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Psychology A Level (AQA) > Research methods > Flashcards

Research methods Flashcards

All 3 papers

1
Q

Aim

A

Describe the purpose of the experiment.
E.g To investigate whether drinking energy drinks makes people more talkative

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2
Q

Hypotheses

A

A statement that is made at the start of a study and clearly describes the relationship between variables.
E,g Drinking SpeedUpp will make people become more talkative.

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3
Q

two types of hypotheses and what they are

A

Non- directional : Simply states there is a difference between two variables but the difference is not specified.
E,g People who drink SpeedUpp differ in terms of talkativeness compare with people who don’t drink SpeedUpp

Directional : Researcher makes it clear the difference that is anticipated
E.g People who drink SpeedUpp become more talkative than people who don’t.

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4
Q

The four types of variables

A
  • Confounding
  • Dependent
  • Independent
  • Extraneous
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5
Q

Difference between independent and dependent variables

A

Dependent : The variable that is being measured
Independent : The variable that is being changed / manipulated so the effects of the change can be measure on the DV

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6
Q

Operationalisation

A

Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured.

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7
Q

Extraneous Variables

A

Unwanted variables - interfere with the IV

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8
Q

Confounding Variables

A

Change systematically with the IV.
E.g temperature

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9
Q

Demand characteristics

A

Any cues from the researcher or from the research situation that may be interpreted by participants as revealing the purpose of an investigation. This may lead to a participant changing their behaviour to fit the research situation.

  • Participant changes behaviour to show experimenter what they think they want to see.
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10
Q

Investigator effects

A

Any effect on the investigators behaviour (on purpose or not) impacting the research outcome.
- E.g design of study, selection or interaction with participants

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11
Q

Randomisation

A

The use of chance methods to control for the effects of bias when designing materials and deciding the order of experimental conditions.
- reduce researchers unconscious biases when designing investigation

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12
Q

Standardisation

A

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

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13
Q

The 3 types of experimental designs

A
  • Independent groups
  • Repeated measures
  • Matched pairs
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14
Q

Independent group

A

Two seperate groups experience two different conditions of the group.
- Control : no manipulation of IV
- Experimental : experiencing largest amount of manipulation of IV

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15
Q

Repeated measures

A

All participants experience both conditions.
ABBA technique - experience condition A then experience condition B

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16
Q

Matched pairs

A

Participants are paired together on a variable or variables relevant to the study.
e.g being matched on IQ

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17
Q

One weakness of using independent groups

A

Participants are not the same in terms of participant variables.These differences may act as confounding variables reducing validity of findings.

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18
Q

Random allocation

A

An attempt control for participant variables. Each participant has same chance of being in either condition.

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19
Q

One weakness for repeated measures

A

Each participant has to do atleast two tasks and order of tasks may be significant (i.e order effects).
Order effects could arise because repeating two tasks could cause boredom or fatigue that might cause deterioation on performance in second task.

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20
Q

Counterbalancing

A

An attempt to control order effects. Half participants take part in condition A and the other in B.
- ABBA technique

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21
Q

4 types of experiments

A
  • lab
  • field
  • natural
  • quasi
22
Q

Strengths and weaknesses of lab experiments

A

Strength - High control over confounding variables and extraneous variables.
Replication is more possible because high level of control

Weakness - May lack generalisability, environment artificial and experiment cannot be generalised past research setting - low external validity
Participants usually aware they are being investigated so more likely to display demand characteristics
Tasks participants are asked to carry out lack mundane realism and aren’t realistic to everyday life

23
Q

Strengths and weaknesses of field experiment

A

Strength : higher mundane realism compared to lab experiments - behaviour is more valid and authentic

Weakness : Loss of control of confounding and extraneous variables .
Ethical issues - some participants unaware they are being studied

24
Q

Strengths and weaknesses of quasi experiments

A

Strength:
Often carried out under controlled conditions and therefore share some strengths with lab experiments

Weakness:
Like natural experiments cannot randomally allocate participants to conditions and therefore there may be confounding variables
In both quasi and natural experiments, the IV is not deliberately changed by a researcher and therefore we cannot claim that the IV has caused any observed change

25
Q

Strengths and weaknesses of natural experiments

A

Strength:
Allow oppurtunities for research that may not otherwise be undertaken for practical or ethical reasons.
Have high external validity because they involve real-world issues and problems as they happen

Weakness:
A naturally occuring event may only happen rarely limiting oppurtunities for research - may limit the scope for generalising findings to other similar situations.
Participants may not be randomally allocated to experimental conditions.

