Research Methods Flashcards
What is an aim?
A target (desired outcome) of what you intend to investigate
What is a one-tailed hypothesis also known as?
A directional hypothesis
What is a one-tailed hypothesis?
A hypothesis which clearly states what way the results will go
Hypothesis
Testable statement that predicts what researcher is expecting to happen
Example of one-tailed hypothesis
“Patients who took this drug will experience less symptoms of OCD than patients who took placebo”
When would you use a one-tailed hypothesis?
When you are sure of the result, based on previous research
What is a two-tailed hypothesis also known as?
A non-directional hypothesis
What does a two-tailed hypothesis state?
There will be a difference in the results
Example of two-tailed hypothesis
“There will be a difference in symptoms of OCD of patients who took drug compared to those who took placebo”
When would you use a two-tailed hypothesis?
When you are unsure of the result
What does a null hypothesis state?
There will be no difference in results
What is a bar chart used for?
Separate data
What is a histogram used for?
Continuous data
When do you use a scattergraph?
When looking for a correlation or a relationship between two variables
What does a negatively screwed distribution graph show about the results of lots of people?
Lots of people had high results
What can a negatively screwed distribution graph be linked to?
A left foot as the peak of the graph is on the right just like the big toe of a left foot
What does a positively screwed distribution graph show about the results of most people?
Most people achieved low results
What can a positively screwed distribution graph be linked to?
A right foot as the peak of the graph is on the left just like the big toe of a right foot
Qualities of normal distribution graph
Symmetrical
Three measures of central tendency (mean, mode and median) align at exact mid point
Independent variable
Variable that you manipulate
Dependent variable
Variable that you measure
Operationalisation
Clearly defining your variables to make them measurable
Random allocation
Non calculated decision to put people into particular group making it free from bias
Extraneous variable
Variable that could interfere with results of experiment
Ecological validity
How transferable behaviours in a lab are to the real world
Temporal validity
Test of time
Informed consent
Anyone below age of 16 can’t sign it. Clearly outlines guidelines of experiment
Deception
No participants should be lied to however researchers can chose not to give them specific details
Right to withdraw
Participants can withdraw at any time and if they withdraw the researcher won’t use their data
Confidentiality
Participants given numbers instead of names (for example). Participants assured of their privacy
Independent groups
You have a group of participants but they are split into groups which only take part in one condition
Repeated measures
Participants would take part in both conditions
Lab experiment
Experiment that is held under controlled conditions
What is standardised procedure?
Instructions which remain constant for both groups
Demand characteristics
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
Double blind
Researcher and participant don’t know what condition is
Behavioural categories
Table of behaviours in an observation that you are expecting to see
Controlled observation
Lab experiment which is highly controlled and observed
Covert observation
Participants don’t know they are being observed
Overt observation
Participants know they are being observed
Participant observation
Observer joins in with participants
Structured interview
Planned questions
Unstructured interview
Questions being asked determined by answers given
Measures of central tendency
Mode, median and mean
Mean
Add all numbers and divide product by amount of numbers
Weakness of mean
Vulnerable to anomalies
Mode
Most common value in set of data
How is median calculated?
Put numbers in order and median is middle number
Qualitative data
Descriptive information
Quantitative data
Numerical data
Meta analysis
Analysis that combines number of different studies or pieces of research in particular area
Case study
In depth detailed investigation of one individual that is researched
Random sampling
Everybody has equal chance of being chosen (E.g putting names into hat)
What variable isn’t included in a scattergraph?
An independent variable
How are extraneous variables controlled?
By using a consistent environment
Confounding variables
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.
Protection from harm
Participants must be protected from physical and psychological harm
Advantages of independent groups
No order effects (participants behaviour not effected by previous studies)
Participants only tested once so they are unlikely to guess research aims
Disadvantages of independent groups
Individual differences
More participants needed as you need a good amount in each group
Advantages of repeated measure
No individual differences
Fewer participants needed as there is only one group
Weaknesses of repeated measures
Order effects
Participants might guess aim so they might change their behaviour
Matched pairs
Experimental design where pairs of participants are matched in terms of key variables such as age or IQ
Advantages of matched pairs
Participant matched on relevant variable
No order effects
Weaknesses of matched pairs
Time consuming
More participants needed as there are multiple groups
Field experiment
Study carried out in natural environment where independent variables can be controlled
Advantages of field experiment
More natural environment making participants comfortable to act as they wish
Participants unaware of being studied meaning results aren’t influenced by demand characteristics
Weaknesses of field experiment
More difficult to control control variables
Participants not given informed consent
Advantages of lab experiments
Easily replicated
Extraneous and control variables are controlled
Weaknesses of lab experiments
May lack generalisability
Demand characteristics
Why is a standardised procedure necessary?
To make sure everything is free from bias
Natural experiment
Study in natural environment where independent variables cannot be controlled by researcher
Advantages of natural experiment
Greater external validity
May be the only ethical option
Weaknesses of natural experiment
Natural event may take long time to occur
Participants not allocated randomly
Event sampling
Researcher records number of times certain behaviour occurs
Time sampling
Behaviour observed and recorded a specific time intervals
What type of data is needed for the mean to be calculated?
Interval data
Interval data
Fixed unit of measurement E.g. time, weight, height and temperature
What type of data is needed for the mode to be calculated?
Nominal data
Nominal data
Data of frequencies in a category
What type of data is needed for the median to be calculated?
Ordinal data
Ordinal data
Data ordered in rank position
Advantages of median
More representative when you’ve got negative skew
Less affected by outliers
Disadvantages of median
Includes anomalies
Case study
In depth detailed investigation of one individual that is researched
Advantages of case study
Development over a period of time can be analysed
Cannot be replicated as it’s unique
Weaknesses of case study
Not replicable so can’t be replaced
Subjective
Random sampling
Sampling where everybody has an equal chance of being chosen (E.g. putting names into a hat)
Advantages of random sampling
Free from bias
Simple
Weaknesses of random sampling
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)
Volunteer sampling
People select themselves
Advantages of volunteer sampling
Participants are willing
Easy for researcher
Weaknesses of volunteer sampling
Likely to be a biased sample
There may be a shortage of people willing to do experiment
Opportunity sampling
Sampling with people who are nearby
Advantages of opportunity sampling
Quick method
Doesn’t require planning
Weaknesses of opportunity sampling
Inevitability biased so it’s unrepresentative of wider society
Research can only use resources available to them
Systemic sampling
Participant selected using a set pattern
Stratified sampling
Participants selected according to their frequency in target population
Weaknesses of stratified sampling
Can’t reflect all ways that people are different
Advantages of stratified sampling
Representative method
Falsifiability
Ability to know whether an experiment is false
Hypothesis testing
A proposed explanation about what might happen. Something you can test
Paradigm shift
A typical example or pattern of something
Objectivity
Evidence that something is true
Theory construction
An idea or group of ideas intended to explain something
Empirical method
Method that can be verified by an observation
Replicability
Able to be copied or reproduced
What can the researchers still manipulate in a field experiment?
The independent variable
Counterbalancing
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
Order effects
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
What is representativeness called in psychology?
External validity
