Research Methods Flashcards
1
Q
What are 2 strengths of closed questions?
A
Easy analyse
More objective
2
Q
What are 2 strengths of open questions?
A
Rich detail May have unexpected findings
3
Q
What are 2 weaknesses of closed questions?
A
May Pidgeon hole people Oversimplifies
4
Q
What are 2 weaknesses of open questions?
A
more difficult to draw conclusions
difficult to interpret
5
Q
What are 2 weaknesses of ranked scale?
A
may prefer to respond the same way regardless of context
Social desirability
6
Q
What are 2 strengths of ranked scale?
A
Objective
Produces quantitative data
7
Q
What is random sampling?
A
everyone in the population has an equal chance of being studied
8
Q
What is stratified sampling?
A
process that allows a researcher to ensure that the sample represents the population on some criteria
9
Q
What is volunteer sampling?
A
Involves participants selecting themselves to be part of the sample
10
Q
What is opportunity sampling?
A
Taking the sample from people who are available at the time
11
Q
2 strengths of random sampling
A
unbiased possible to choose a specific subgroup first
12
Q
2 weaknesses of random sampling
A
takes more time and effort not always random as not everyone agrees to take part
13
Q
2 strengths of stratified sampling
A
most representative increases control over extraneous variables
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
15
Q
2 strengths of opportunity sampling
A
convenient only technique available due to not being able to list whole population
16
Q
2 weaknesses of stratified sampling
A
subgroup selection may be biased lengthy process
17
Q
2 weaknesses of volunteer sampling
A
Biased- volunteer bias more responsive to demand characteristics
18
Q
2 weaknesses of opportunity sampling
A
biased may refuse to take part
19
Q
measures of central tendency
A
mean, median, mode
20
Q
measures of dispersion
A
range and standard deviation
21
Q
strength of mean
A
reflects all values of all the data
22
Q
strength of median
A
not effected by extreme scores
23
Q
strength of mode
A
useful when data is in categories
24
Q
weakness of mean
A
unrepresentative if data has extreme values
25
weakness of median
not as sensitive as mean as not all values are reflected
26
weakness of mode
not useful when more than one mode
27
2 weaknesses of range
affected by extreme values fails to take account for distribution
28
2 weaknesses of standard deviation
might hide extreme values cannot be quickly determined
29
2 strengths of range
convenient easy to calculate
30
2 strengths of standard deviation
precise measure of dispersion not difficult to calculate if you use a calculator
31
Strengths of quantitative data
easy to analyse more objective
32
Strengths of qualitative data
represents humans true complexities rich details
33
weaknesses of quantitative data
may not express participants precise thoughts/feelings oversimplifies reality and human thought
34
weaknesses of qualitative data
more difficult to detect patterns and draw conclusions interpreting is subjective
35
thematic analysis
A method for analysing qualitative data which involves identifying, analysing and reporting patterns within the data. Themes.
36
grounded theory
for qualitative data. When theoretical explanations emerge during the course of the investigation.
37
confidentiality
the assurance that messages and information are available only to those who are authorized to view them
38
deception
misleading participants about the true purpose of a study or the events that will actually transpire
39
informed consent
an ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate
40
privacy
the right of people not to reveal information about themselves
41
right to withdraw
A participant's right to leave a study at any time and their ability to do so.
42
protection from harm
the right of research participants to be protected from physical or psychological harm
43
structured interview
An interview that consists of a predetermined set of questions for the interviewer to ask and doesn't probe beyond those questions.
