Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Psychology > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Psychology flashcards Psychology 101 flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards
1
Q

What is an aim?

A

A target (desired outcome) of what you intend to investigate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is a one-tailed hypothesis also known as?

A

A directional hypothesis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is a one-tailed hypothesis?

A

A hypothesis which clearly states what way the results will go

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Hypothesis

A

Testable statement that predicts what researcher is expecting to happen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Example of one-tailed hypothesis

A

“Patients who took this drug will experience less symptoms of OCD than patients who took placebo”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

When would you use a one-tailed hypothesis?

A

When you are sure of the result, based on previous research

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is a two-tailed hypothesis also known as?

A

A non-directional hypothesis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What does a two-tailed hypothesis state?

A

There will be a difference in the results

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Example of two-tailed hypothesis

A

“There will be a difference in symptoms of OCD of patients who took drug compared to those who took placebo”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

When would you use a two-tailed hypothesis?

A

When you are unsure of the result

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What does a null hypothesis state?

A

There will be no difference in results

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is a bar chart used for?

A

Separate data

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is a histogram used for?

A

Continuous data

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

When do you use a scattergraph?

A

When looking for a correlation or a relationship between two variables

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What does a negatively screwed distribution graph show about the results of lots of people?

A

Lots of people had high results

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What can a negatively screwed distribution graph be linked to?

A

A left foot as the peak of the graph is on the right just like the big toe of a left foot

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What does a positively screwed distribution graph show about the results of most people?

A

Most people achieved low results

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What can a positively screwed distribution graph be linked to?

A

A right foot as the peak of the graph is on the left just like the big toe of a right foot

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Qualities of normal distribution graph

A

Symmetrical
Three measures of central tendency (mean, mode and median) align at exact mid point

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Independent variable

A

Variable that you manipulate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Dependent variable

A

Variable that you measure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Operationalisation

A

Clearly defining your variables to make them measurable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Random allocation

A

Non calculated decision to put people into particular group making it free from bias

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Extraneous variable

A

Variable that could interfere with results of experiment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Ecological validity

A

How transferable behaviours in a lab are to the real world

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Temporal validity

A

Test of time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Informed consent

A

Anyone below age of 16 can’t sign it. Clearly outlines guidelines of experiment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Deception

A

No participants should be lied to however researchers can chose not to give them specific details

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Right to withdraw

A

Participants can withdraw at any time and if they withdraw the researcher won’t use their data

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Confidentiality

A

Participants given numbers instead of names (for example). Participants assured of their privacy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Independent groups

A

You have a group of participants but they are split into groups which only take part in one condition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Repeated measures

A

Participants would take part in both conditions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Lab experiment

A

Experiment that is held under controlled conditions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

What is standardised procedure?

A

Instructions which remain constant for both groups

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Demand characteristics

A

Participants ask themselves what the purpose is so they change their behaviours according to their prediction which could mean experiment doesn’t produce real life data

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

Double blind

A

Researcher and participant don’t know what condition is

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

Behavioural categories

A

Table of behaviours in an observation that you are expecting to see

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

Controlled observation

A

Lab experiment which is highly controlled and observed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

Covert observation

A

Participants don’t know they are being observed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

Overt observation

A

Participants know they are being observed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

Participant observation

A

Observer joins in with participants

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

Structured interview

A

Planned questions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

Unstructured interview

A

Questions being asked determined by answers given

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

Measures of central tendency

A

Mode, median and mean

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

Mean

A

Add all numbers and divide product by amount of numbers

46
Q

Weakness of mean

A

Vulnerable to anomalies

47
Q

Mode

A

Most common value in set of data

48
Q

How is median calculated?

A

Put numbers in order and median is middle number

49
Q

Qualitative data

A

Descriptive information

50
Q

Quantitative data

A

Numerical data

51
Q

Meta analysis

A

Analysis that combines number of different studies or pieces of research in particular area

52
Q

Case study

A

In depth detailed investigation of one individual that is researched

53
Q

Random sampling

A

Everybody has equal chance of being chosen (E.g putting names into hat)

54
Q

What variable isn’t included in a scattergraph?

A

An independent variable

55
Q

How are extraneous variables controlled?

A

By using a consistent environment

56
Q

Confounding variables

A

A non-extraneous variable which alters the results. E.g. if a participant has a migraine then they won’t be effective at partaking in a study.

