research methods

Question 1

what is an aim

Answer 1

a general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate

Question 2

what is a hypothesis

Answer 2

a testable statement of what the researcher predicts will happen

Question 3

what are the three types of hypothesis

Answer 3

directional, non directional and null

Question 4

a lab experiment takes place in a _ environment where the researcher _ the IV and measures the effect on the _

Answer 4

controlled , manipulates , DV

Question 5

what is a strength of a lab experiment

Answer 5

high control over extraneous variables and high reliability as can be repeated

Question 6

what is a weakness of lab experiment

Answer 6

lacks eco val and prone to demand characteristics

Question 7

what environment does a field experiment take place in

Answer 7

natural

Question 8

what is a strength of a field experiment

Answer 8

less prone to demand characteristics and high eco val

Question 9

what is a weakness of a field experiment

Answer 9

low reliability and lack of informed consent

Question 10

what is a natural experiment

Answer 10

researcher takes advantage of naturally occurring event

Question 11

what is a quasi experiment

Answer 11

iv is based off of existing individual difference/characteristic that the researcher has not manipulated

Question 12

what is a strength of a natural experiment

Answer 12

provides opportunities that might not otherwise be carried out for ethical reasons and high eco val

Question 13

what is a weakness of natural experiments

Answer 13

the naturally occurring event is rare and low control over extraneous variables

Question 14

what is a weakness of a quasi experiment

Answer 14

sample bias as the sample may have unique characteristics

Question 15

what is independent groups

Answer 15

participants only take part in one condition

Question 16

strength of independent groups

Answer 16

no order effects - wont get bored

Question 17

weakness of independent groups

Answer 17

individual differences eg better memory and more ppts needed

Question 18

what is repeated measures

Answer 18

ppts take part in both conditions

Question 19

strength of repeated measures

Answer 19

individual differences removed and requires fewer ppts

Question 20

weakness of repeated measures

Answer 20

order effects - may get bored and increased chance of demand characteristics

Question 21

what is marches pairs

Answer 21

ppts matched based on characteristics and each one randomly allocated a condition

Question 22

strength of matched pairs

Answer 22

reduces individual differences and no order effects

Question 23

weakness of matched pairs

Answer 23

time consuming to match up ppts and individual differences can’t be fully eliminated

Question 24

what is a pilot study

Answer 24

a small scale trial run of a study that takes place to identify and amend any problems

Question 25

what are the aims of a pilot study

Answer 25

- check the ppts given enough time - make sure questions are clear - ask ppts about their experiences - check the design

Question 26

what are the two types of observation

Answer 26

controlled and naturalistic

Question 27

what is a controlled observation

Answer 27

conditions are manipulated

Question 28

what is a naturalistic observation

Answer 28

natural environment where target beh would occur - no manipulation of variables

Question 29

strength of controlled obs

Answer 29

high reliability

Question 30

strength of naturalistic obs

Answer 30

less prone to demand characteristics and high eco val

Question 31

weakness of controlled obs

Answer 31

low eco val and prone to demand characteristics

Question 32

weakness of naturalistic obs

Answer 32

low reliability and informed consent

Question 33

what is an overt observation

Answer 33

ppts aware they’re being watched, observer clear

Question 34

what is a covert obs

Answer 34

unaware being watched, observer hidden

Question 35

strength of overt

Answer 35

ethically appropriate

Question 36

strength of covert

Answer 36

less prone to demand characteristics

Question 37

weakness of overt

Answer 37

more prone to demand characteristics

Question 38

weakness of covert

Answer 38

lack of informed consent

Question 39

what is a ppt obs

Answer 39

researcher involved in group

Question 40

what is a non ppt obs

Answer 40

researcher not involved in group and collects data from distance

Question 41

strength of ppt obs

Answer 41

gain in depth understanding of beh

Question 42

strength of non ppt obs

Answer 42

reduced chance of researcher bias

Question 43

weakness of ppt obs

Answer 43

researcher bias

Question 44

weakness of non ppt obs

Answer 44

less likely to gain understanding

Question 45

what is a self report

Answer 45

ppts give info to researcher into their thoughts feelings and behaviors , through questionnare or interview. questionnare questions can be open/closed and interview can be (un)structured

Question 46

what is a questionnaire

Answer 46

asking a large sample of ppl for info on certain topic. involves pre set list of questions intending to get a representation of the target pop

Question 47

strengths of questionnaires

Answer 47

can tackle sensitive issues through anonymity, reduce investigator effects and can be given to large amount of people

Question 48

weakness of questionnaires

Answer 48

social desirability/misinterpretation of questions

Question 49

what is an open question

Answer 49

ppts answer in their own words and can go into detail

Question 50

what is a closed question

Answer 50

ppts responses are fixed eg yes or no

Question 51

strength of open questions

Answer 51

provides in depth data

Question 52

strength of closed questions

Answer 52

easier to analyze

Question 53

weakness of open qs

Answer 53

researcher bias

Question 54

weakness of closed qs

Answer 54

lacks depth

Question 55

what is an interview

Answer 55

method of asking qs, face to face but over phone is possible. either structured or unstructured

Question 56

what is a structured interview

Answer 56

pre set questions in same order

Question 57

strength of structured interview

Answer 57

all ppts same qs = easy to compare responses

Question 58

weakness of structured interview

Answer 58

cant deviate from pre set questions

Question 59

what is an unstructured interview

Answer 59

topic area for discussion, no set questions questions are based on responses of interviewee

Question 60

strength of unstructured interview

Answer 60

more depth

Question 61

weakness of unstructured interview

Answer 61

hard to replicate