a correlation written as?

A

A co-efficient from -1 to +1, the - and + indicate the direction of correlation, making both equally as strong

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48
Q

CORRELATIONS
Negative

A

Cannot establish cause and effect

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49
Q

CORRELATIONS
Positive

A

They are useful for studying potentially unethical topics

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50
Q

QUESTIONNAIRES
What do pps do?

A

Record their own answers

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51
Q

QUESTIONAIRRES
What are the three types of questions which can be used?

A

Closed questions, open questions, likert scale

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52
Q

QUESTIONAIRRES
Give three positives of questionnaires

A
  • Give out to large numbers
  • Less time consuming
  • Accessible
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53
Q

QUESTIONAIRRES
Give two negatives of questionnaires

A
  • Self report technique
  • Low response rate
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54
Q

INTERVIEWS
What is an interview?

A

Face to face questioning to build a narrative

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55
Q

INTERVIEWS
What are the three types of interview

A

Structured, semi structured and unstructured

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56
Q

INTERVIEWS
Give two positives of interviews

A
  • Clarification and expansion
  • Body language
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57
Q

INTERVIEWS
Give two negatives of interviews

A
  • Time consuming
  • Interviewer presence may affect pp response
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58
Q

CASE STUDIES
What is a case study?

A

A detailed study of an individual or small group.

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59
Q

CASE STUDIES
What do researchers do?

A

Post their data and look for common themes and threads

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60
Q

CASE STUDIES
Why are case studies often undertaken?

A

To investigate uncommon/ unique conditions/ situations people

61
Q

CASE STUDIES
Give two examples of case studies

A

Phineas Gage, Genie

62
Q

CASE STUDIES
Give two examples of what might be investigated during a case study

A

Biographical information, psychological test results

63
Q

CASE STUDIES
Give two case study positives

A

+ Can gather data which can’t be gathered through other means
+ Ecological validity

64
Q

CASE STUDIES
Give two case study negatives

A
  • Generalisation problems
  • Not easily replicable
64
Q

CASE STUDIES
Give two case study negatives

A
  • Generalisation problems
  • Not easily replicable
65
Q

FACTORS ASSOCIATED W RESEARCH STUDIES
Define operationalisation

A

Making a variable more specific and measurable

66
Q

FACTORS ASSOCIATED W RESEARCH STUDIES
What is IV?

A

Manipulated

67
Q

FACTORS ASSOCIATED W RESEARCH STUDIES
What is DV?

A

Measured

68
Q

AIMS AND HYPOTHESIS
Define an aim

A

A statement about the general purpose/point of research

69
Q

AIMS AND HYPOTHESIS
Define a hypothesis

A

A specific, testable statement predicting outcome

70
Q

AIMS AND HYPOTHESIS
Define an experimental hypothesis

A

Predicting a difference between experimental conditions, directional or non directional

71
Q

AIMS AND HYPOTHESIS
Define a directional hypothesis

A

States a direction - more or less, higher or lower. Used when BG research available

72
Q

AIMS AND HYPOTHESIS
Define a non directional hypothesis

A

Simply states there will be a difference

73
Q

AIMS AND HYPOTHESIS
Describe a null hypothesis

A

Says there will be no difference

74
Q

AIMS AND HYPOTHESIS
Describe a null hypothesis

A

Says there will be no difference

75
Q

EXTRANEOUS VARIABLES
Define

A

External variables which make it more difficult to establish cause and effect within a study

76
Q

EXTRANEOUS VARIABLES
Give an example

A

Temperature, sound

77
Q

CONFOUNDING VARIABLES
Define confounding variables

A

Changes in a dependent variable may be due to the confounding variable rather than the IV

78
Q

STANDARDISATION PROCEDURES
Define standardisation procedures

A

A set of procedures which are the same for all pps in order to repeat study

79
Q

DEMAND CHARACTERISTICS
Define demand characterisitics

A

When pps pick up on cues during an experiment and modify their behaviour, possibly altering study results

80
Q

DEMAND CHARACTERISTICS
How can you control demand characteristics?