57
Q

Protection from harm

A

Participants must be protected from physical and psychological harm

58
Q

Advantages of independent groups

A

No order effects (participants behaviour not effected by previous studies)
Participants only tested once so they are unlikely to guess research aims

59
Q

Disadvantages of independent groups

A

Individual differences
More participants needed as you need a good amount in each group

60
Q

Advantages of repeated measure

A

No individual differences
Fewer participants needed as there is only one group

61
Q

Weaknesses of repeated measures

A

Order effects
Participants might guess aim so they might change their behaviour

62
Q

Matched pairs

A

Experimental design where pairs of participants are matched in terms of key variables such as age or IQ

63
Q

Advantages of matched pairs

A

Participant matched on relevant variable
No order effects

64
Q

Weaknesses of matched pairs

A

Time consuming
More participants needed as there are multiple groups

65
Q

Field experiment

A

Study carried out in natural environment where independent variables can be controlled

66
Q

Advantages of field experiment

A

More natural environment making participants comfortable to act as they wish
Participants unaware of being studied meaning results aren’t influenced by demand characteristics

67
Q

Weaknesses of field experiment

A

More difficult to control control variables
Participants not given informed consent

68
Q

Advantages of lab experiments

A

Easily replicated
Extraneous and control variables are controlled

69
Q

Weaknesses of lab experiments

A

May lack generalisability
Demand characteristics

70
Q

Why is a standardised procedure necessary?

A

To make sure everything is free from bias

71
Q

Natural experiment

A

Study in natural environment where independent variables cannot be controlled by researcher

72
Q

Advantages of natural experiment

A

Greater external validity
May be the only ethical option

73
Q

Weaknesses of natural experiment

A

Natural event may take long time to occur
Participants not allocated randomly

74
Q

Event sampling

A

Researcher records number of times certain behaviour occurs

75
Q

Time sampling

A

Behaviour observed and recorded a specific time intervals

76
Q

What type of data is needed for the mean to be calculated?

A

Interval data

77
Q

Interval data

A

Fixed unit of measurement E.g. time, weight, height and temperature

78
Q

What type of data is needed for the mode to be calculated?

A

Nominal data

79
Q

Nominal data

A

Data of frequencies in a category

80
Q

What type of data is needed for the median to be calculated?

A

Ordinal data

81
Q

Ordinal data

A

Data ordered in rank position

82
Q

Advantages of median

A

More representative when you’ve got negative skew
Less affected by outliers

83
Q

Disadvantages of median

A

Includes anomalies

84
Q

Case study

A

In depth detailed investigation of one individual that is researched

85
Q

Advantages of case study

A

Development over a period of time can be analysed
Cannot be replicated as it’s unique

86
Q

Weaknesses of case study

A

Not replicable so can’t be replaced
Subjective

87
Q

Random sampling

A

Sampling where everybody has an equal chance of being chosen (E.g. putting names into a hat)

88
Q

Advantages of random sampling

A

Free from bias
Simple

89
Q

Weaknesses of random sampling

A

Time consuming
Possible chance of all of certain people going into certain conditions (E.g. all men going into one and all women going into another)

90
Q

Volunteer sampling

A

People select themselves

91
Q

Advantages of volunteer sampling

A

Participants are willing
Easy for researcher

92
Q

Weaknesses of volunteer sampling

A

Likely to be a biased sample
There may be a shortage of people willing to do experiment

93
Q

Opportunity sampling

A

Sampling with people who are nearby

94
Q

Advantages of opportunity sampling

A

Quick method
Doesn’t require planning

95
Q

Weaknesses of opportunity sampling

A

Inevitability biased so it’s unrepresentative of wider society
Research can only use resources available to them

96
Q

Systemic sampling

A

Participant selected using a set pattern

97
Q

Stratified sampling

A

Participants selected according to their frequency in target population

98
Q

Weaknesses of stratified sampling

A

Can’t reflect all ways that people are different

99
Q

Advantages of stratified sampling

A

Representative method

100
Q

Falsifiability

A

Ability to know whether an experiment is false

101
Q

Hypothesis testing

A

A proposed explanation about what might happen. Something you can test

102
Q

Paradigm shift

A

A typical example or pattern of something

103
Q

Objectivity

A

Evidence that something is true

104
Q

Theory construction

A

An idea or group of ideas intended to explain something

105
Q

Empirical method

A

Method that can be verified by an observation

106
Q

Replicability

A

Able to be copied or reproduced

107
Q

What can the researchers still manipulate in a field experiment?

A

The independent variable

108
Q

Counterbalancing

A

Experimental technique used to overcome order effects when using repeated measures
E.g. half of sample take part in condition A followed by condition B. Other half take part in condition B followed by condition A

109
Q

Order effects

A

If you take part in a condition after already taking part in one, results could be invalid due to effects such as fatigue, boredom or a lack of interest

110
Q

What is representativeness called in psychology?

A

External validity

Psychology (104 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions