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Psychology > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

What is an aim?

A

An aim is a general statement of what the research intends to investigate , the purpose of the study

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2
Q

What is a hypothesis?

A

A hypothesis is a clear, precise testable statement that states the relationship between the variables to be investigated- predicts the likely outcome of the study

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3
Q

What is a directional hypothesis?

A

States the direction of the difference used word like more, less, higher, lower

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4
Q

What is a non- directional hypothesis?

A

States that there will be a difference but not what the difference is

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5
Q

What is a null hypothesis?

A

States that there is no relationship between the two variables being studied and that the results are due to chance.

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6
Q

When would you use a directional hypothesis?

A

When there has been previous research to support your hypothesis

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7
Q

When would you use a non-directional hypothesis?

A

When there has been no previous research to support your hypothesis

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8
Q

Example of directional hypothesis?

A

Dogs that are rewarded with treats are more obedient than dogs without treats

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9
Q

Example of non-directional hypothesis?

A

There is a difference in childrens reading ability depending on their eye colour

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10
Q

What is the independent variable?

A

The variable that is manipulated in an experiment so that the effect on the DV can be measured

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11
Q

What is the dependant variable?

A

The variable that’s is measured in the experiment . Any effect should be caused by the change in the IV

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12
Q

What is operationalisation?

A

Clearly defining variable in terms of how they can be measured, making it clear

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13
Q

What is the definition of an extraneous variable?

A

Any variable other than IV that may have an effect on the DV if not controlled

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14
Q

Give some examples of extraneous variables

A

Light
Noise levels
Temperature

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15
Q

What are the individual participant variable?

A

Age
Gender
Intelligence
Personality
Motivation
Concentration

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16
Q

What are some situation extraneous variables?

A

Weather
Temperature
Noise
Time of day
Instructions

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17
Q

What is a confounding variable?

A

Any variable other than the independent variable that may have an effect on the DV so we cannot be sure of the true source of changes to the DV

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18
Q

What are demand characteristics?

A

When Participants try and work out what’s going on based on clues/cues

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19
Q

What are investigator effects?

A

Any unwanted influence of the investigator on the outcome

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20
Q

What are standardised instructions?

A

Instructions which help all participants expose to the same experience

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21
Q

What is an experimental design?

A

The different ways in testing of participants can be organised in relation to experimental condition

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22
Q

Random sampling

A

Putting all of the target population into a list and then use a random number generator/ pick out names from a hat and randomly allocate people.

Ad: prevents researcher bias as the researcher has no control over who is picked and this prevents them from choosing the participants they want

Dis: difficult and time consuming ,
The randomly allocated person may not want to take part so this can turn into volunteer sampling

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23
Q

Systematic sampling

A

Target population is put into an order and every nth person is picked. The interval number is randomly picked to reduce researcher bias.
Ad: free from researcher bias

24
Q

Opportunity sampling

A

Asking people who are available at the time to take part.
Ad: convenient and saves time and effort
Dis: researcher has control over selection (researcher bias)
Unrepresentative of target population they are from a specific area and so it can’t be generalised

25
Q

Stratified sampling

A

Target population is broken down into demographics. Participants are selected form each demographic
Ad: avoids researcher bias because the participants are randomly selected to make the numbers
Representative sample accurately reflects the composition of the population

26
Q

Ethics

A

Debrief
Deception
Right to withdraw
Informed consent
Privacy
Protection of harm

27
Q

What is experimental design?

A

The different ways in testing of participants can be organised in relation to the experimental condition

28
Q

Independent groups design

A

Two separate groups experience two different conditions
Eg) group 1 have plants
Group 2 have no plants
Strength: reduced order effects
Weakness: not economical , participant variables

29
Q

Repeated measures

A

All participants experience the same conditions.
Eg) both groups would experience a week with plants and a week without
Strength: reduces participant variables
Fewer participants needed
Weakness: order effects , demand characteristics

30
Q

what is order effects ?

A

When their performance deteriorates because they have to do the same condition again.Participants cannot be bothered to do it again.

31
Q

What is counterbalancing?

A

An attempt to control for the effects of order in a repeated measures design. Half of the participants experience the conditions in one order and that other half in the opposite order.

