Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

What are 2 strengths of closed questions?

A

Easy analyse

More objective

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2
Q

What are 2 strengths of open questions?

A

Rich detail May have unexpected findings

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3
Q

What are 2 weaknesses of closed questions?

A

May Pidgeon hole people Oversimplifies

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4
Q

What are 2 weaknesses of open questions?

A

more difficult to draw conclusions

difficult to interpret

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5
Q

What are 2 weaknesses of ranked scale?

A

may prefer to respond the same way regardless of context

Social desirability

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6
Q

What are 2 strengths of ranked scale?

A

Objective

Produces quantitative data

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7
Q

What is random sampling?

A

everyone in the population has an equal chance of being studied

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8
Q

What is stratified sampling?

A

process that allows a researcher to ensure that the sample represents the population on some criteria

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9
Q

What is volunteer sampling?

A

Involves participants selecting themselves to be part of the sample

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10
Q

What is opportunity sampling?

A

Taking the sample from people who are available at the time

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11
Q

2 strengths of random sampling

A

unbiased possible to choose a specific subgroup first

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12
Q

2 weaknesses of random sampling

A

takes more time and effort not always random as not everyone agrees to take part

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13
Q

2 strengths of stratified sampling

A

most representative increases control over extraneous variables

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14
Q

2 strengths of volunteer sampling

A

convenient can find specific people through where placed eg. medical students from ad on notice board in medical school

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15
Q

2 strengths of opportunity sampling

A

convenient only technique available due to not being able to list whole population

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16
Q

2 weaknesses of stratified sampling

A

subgroup selection may be biased lengthy process

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17
Q

2 weaknesses of volunteer sampling

A

Biased- volunteer bias more responsive to demand characteristics

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18
Q

2 weaknesses of opportunity sampling

A

biased may refuse to take part

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19
Q

measures of central tendency

A

mean, median, mode

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20
Q

measures of dispersion

A

range and standard deviation

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21
Q

strength of mean

A

reflects all values of all the data

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22
Q

strength of median

A

not effected by extreme scores

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23
Q

strength of mode

A

useful when data is in categories

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24
Q

weakness of mean

A

unrepresentative if data has extreme values

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25
Q

weakness of median

A

not as sensitive as mean as not all values are reflected

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26
Q

weakness of mode

A

not useful when more than one mode

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27
Q

2 weaknesses of range

A

affected by extreme values fails to take account for distribution

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28
Q

2 weaknesses of standard deviation

A

might hide extreme values cannot be quickly determined

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29
Q

2 strengths of range

A

convenient easy to calculate

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30
Q

2 strengths of standard deviation

A

precise measure of dispersion not difficult to calculate if you use a calculator

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31
Q

Strengths of quantitative data

A

easy to analyse more objective

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32
Q

Strengths of qualitative data

A

represents humans true complexities rich details

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33
Q

weaknesses of quantitative data

A

may not express participants precise thoughts/feelings oversimplifies reality and human thought

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34
Q

weaknesses of qualitative data

A

more difficult to detect patterns and draw conclusions interpreting is subjective

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35
Q

thematic analysis

A

A method for analysing qualitative data which involves identifying, analysing and reporting patterns within the data. Themes.

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36
Q

grounded theory

A

for qualitative data. When theoretical explanations emerge during the course of the investigation.

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37
Q

confidentiality

A

the assurance that messages and information are available only to those who are authorized to view them

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38
Q

deception

A

misleading participants about the true purpose of a study or the events that will actually transpire

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39
Q

informed consent

A

an ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate

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40
Q

privacy

A

the right of people not to reveal information about themselves

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41
Q

right to withdraw

A

A participant’s right to leave a study at any time and their ability to do so.

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42
Q

protection from harm

A

the right of research participants to be protected from physical or psychological harm

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43
Q

structured interview

A

An interview that consists of a predetermined set of questions for the interviewer to ask and doesn’t probe beyond those questions.

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44
Q

Semi-structured interview

A

An interview in which questions are decided before however new questions are decided as the interview proceeds

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45
Q

unstructured interview

A

no questions are decided in advanced

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46
Q

2 strengths of a structured interview

A

easily repeated easier to analyse data

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47
Q

2 strengths of an unstructured/semi structured interview

A

more detailed information can be obtained access information which might not have been revealed otherwise

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48
Q

2 weaknesses of a structured interview

A

interviewers expectations may influence the answers pp may feel reluctant to reveal information

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49
Q

2 weaknesses of an unstructured/semi structured interview

A

more affected by interviewer bias requires well trained interviewers

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50
Q

2 Strengths of questionnaires

A

can be given out to lots of people more willing to reveal confidential information

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51
Q

A strength of an interview

A

may reveal more as skilled interviewed could encourage more thoughtful responses

52
Q

A weakness of an interview

A

number of ppts are limited

53
Q

researcher effect

A

Also called the interviewer effect, this refers to how the relationship between researcher and respondent may bias responses and lead to invalid data

54
Q

internal validity

A

if a study assess what it intended to assess

55
Q

ecological validity

A

if the findings can be generalised outside of the study

56
Q

predictive validity

A

a test score should forecast performance on some other measure of the same behaviour

57
Q

inter-rater reliability

A

compare the data from more than one interviewer

58
Q

test-retest reliability

A

compare test scores over time

59
Q

3 Strengths of laboratory experiments

A

high control, minimises extraneous/confounding variables east replication

60
Q

2 Strengths of field experiments

A

feels more natural ppts not always aware of being studied

61
Q

3 weaknesses of laboratory experiments

A

contrived situation, behaviour may not be natural demand characteristics

62
Q

3 weaknesses of field experiments

A

less control more time consuming may be covert (ethical)

