Research methods Flashcards
What is an Independent and dependent variable?
Independent variable-This is the variable that is being directly manipulated
dependent variable- This is the variable that is being observed/measured after the manipulation of the Iv
Examples of extraneous variables
participant variables- moods, emotions
situational variables- distractions, noise, temperature lighting.
How should we control the extraneous variables
A standardised procedure
what is a single blind technique and how does that affect results of a study
When information about the study is withheld from the participant.
It can control demand characteristics.
what is a null hypothesis
that the results of a study will have very little or no effect of your IV on the DV
what are all the experimental methods
-Lab experiment
-Natural experiment
-Field experiment
Advantages of Field experiment
- High ecological validity
-limited demand characteristics
disadvantages of Natural experiment
Difficult to establish a cause and effect
Difficult to replicate since this is naturally occurring
When are some situations we would need lab experiments
-for all controls to be controlled
-To establish the cause and effect
-For reliability/ replicating
-to be standardised
what are all the 4 types of questionnaires
-Likert scale
-Rating scale
-closed questions
-open questions
what are weaknesses to giving out questionnaires
-may give socially desirable answers
-may force an answer (closed questionnaires)
what are the types of interviews
-structured
-semi structured
-unstructured
What are observations
A research method that involves watching human or animal behaviour
what is a non-participant observer
An observer who is not involved in the situation.
advantages of being a participant observer
-it’s a real life setting
-able to understand the motives for behaviours in that group.
What is a controlled observation?
This is when the environment or the social setting has been directly manipulated by the researcher to observe the participant
What are the strengths and weaknesses of Correlations
+can establish a cause and effect
-A 3rd variable could be present
what is an experimental design
the process of carrying out research in a controlled manner to establish a cause and effect for a conclusion
what is an independent measures design and when can we use it?
This is when groups of participants are exposed to only ONE condition of the study.
We use it when the IV is either gender or age.
What is the difference between repeated measures design and Matched pairs design?
Repeated- Has ONE participant being exposed to all conditions to the study
Matched pairs- Have TWO participants being exposed to each/either condition but are matched based on their similarities.
what are order effects?
Which experimental design can be a victim to it?
this refers to the ordering of the conditions having an effect on the participant.
e.g feeling tired on the second condition
Repeated measures design
Quantitative VS Qualitative
Quantitaive- Collecting numerical data that indicates the quality of that psychological measure
Qualitative- Collecting in-depth/ descriptive data that indicates the quality of that psychological measure
What are the strengths of Quantitative
+Easily comparable
+It is objective and scientific
What are all the sampling methods
-Opportunity
-Volunteer
-random
-stratified
-systematic
When should we use Volunteer sampling
When participants are willing to participate and apply.
When should we use stratified sampling
When different types of people(gender, races) are present and researcher wants to replicate this in their study.
what are some strengths to systematic sampling
+easy method
+less bias influencing
what is validity
The extent to which the researcher is testing what they claim to be testing
Internal validity VS External validity
Internal validity- these are measures used in a test to test what they are actually testing
External validity - This is whether findings can generalise to the target population
