Research Methods Flashcards
What is a theory and hypothesis
A theory is a systematic way of organising and explaining observations; different schools of thought promotes different theories
–> leads to new predictions that can be tested
A hypothesis is a tentative belief/prediction about the way two (or more) variables interact/impact each other.
–> is concrete - did i get this result? I didn’t get this result
Data collection techniques (Naturalistic Observation)
- researcher carefully observes behaviour without intervening
- participant observation
–> researcher is also a participant
ADVANTAGES - in depth observation of behaviour in natural setting
- can provide new insights
DISADVANTAGES - reactivity: difficult to remain unobtrusive
Data collection techniques (Case Study)
- in depth investigation of individual person/situation
–> using interview, direct observation, records, psychological tests
ADVANTAGES - can provide rich, compelling data to support a theory
DISADVANTAGES - representative of general population?
- subjectivity: investigators may see what they expect to see
(NOTE: usually single person cases)
Data collection techniques (Surveys)
- use questionnaires or interviews to gather information about specific aspects of behaviour ADVANTAGES - data difficult-to-observe behaviour - data from a large sample DISADVANTAGES - self-report data can be unreliable
Data collection techniques (Correlation Research)
- looking for relationships among variables
- useful for studying variables that the researcher can’t manipulate
- -> personality, intelligence, age, sex
- can demonstrate that a relationship exists, but can’t demonstrate causality
Data collection techniques (Experimental Research: establishing causes)
Researcher
- manipulates on variable
- ->independent variable
- -> whatever you think causes the dependent variable
- to see its effect on another variable
- -> dependent variable
- -> thing we hope to explain
- -> e.g. depression - thing you wanna see change
- holding other variables constant
Population
The entire group of people interested in studying
Sample
A subset of the population selected for the study
Random Sampling
Each member of the population is equally likely to be included in the sample
Representative Sample
Possesses the important characteristics of the population in the same proportions
Reliability
Does the measure produce consistent results?
Validity
Does it measure what it’s supposed to measure?
Is our measure related to the other measures with demonstrated validity?
Is our measure related to an outcome it should be related to?
Test-retest reliability
Does the test give similar values if the same participant takes it two or more times?
Internal consistency
Different items that measure the same variable should produce similar answers - be consistent
Inter-rater reliability
Two testers who rate the same person on the same variable, should give similar ratings to the participant
Correlation coefficient
Measures the strengths of the relationship between 2 variables
A positive correlation
People with high scores on one variable tend to have scores on the other variable
e.g. the more nappies a person changes, the more often they wash their hands
A negative correlation
People with high scores on one variable are likely to have low scores on the other variable
e.g. the more hours spend practising, the fewer errors they make when they perform
No correlation
A high score on one dimension predicts nothing about a person’s score on the other dimension
e.g. the number of dreams people have about plane crashes has nothing to do with the no. of plane crashes
Experimental group
Exposed to the experimental condition of interest
Control group
Not exposed to the experimental condition, but otherwise treated identically to the experimental group
Random assignment
Participants are equally likely to be assigned to the experimental or control condition
Looking for flaws (reactivity)
Experimenter bias
Participant bias
Looking for flaws (confounding variables)
Ruling out other explanations
Looking for flaws (sampling bias)
Choosing a bias group…
Bias (participant)
The tendency of people who know they are the participants in a study to behave in a way other than they normally would
e.g. hawthorne effect
Bias (self presentation)
Demand characteristics
- participants respond in the way they think the experimenter wants them to respond
Placebo effects
- participants condition improves because they believe the procedures will help them
Bias (experimenter)
The tendency of experimenters to let their expectancies alter the way they treat their participants
Self fulfilling prophecy
- a false definition of a situation that evokes behaviour that, in turn, makes the false conception become true
Single-blind study
Either the experimenter or participant unaware of purpose of study
Double-blind study
Both experimenter and participant “blind” to the purpose of study
Ethics
Informed consent Maintain participant welfare Voluntary participation Ensure confidentiality Avoid deception