26
Q

5 types of samples

A
  • Random
  • Systematic
  • Stratified
  • Oppurtunity
  • Volunteer
27
Q

What is a systematic sample

A

Every nth numberof the target population is selected

28
Q

What is a stratified sample

A

Composition of sample reflects proportions of people in certain subgroups (strata) within the target population within the wider population.
- Researcher first identifies the different strata that make up the population
- Proportions needed for the sample to be representative are worked out
- Participants needed for the sample to be representativeare selected using random sampling

29
Q

What is an oppurtunity sample

A

Researchers simply decide to select anyone who happens to be willing and available

30
Q

What are 4 potential ethical issues

A
  • Informed consent
  • Deception
  • Protection from harm
  • Privacy and confidentiality
31
Q

What is the aim of a pilot study

A

A pilot study is a small scale trial run of the investigation - allows the research to identify any potential issues and to modify the design or procedure saving time and money

32
Q

What is a single- blind procedure

A

Participants unaware of test being conducted - researcher is aware of test being conducted

33
Q

What is a double-blind procedure

A

Both the participant and researcher unaware of test being conducted

34
Q

What is a covert observation

A

Participants are unaware they are the focus of the study and their behaviour is observed in secret

35
Q

What is an overt observation

A

Participants are aware they are being observed and have given informed consent

36
Q

What is a participant observation

A

The observer becomes a part of the group they are studying

37
Q

The two types of sampling methods and what they are

A
  • Event sampling : counting the number of times a particular behaviour occurs in a target individual or group
  • Time sampling : involves recording behaviour within a pre-established time frame
38
Q

What is an open and closed question in a questionnaire

A

Open - Does not have a fixed range of answers and respondents are free to answer in any way they wish
Closed - offers a fixed number of responses

39
Q

What are the 3 types of interviews

A

Structured interviews
Unstructured interviews
Semi-structured interviews

40
Q

What are the 3 questions (items) in questionnaires

A
  • Likert scale (1-5 scale of how much you agree)
  • Rating scale (Identify your strength of feeling about a particular topic - e.g 1 very entertaining , 5 not at all entertaining
  • Fixed - choice option - e.g tick boxes (tick all those that apply)
41
Q

How can an experimenter write good questionnaire questions

A
  • Minimise overuse of Jargon (technical terms only familiar to those within a specialised field)
  • Minimise overuse of emotive language and leading questions
  • Minimise double-barrelled questions and double negatives
42
Q

What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative

A

Qualitative - Expressed in words
Quantitative - Expressed numerically

43
Q

What is the difference between primary and secondary data

A

Primary - Original data collected for the purpose of the investigation
Secondary - Data has been collected by someone else

44
Q

What do we commonly refer to as averages but is known as . . . in psychology

A

Measures of central tendency

45
Q

what are the 3 measures of central tendency

A
  • Mean
  • Median
  • Mode
46
Q

what are the 2 measures of dispersion

A
  • Range
  • Standard deviation
47
Q

How do you calculate the range

A

Highest value - lowest value + 1

48
Q

What does a high standard deviation mean

A

There is a greater dispersion of spread within a set of data

49
Q

What are the 3 main aims of peer review

A
  • To allocate research funding
  • Validate the quality and relevance of research
  • To suggest amendments or improvements
50
Q

Why do we use statistical testing

A

The mean does not show the significant difference - the difference found may be no more than chance or fluke (to find this out we use statistical testing)

51
Q

What is the difference betwen inter & intra reliability

A

Inter - between multiple
Intra - singular

Psychology A Level (AQA) (12 decks)

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