44
Semi-structured interview
An interview in which questions are decided before however new questions are decided as the interview proceeds
45
unstructured interview
no questions are decided in advanced
46
2 strengths of a structured interview
easily repeated easier to analyse data
47
2 strengths of an unstructured/semi structured interview
more detailed information can be obtained access information which might not have been revealed otherwise
48
2 weaknesses of a structured interview
interviewers expectations may influence the answers pp may feel reluctant to reveal information
49
2 weaknesses of an unstructured/semi structured interview
more affected by interviewer bias requires well trained interviewers
50
2 Strengths of questionnaires
can be given out to lots of people more willing to reveal confidential information
51
A strength of an interview
may reveal more as skilled interviewed could encourage more thoughtful responses
52
A weakness of an interview
number of ppts are limited
53
researcher effect
Also called the interviewer effect, this refers to how the relationship between researcher and respondent may bias responses and lead to invalid data
54
internal validity
if a study assess what it intended to assess
55
ecological validity
if the findings can be generalised outside of the study
56
predictive validity
a test score should forecast performance on some other measure of the same behaviour
57
inter-rater reliability
compare the data from more than one interviewer
58
test-retest reliability
compare test scores over time
59
3 Strengths of laboratory experiments
high control, minimises extraneous/confounding variables east replication
60
2 Strengths of field experiments
feels more natural ppts not always aware of being studied
61
3 weaknesses of laboratory experiments
contrived situation, behaviour may not be natural demand characteristics
62
3 weaknesses of field experiments
less control more time consuming may be covert (ethical)
63
2 repeated measures design strengths
control ppts variables fewer ppts needed
64
2 independent groups design strengths
avoid order effects avoids guessing aims
65
2 matched pairs design strengths
control ppts variables avoids order effects
66
2 repeated measures design weaknesses
order effects may guess aims
67
2 independent groups design weaknesses
ppts variables not controlled needs more ppts
68
2 matched pairs design weaknesses
time consuming may not control all ppts variables
69
extraneous variables
any variables other than the independent variable that seem likely to influence the dependent variable in a specific study
70
confounding variables
a factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment
71
2 strengths of collecting quantitative data
systematic observations
72
a strength of collecting qualitative data
identifying themes
73
Strength of event sampling
makes observations more manageable
74
event sampling
count behaviours in a specific time period
75
time sampling
count behaviours at regular intervals
76
a strength of time sampling
tracks time related changes
77
2 strengths of ppt observation
special insights may see more from inside
78
2 strengths of non participant observation
objectivity unobtrusive
79
2 strengths of structured observation
focus on specific behaviours and test hypothesises tentative causal conclusions
80
2 strengths of naturalistic observation
realistic, high ecological validity useful for new areas of research
81
2 strengths of overt observation
ppts can give consent observer doesn't have to hide
82
2 strengths of covert observation
more naturalistic behaviour
83
2 Strengths of a Case Study
rare and unethical cases in depth data and complex interactions
84
4 weaknesses of a Case Study
poor generalisability recollected from the past low objectivity ethical issues eg. confidentiality
85
A strength of a CAT scan
reveals structural features
86
CAT scan
detailed picture built from x-ray slices
87
2 weaknesses of a CAT scan
high radiation no information about activity
88
PET scan
radioactive substance injected and taken up into active areas
89
2 strengths of PET scans
shows brain in action can identify specific areas of brain linked to behaviour
90
3 weaknesses of a PET scan
difficult to interpret cant pinpoint locations may damage tissues
91
3 strengths of an fMRI scan
shows brain in action no radiation clear picture
92
3 weaknesses of an fMRI scan
expensive person has to stay very still time lag
93
twin studies 2 strengths
genetic influences vs environmental large data set available
94
twin studies 2 weaknesses
MZ twins treated more similarly cant identify specific genes
95
adoption studies 2 strengths
controls extraneous variable- environment twin studies overestimate genetics
96
adoption studies 2 weaknesses
selective placement adoptive parents tend to be better educated
97
2 strengths of longitudinal research
study effects of age ppts variables controlled
98
2 weaknesses of longitudinal research
cohort effects attrition effects- drop out of study
99
2 strengths of cross-sectional research
takes less time to study age effects enable comparison between groups
100
2 strengths of cross-cultural research
can study nature vs nurture takes psychology beyond white middle class
101
2 Strengths of meta-analysis
increases sample size
102
meta-analysis
data from many studies combined, report effect size
103
2 weaknesses of cross-sectional research
ppts variables not controlled cohort effects
104
2 weaknesses of cross cultural research
researchers often westerners use imposed ethics
105
2 weaknesses of meta-analysis
sample bias studies may not be comparable
106
2 weaknesses of use of animals
not as generalisable pain may not be justified guidelines might not be effective
107
2 strengths of use of animals
conditioning processes same fewer ethical issues easier to study complex behaviours over generations
108
alternative hypothesis
state the relationship between the variables
109
null hypothesis
statement of no relationship
110
experimental hypothesis
statement about the effect of the IV on the DV
111
directional hypothesis
states direction of difference/correlation
112
Non-directional hypothesis
Does not state the direction
113
operationalised
state variables in a form that is testable
114
demand characteristics
cues in an experiment that tell the participant what behaviour is expected
115
What are the 7 ethical guidelines?
Deception Debrief Informed consent Competence Right to withdraw Privacy Confidentiality
116
2 strengths of quantitative data
easier to analyse more objective
117
2 weaknesses of quantitative data
may restrict expression reductionist
118
2 Strengths of qualitative data
holistic approach free range expression increases validity
119
1 weaknesses of qualitative data
more difficult to detect patterns subjective
120
2 Strengths of primary data
suits aims of study first hand from ppts, authentic
121
2 weaknesses of primary data
takes time and money may end up with flawed data
122
2 Strengths of secondary data
large data sets saves time in design and checking
123
2 weaknesses of secondary data
may not exactly fit current aims may waste time on inappropriate data
124
type 1 error
false positive
125
type 2 error
false negative