A

Deception or the single blind technique

81
Q

INVESTIGATOR EFFECTS
Define investigator effects

A

A term used to describe subtle cues or signals from an experimenter which affect performance of pps in a study

82
Q

INVESTIGATOR EFFECTS
How to control?

A
  • Double blind
  • Inter rater reliability
83
Q

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ECONOMY
How could research into EWT have implacations for the economy?

A

Better training for police, prison detectives when investigating. Increased costs but not paying for guilty prisoners.

84
Q

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ECONOMY
What effect does the cognitive interview have for the economy?

A

Increases validity and reliability, training, guilty prisoners

85
Q

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ECONOMY
How could understanding minority influence lead to implications for the economy?

A

Advertising for target audience
Consumerism
Protests

86
Q

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ECONOMY
If treatments for mental illness are found to be more effective than other treatments, how could the more effective ones impact the economy?

A

Saves money from testing and drug trials
Transport

87
Q

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ECONOMY
Why would it be beneficial for the economy if effective treatments send people back to work?

A

More money for businesses, efficiency, can be put into hospitals

88
Q

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ECONOMY
Why might it be more beneficial for the economy for pp to have CBT rather than drug treatments?

A

97% effective after 21 sessions

89
Q

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ECONOMY
Bowlby’s view that children need their mother’s, making them feel like they should stay at home, had what effect on the economy?

A

Less workers therefore less tax

90
Q

VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY
Define temporal validity

A

Assessing whether experiment results hold the test of time

91
Q

VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY
Define ecological validity

A

Findings being put onto a real world setting

92
Q

VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY
Define concurrent validity

A

Assessing whether the measure produces similar outcomes to a similar test known to be valid. Correlation of +0.8

93
Q

VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY
Define face validity

A

Whether material looks like it is measuring what it claims to measure

94
Q

VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY
External

A

Temporal, ecological

95
Q

VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY
Internal

A

Concurrent, face

96
Q

VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY
How to improve internal validity?

A
  • Extraneous variables
  • Demand characteristics
  • Research bias
  • Single/double blind procedure
97
Q

VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY
Define internal validity

A

Did IV produce a DV change?

98
Q

VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY
How to improve external validity?

A
  • Realistic tasks
  • Sample size/ range
99
Q

VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY
Define external validity

A

Generalization

100
Q

VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY
Define internal reliability

A

Extent to which something is consistent within itself

101
Q

VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY
Define external reliability

A

Extent at which a test measures consistency over time

102
Q

VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY
Define test re test

A

ER: giving the same test to each pp on diff occasions, then seeing if same results are obtained

103
Q

VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY
Define inter-observer reliability

A

IR: two or more observers see if they view behaviour in the same way. +0.8

104
Q

VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY
Define operationalised behavioural categories

A

IR: breaking target behaviour into components that can be observed and measured consistently

105
Q

SECTIONS OF A SCIENTIFIC REPORT
Define abstract

A

A summary of research, 150 - 200 words, must be written at the end

106
Q

SECTIONS OF A SCIENTIFIC REPORT
Introduction

A

Introduces background and rationale of a study. Shows relevant theories to highlight context to a reader.

107
Q

SECTIONS OF A SCIENTIFIC REPORT
Define method

A

Describe how and why study was conducted in chosen way. Replicable. Equiptment, procedure, design, pps

108
Q

SECTIONS OF A SCIENTIFIC REPORT
Results

A

Summarise findings clearly and accurately. Descriptive and inferential sections

109
Q

SECTIONS OF A SCIENTIFIC REPORT
References

A

Complete details of all research docs, journals, online resources and books mentioned for bg research

110
Q

PEER REVIEW
What is a peer review?

A

A process carried out after research has been conducted, to assess the quality before publication. Reviewed by psychologists of a similar field.

111
Q

PEER REVIEW
What are judgements made about?