32
Q

Matched pairs design

A

Participants are matched on variables (like intelligence). then one participants from each pair would be allocated to a different condition
Eg) match people based on mood
Strength: reduces order effects , reduces demand characteristics, helps combat participant variables
Weakness: participants can’t be matched exactly
Time consuming and expensive

33
Q

What is a pilot study?

A

A small scale study version of an investigation that takes place before the real investigation

34
Q

What is point of pilot studies?

A
  • check that the participants understand the terminology used in instructions
  • check that leading questions have not been used as this could bias the respondents answer
  • saves time and money and identifies flaws in the procedures
  • floor effect- performances are low because the task was too hard
  • ceiling effect - when the task is too easy so the performances are high so it’s not representative of the participants data
35
Q

What are the strengths of pilot studies?

A
  • increase in research quality
  • assessing the practicality and feasibility of the main study
  • testing the efficacy of research instruments
  • estimating the time and costs required for the project
  • enabling researchers to develop consistent practices and familiarise themselves with the protocol
  • assessing safety and management problems
  • increase reliability and replicable
36
Q

What are the weakness of pilot studies?

A
  • require extra costs, time and resources
  • do not guarantee the success of the main study
  • small sample size
37
Q

Examples of changes that occur due to a pilot study

A
  • rewording instructions if they aren’t clear enough
  • checking if the camera are correctly positioned
  • checking the suitability of the behaviourism categories
38
Q

What are observations?

A

Watching and observing peoples behaviour

39
Q

Why do we use observations rather than experiments ?

A
  • sensitive
  • safer
  • natural environment
  • study natural behaviour in a natural setting
  • study behaviours where it Would be unethical
40
Q

Naturalistic

A

Watching and observing behaviour in the setting it would normally occur

Strength: high ecological validity and no demand characteristics
Weakness: can’t replicate, a lot of extraneous variables
Not controlled

41
Q

Controlled

A

Watching and observing behaviour within a structured environment
Strengths: high replication, high control of extraneous variables
Weakness: low ecological validity

42
Q

Covert

A

Participant behaviour is watched and recorded without their knowledge or consent
Strength: more validity, good participant reactivity, no demand characteristics
Weakness: unethical

43
Q

Overt

A

Participants behaviour is being watched and recorded with the knowledge and consent.
Strength: ethical
Weakness: less valid and poor participant reactivity

44
Q

Participant o

A

The researcher becomes a member of the group whose behaviour they are watching
Strength: low objectivity (subjective behaviour)
Weakness: high bias, unethical

45
Q

Non-participant

A

The researcher remains outside the group whose behaviour they are watching
Strength: low bias
Weakness: unethical, high objectivity

46
Q

What is an experiment?

A

A scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis or demonstrate a known fact

47
Q

What are the 4 types of experiments?

A
  • natural
    -field
    -lab
    -quasi
48
Q

Lab experiment:

A

Conducted in highly controlled environment.
Strengths: easy to replicate
No extraneous variables, cause and effect, control over other factors.
Weakness: artificial setting, unnatural behaviour that doesn’t reflect real life, low ecological validity, know they’re being watched, demand characteristics

49
Q

Field experiment

A

Takes place in natural environments. The experimenter changed the IV but it would take place in a natural environment.

Strengths: behave naturally, reflects real life
Weakness: don’t have control over extraneous variables, ethical issues (consent/privacy)

50
Q

Natural experiment

A

Takes place in a natural setting/ natural occurring event so experimenter has no Controlled over the IV is naturally occurring and would change without the experimenter
Strengths: can research unethical situations, high external validity, ecological validity
Weakness: rare opportunity, no control, unpredictable

51
Q

Quasi experiments

A

Experimenter looks at a naturally occurring event between people that cant be changed. IV variable just exist eg) gender, eye colour, age
Strengths: lab conditions, naturally occurring (real life)
Weakness: low level of control
Waiting for changes to occur, confounding variables

52
Q

What is a self-report techniques?

A

Any method in which a person is asked to state or explain their own feelings, opinions, behaviours and/ or experienced related to a given topic

53
Q

Response bias

A

When respondents answer in a similar way - they aren’t reading the questions properly

54
Q

Acquiescence bias

A

When the respondent is agreeing regardless of the content

55
Q

Observer bias

A

When the researcher only records what catches their eye

Psychology (8 decks)

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