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Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

What is an aim?

A

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

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2
Q

What is a one-tailed hypothesis also known as?

A

A directional hypothesis

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3
Q

What is a one-tailed hypothesis?

A

A hypothesis which clearly states what way the results will go

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4
Q

Hypothesis

A

Testable statement that predicts what researcher is expecting to happen

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5
Q

Example of one-tailed hypothesis

A

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

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6
Q

When would you use a one-tailed hypothesis?

A

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

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7
Q

What is a two-tailed hypothesis also known as?

A

A non-directional hypothesis

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8
Q

What does a two-tailed hypothesis state?

A

There will be a difference in the results

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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”

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10
Q

When would you use a two-tailed hypothesis?

A

When you are unsure of the result

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11
Q

What does a null hypothesis state?

A

There will be no difference in results

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12
Q

What is a bar chart used for?

A

Separate data

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13
Q

What is a histogram used for?

A

Continuous data

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14
Q

When do you use a scattergraph?

A

When looking for a correlation or a relationship between two variables

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15
Q

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

A

Lots of people had high results

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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

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17
Q

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

A

Most people achieved low results

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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

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19
Q

Qualities of normal distribution graph

A

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

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20
Q

Independent variable

A

Variable that you manipulate

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21
Q

Dependent variable

A

Variable that you measure

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22
Q

Operationalisation

A

Clearly defining your variables to make them measurable

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23
Q

Random allocation

A

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

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24
Q

Extraneous variable

A

Variable that could interfere with results of experiment

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25
Q

Ecological validity

A

How transferable behaviours in a lab are to the real world

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26
Q

Temporal validity

A

Test of time

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27
Q

Informed consent

A

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

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28
Q

Deception

A

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

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29
Q

Right to withdraw

A

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

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30
Q

Confidentiality

A

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

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31
Q

Independent groups

A

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

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32
Q

Repeated measures

A

Participants would take part in both conditions

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33
Q

Lab experiment

A

Experiment that is held under controlled conditions

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34
Q

What is standardised procedure?

A

Instructions which remain constant for both groups

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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

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36
Q

Double blind

A

Researcher and participant don’t know what condition is

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37
Q

Behavioural categories

A

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

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38
Q

Controlled observation

A

Lab experiment which is highly controlled and observed

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39
Q

Covert observation

A

Participants don’t know they are being observed

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40
Q

Overt observation

A

Participants know they are being observed

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41
Q

Participant observation

A

Observer joins in with participants

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42
Q

Structured interview

A

Planned questions

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43
Q

Unstructured interview

A

Questions being asked determined by answers given

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44
Q

Measures of central tendency

A

Mode, median and mean

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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)

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