A

Validity or reliability of study

112
Q

PEER REVIEW
What are the three main purposes?

A
  • Allocation of research funding
  • Publication in scientific journals
  • Assessing research rating of university departments
113
Q

PARADIGMS
What is a paradigm?

A

A shared set of assumptions and method to study

114
Q

PARADIGMS
What do paradigms distinguish?

A

Scientific disciplines from non scientific disciplines

115
Q

PARADIGMS
Define a paradigm shift

A

Accumulation of contradictory evidence means the theory is overthrown

116
Q

INFERENTIAL STATISTICS
What is probability?

A

A measure of how likely it is that something will happen

117
Q

INFERENTIAL STATISTICS
What tests are used to test the probability of whether a null hypothesis is supported or not?

A

Statistical tests

118
Q

INFERENTIAL STATISTICS
What is the level of significance in psychology?

A

0.05 or 5%, written as P < 0.05 (meaning only a 5% probability results occurred by chance)

119
Q

INFERENTIAL STATISTICS
Why is the 0.05 level of significance normally used in psychology?

A

To avoid type I and type II errors

120
Q

INFERENTIAL STATISTICS
Define type I error

A

Accepting hypothesis when results were to do with chance

121
Q

INFERENTIAL STATISTICS
Define type II errors

A

Rejecting hypothesis when results were likely to have been significant

122
Q

INFERENTIAL STATISTICS: levels of measurement
Nominal

A

Categorical data where frequency is counted

123
Q

INFERENTIAL STATISTICS: levels of measurement
Ordinal

A

Data is ordered/ranked

124
Q

INFERENTIAL STATISTICS: levels of measurement
Internal

A

Data is measured in units of equal measurement

125
Q

CHOOSING A STATISTICAL TEST
Sign test

A

Difference, repeated measures, nominal

126
Q

INFERENTIAL STATISTICS
Wilcoxon

A

Difference, repeated measures, ordinal

127
Q

INFERENTIAL STATISTICS
Related T test

A

Difference, repeated measures, interval

128
Q

INFERENTIAL STATISTICS
Chi squared

A

Difference, independent, nominal

129
Q

INFERENTIAL STATISTICS
Mann Whitney

A

Difference, independent, ordinal

130
Q

INFERENTIAL STATISTICS
Unrelated t test

A

Difference, independent, interval

131
Q

INFERENTIAL STATISTICS
Chi squared (other)

A

Correlation, nominal

132
Q

INFERENTIAL STATISTICS
Spearman’s rho

A

Correlation, ordinal

133
Q

INFERENTIAL STATISTICS
Pearson’s r

A

Correlation, interval

134
Q

3D’S

A

Difference/correlation
Design
Data

135
Q

CONTENT ANALYSIS
Define

A

Turning qualitative data into quantitative data

136
Q

CONTENT ANALYSIS
Sampling

A

Deciding what material to use

137
Q

CONTENT ANALYSIS
Pilot

A

Familiarise with material and construct a system for categorising data

138
Q

CONTENT ANALYSIS
Common themes

A

Deciding on a coding category

139
Q

CONTENT ANALYSIS
Tally data

A

Description into numbers

140
Q

CONTENT ANALYSIS
What is the final step?

A

Compare sets of data

141
Q

CONTENT ANALYSIS
Positive

A

Quantitative

142
Q

CONTENT ANALYSIS
Negatives

A

Subjective
Validity

143
Q

THEMATIC ANALYSIS
What is thematic analysis?

A

Keeping data qualitiative

144
Q

THEMATIC ANALYSIS
1

A

Reread data and transcript

145
Q

THEMATIC ANALYSIS
2

A

Break data into meaningful codes

146
Q

THEMATIC ANALYSIS
3

A

Combine codes into categories

147
Q

THEMATIC ANALYSIS
4

A

Identify overall themes from the categories

148
Q

THEMATIC ANALYSIS
Positive and negative

A

Validity, subjective

Psychology (11 decks)

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