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Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the Independent Variable?

A

The variable the researcher manipulates to determine its effect on the DV

The IV may be divided into levels, referred to as experimental conditions

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2
Q

What it the Control Condition?

A

To provide a standard against which experimental conditions can be compared

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3
Q

What is the Dependent Variable?

A

The variable being measured

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4
Q

What are Extraneous Variables

A

Any other variables that COULD affect the DV

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5
Q

What are Confounding Variables?

A

These are any other variables that HAVE affected the DV

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6
Q

What is Operationalisation?

A

The DV and IV need to be operationalised - need to be defined and sated how you will measure them.

Eg: Aggression means how angry or irritated a person is this can be measured by displays of verbal or physical acts of aggression in a 10min period.

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7
Q

What are Laboratory Experiments?

A

This is when an experiment Is carried out in a controlled environment, like a lab. This allows the researcher to have high levels of control over the IV and eliminate any EV.

Participants are randomly allocated to a condition.

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8
Q

Advantages of Lab Experiments

A

Very High Level of Control (so you can control EV to prevent them becoming CV)

Researcher can manipulate the IV and establish a cause and effect relationship between IV and DV

Easily be replicated by other researchers to see if similar results can be obtained.

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9
Q

Disadvantages of Lab Experiments

A

Demand Characteristics - Where the participants may try to guess the aim of the study so they might change their behaviour accordingly. - Causes Invalidity

Social Desirability Bias - Participants behave in a more positive light

Lacks Mundane Realism - Which is the extent of which the experiment reflects real life)

Does not have Ecological Validity (The ability to generalise the findings of a piece of research in real life situations)

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10
Q

What is a Field Experiment?

A

This is an experiment carried out in the real world or a natural setting. The IV is still manipulated or controlled be the researcher to the the effect on the DV.

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11
Q

Advantages of a Field Experiment

A

More Mundane Realism and Ecological Validity

Researcher can manipulate the IV a cause and effect relationship can be established between the IV and DV.

Less chance of Demand Characteristics - Participants may not be aware they are taking part so they will behave naturally.

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12
Q

Disadvantages of Field Experiments

A

Less Control over EV meaning the effect of DV may be because of an EV not the IV

Less control overt he sample - may not be representative over the of the target population.

Difficult to replicate - might be unreliable.

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13
Q

What are Natural Experiments?

A

This type of experiment the researcher takes advantage of a naturally occurring IV to see its effect on a DV
A Natural Experiment is a study that measures variables that aren’t directly manipulated by the experimenter.
The IV is mostly naturally occurring.

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14
Q

Advantages of Natural Experiments

A

High level of Mundane Realism and Ecological Validity

Useful when the IV is impossible to manipulate.

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15
Q

Disadvantages of Natural Experiments

A

Low control over EV

Difficult to replicate - unreliable if the experiment was repeated

Difficult to determine cause and effect relationship due to low levels of control

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16
Q

What are Quasi Experiments?

A

Naturally occurring IV’s. In a Quasi experiment the naturally occurring IV is a difference in people that already exist, like gender

They normally occur in a Lab Setting

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17
Q

Advantages of Quasi Experiments

A

High Level of Control - Effects of EV are minimised.

Replication is easy due to strict controls

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18
Q

Disadvantages of Quasi Experiments

A

Lack of Ecological Validity

Demand Characteristics - Invalid results

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19
Q

What is an Observation?

A

Is when a researcher watches or listens to participants engaging in whatever behaviour is being studied.

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20
Q

Non - Participant Observation

A

This is when the researcher does not get directly involved with the interactions of the participants and does not take part in their activities - they stand around and observe

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21
Q

Advantages and Disadvantages of Non-Participant Observation

A

+
Allows researcher to view what occurs - so they can make their own judgments
Ethical

-
Demand Characteristics / Social Desirability Bias

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22
Q

Participant Observation

A

When the researcher is directly involved with the interactions of the participants and will engage with activities.

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23
Q

Advantages and Disadvantages of Participant Observation

A

Advantages:
Allows for better insight as researcher makes part in activities themselves
= more valid data
Less likelihood of Demand Characteristics / Social Desirability Bias

Disadvantages:
Ethical issues

24
Q

Covert Observation

A

Psychologist goes undercover and does not reveal identity - may give themselves new identity
The group is not aware they are being observed.

25
Q

Advantages and Disadvantages of Covert Observation

A

+
High level of validity - in natural environment without knowing they are being observed

  • Ethical issues
26
Q

Overt Observation

A

The Psychologist reveals their true identity and state why they are observing. This can mean observer effect can occur (participants change behaviour when they are aware what they are bing observed for)

27
Q

Advantages and Disadvantages of Overt Observation

A

+
Ethical
Easy for notes

  • Observer Effect
28
Q

Naturalistic Observations

A

Researcher observes participants in their natural environment - no deliberate manipulation of IV.