63
Q

2 repeated measures design strengths

A

control ppts variables fewer ppts needed

64
Q

2 independent groups design strengths

A

avoid order effects avoids guessing aims

65
Q

2 matched pairs design strengths

A

control ppts variables avoids order effects

66
Q

2 repeated measures design weaknesses

A

order effects may guess aims

67
Q

2 independent groups design weaknesses

A

ppts variables not controlled needs more ppts

68
Q

2 matched pairs design weaknesses

A

time consuming may not control all ppts variables

69
Q

extraneous variables

A

any variables other than the independent variable that seem likely to influence the dependent variable in a specific study

70
Q

confounding variables

A

a factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment

71
Q

2 strengths of collecting quantitative data

A

systematic observations

72
Q

a strength of collecting qualitative data

A

identifying themes

73
Q

Strength of event sampling

A

makes observations more manageable

74
Q

event sampling

A

count behaviours in a specific time period

75
Q

time sampling

A

count behaviours at regular intervals

76
Q

a strength of time sampling

A

tracks time related changes

77
Q

2 strengths of ppt observation

A

special insights may see more from inside

78
Q

2 strengths of non participant observation

A

objectivity unobtrusive

79
Q

2 strengths of structured observation

A

focus on specific behaviours and test hypothesises tentative causal conclusions

80
Q

2 strengths of naturalistic observation

A

realistic, high ecological validity useful for new areas of research

81
Q

2 strengths of overt observation

A

ppts can give consent observer doesn’t have to hide

82
Q

2 strengths of covert observation

A

more naturalistic behaviour

83
Q

2 Strengths of a Case Study

A

rare and unethical cases in depth data and complex interactions

84
Q

4 weaknesses of a Case Study

A

poor generalisability recollected from the past low objectivity ethical issues eg. confidentiality

85
Q

A strength of a CAT scan

A

reveals structural features

86
Q

CAT scan

A

detailed picture built from x-ray slices

87
Q

2 weaknesses of a CAT scan

A

high radiation no information about activity

88
Q

PET scan

A

radioactive substance injected and taken up into active areas

89
Q

2 strengths of PET scans

A

shows brain in action can identify specific areas of brain linked to behaviour

90
Q

3 weaknesses of a PET scan

A

difficult to interpret cant pinpoint locations may damage tissues

91
Q

3 strengths of an fMRI scan

A

shows brain in action no radiation clear picture

92
Q

3 weaknesses of an fMRI scan

A

expensive person has to stay very still time lag

93
Q

twin studies 2 strengths

A

genetic influences vs environmental large data set available

94
Q

twin studies 2 weaknesses

A

MZ twins treated more similarly cant identify specific genes

95
Q

adoption studies 2 strengths

A

controls extraneous variable- environment twin studies overestimate genetics

96
Q

adoption studies 2 weaknesses

A

selective placement adoptive parents tend to be better educated

97
Q

2 strengths of longitudinal research

A

study effects of age ppts variables controlled

98
Q

2 weaknesses of longitudinal research

A

cohort effects attrition effects- drop out of study

99
Q

2 strengths of cross-sectional research

A

takes less time to study age effects enable comparison between groups

100
Q

2 strengths of cross-cultural research

A

can study nature vs nurture takes psychology beyond white middle class

101
Q

2 Strengths of meta-analysis

A

increases sample size

102
Q

meta-analysis

A

data from many studies combined, report effect size

103
Q

2 weaknesses of cross-sectional research

A

ppts variables not controlled cohort effects

104
Q

2 weaknesses of cross cultural research

A

researchers often westerners use imposed ethics

105
Q

2 weaknesses of meta-analysis

A

sample bias studies may not be comparable

106
Q

2 weaknesses of use of animals

A

not as generalisable pain may not be justified guidelines might not be effective

107
Q

2 strengths of use of animals

A

conditioning processes same fewer ethical issues easier to study complex behaviours over generations

108
Q

alternative hypothesis

A

state the relationship between the variables

109
Q

null hypothesis

A

statement of no relationship

110
Q

experimental hypothesis

A

statement about the effect of the IV on the DV

111
Q

directional hypothesis

A

states direction of difference/correlation

112
Q

Non-directional hypothesis

A

Does not state the direction

113
Q

operationalised

A

state variables in a form that is testable

114
Q

demand characteristics

A

cues in an experiment that tell the participant what behaviour is expected

115
Q

What are the 7 ethical guidelines?

A

Deception Debrief Informed consent Competence Right to withdraw Privacy Confidentiality

116
Q

2 strengths of quantitative data

A

easier to analyse more objective

117
Q

2 weaknesses of quantitative data

A

may restrict expression reductionist

118
Q

2 Strengths of qualitative data

A

holistic approach free range expression increases validity

119
Q

1 weaknesses of qualitative data

A

more difficult to detect patterns subjective

120
Q

2 Strengths of primary data

A

suits aims of study first hand from ppts, authentic

121
Q

2 weaknesses of primary data

A

takes time and money may end up with flawed data

122
Q

2 Strengths of secondary data

A

large data sets saves time in design and checking

123
Q

2 weaknesses of secondary data

A

may not exactly fit current aims may waste time on inappropriate data

124
Q

type 1 error

A

false positive

125
Q

type 2 error

A

false negative