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Research Methods Flashcards

(55 cards)

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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

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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

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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
Stratified sampling
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
Ethics
Debrief Deception Right to withdraw Informed consent Privacy Protection of harm
27
What is experimental design?
The different ways in testing of participants can be organised in relation to the experimental condition
28
Independent groups design
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
Repeated measures
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
what is order effects ?
When their performance deteriorates because they have to do the same condition again.Participants cannot be bothered to do it again.
31
What is counterbalancing?
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
Matched pairs design
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
What is a pilot study?
A small scale study version of an investigation that takes place before the real investigation
34
What is point of pilot studies?
- 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
What are the strengths of pilot studies?
- 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
What are the weakness of pilot studies?
- require extra costs, time and resources - do not guarantee the success of the main study - small sample size
37
Examples of changes that occur due to a pilot study
- rewording instructions if they aren’t clear enough - checking if the camera are correctly positioned - checking the suitability of the behaviourism categories
38
What are observations?
Watching and observing peoples behaviour
39
Why do we use observations rather than experiments ?
- sensitive - safer - natural environment - study natural behaviour in a natural setting - study behaviours where it Would be unethical
40
Naturalistic
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
Controlled
Watching and observing behaviour within a structured environment Strengths: high replication, high control of extraneous variables Weakness: low ecological validity
42
Covert
Participant behaviour is watched and recorded without their knowledge or consent Strength: more validity, good participant reactivity, no demand characteristics Weakness: unethical
43
Overt
Participants behaviour is being watched and recorded with the knowledge and consent. Strength: ethical Weakness: less valid and poor participant reactivity
44
Participant o
The researcher becomes a member of the group whose behaviour they are watching Strength: low objectivity (subjective behaviour) Weakness: high bias, unethical
45
Non-participant
The researcher remains outside the group whose behaviour they are watching Strength: low bias Weakness: unethical, high objectivity
46
What is an experiment?
A scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis or demonstrate a known fact
47
What are the 4 types of experiments?
- natural -field -lab -quasi
48
Lab experiment:
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
Field experiment
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
Natural experiment
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
Quasi experiments
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
What is a self-report techniques?
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
Response bias
When respondents answer in a similar way - they aren’t reading the questions properly
54
Acquiescence bias
When the respondent is agreeing regardless of the content
55
Observer bias
When the researcher only records what catches their eye

Psychology (8 decks)

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