29
Q

Advantages and Disadvantages of Naturalistic Observation

A

+
Participants unaware so a reduced effect of acting unnaturally
High Mundane Realism = High Ecological Validity

  • No control over EV
    Problematic to determine cause of a behaviour
    Risk of Observer Bias (Observer may be very subjective and biased when interpreting behaviour)
30
Q

Controlled Observation

A

Researcher observes participants in a controlled environment and this allows for manipulation of the IV

31
Q

Advantages and Disadvantages of Controlled Observation

A

+
Cause and effect can be determined between DV and IV
EV are controlled = results are more valid
Likely to yield Qualitative Data which increases validity

  • Low level of Mundane Realism
    Observer Effect can occur
    Observer bias (own views can influence recording of data)
32
Q

Event Sampling

A

The observer decides in advance what type of behaviour they are interested in and records all occurrences. All other types of behaviour are ignored

33
Q

Time-interval Sampling

A

The observer decides in advance that observation will take place only during specific time periods and records the occurrence of the specific behaviours.

34
Q

Pilot Study

A

Is a small scale investigation of the procedures to be used in the main study. It involves selecting a few people and trialing out the study on them. It is possible to save time and money by identifying any flaws in the procedures or any issues that can be rectified before the main study takes place.

Helps the researchers spot any ambiguities or confusion in the information given to the participants.

Can be useful to establish behavioural categories and check they are suitable. A pilot study can iron out any practical problems like where observers should stand or where cameras should be placed.

35
Q

What are Self-Report Techniques?

A

Are research methods in which participants give information about themselves without researcher interference.

36
Q

Structured Interview

A

All participants are asked the same questions in the same order. This provides Quantitative data (which can be expressed numerically)

Usually asks closed questions that have restricted answers

37
Q

Advantages + Disadvantages of a structured interview

A

+
If the participant misunderstands the question it can be repeated or clarified
They are quite quick

-
Risk of interviewer effect (where the interviewer may inadvertently affect the response)
Lack in depth data - answers are restrictive

38
Q

Unstructured Interview

A

An informal in-depth conversation between interviewer and interviewee.
Questions are not per planned
Provides Qualitative data (non-numerical)
Usually open questions

39
Q

Advantages and Disadvantages of an Unstructured Interview

A

+
Useful with investigating sensitive topics + allow for the researcher to gain a real understanding of the topic being researched.

  • Risk of social desirability
    Interviewees may not be well trained
40
Q

Semi-Structured Interview

A

Mixture of structured and unstructured providing quantitative and qualitative data
Both open and closed questions
Start with pre planned then might ask something unplanned

41
Q

Advantages and Disadvantages of Semi-Structured Interviews

A

+
Ask depending on answers
Provides both quantitative and qualitative data

  • Cannot guarantee honesty of participants - interviewer effect
    Open ended questions are hard to analyse.
42
Q

Questionnaires

A

Given a set of questions and instructions about how to record their answers. Normally about their behaviour.

43
Q

Closed Questions

A

Yes/No = Quantitative Data

44
Q

Open Questions

A

Own words in questions (Qualitative Data)

45
Q

Advantages and Disadvantages of Questionnaires

A

+
Quick easy and cheap
Easy to replicate

  • Questions can be ambiguous
    Low response rate
46
Q

What is a correlation?

A

Is a technique to analysing the strength of a relationship between 2 quantitative variables known as co variables.

47
Q

Negative Correlation

A

As 1 variable increases the other decreases

48
Q

No Correlation

A

There is no correlation

49
Q

Strength of correlation

A

Can be -1 or +1
A strong positive correlation will be closer to +1

50
Q

Advantages and Disadvantages of correlations

A

+
Allow researchers to establish strength between 2 variables

–
Cannot always demonstrate cause and effect
Even if there is a correlation it may be a different variable having an effect

Correlations can only measure linear relationships not detect Curvilinear Relationships

51
Q

What is an aim?

A

Is a precise statement about the purpose of the study and what it intends to find out.

52
Q

Hypotheses

A

A precise testable statement about the expected outcome of an investigation.

53
Q

Null Hypotheses

A

This states an IV will have NO effect on the DV

54
Q

Alternative / Experimental Hypotheses

A

This predicts that the IV will have an effect on the DV

55
Q

Non -Directional Hypotheses (Two Tailed)

A

This does not state the direction of the predicted differences between conditions.

56
Q

Directional Hypotheses (One Tailed)

A

This states the direction of the predicted difference between conditions.

Psychology (3 decks)

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