research methods Flashcards
Alternative Hypothesis
A statement that predicts a difference of correlation in result.
null hypothesis
A statement that predicts no difference of correlation in result.
Repeated measures design
An experiment design where participants take part in each condition
Independent measures design
An experimental design where each participant are different in each condition.
Repeated measures design strengths
Comparing like with like so different and not due to individual differences between participants.
Few participants need to be recruited, saving time and money.
Repeated measures design weaknesses
Participants may perform worse on the second condition due to boredom of fatigue effect.
Participants may perform better on the second condition due to the practice effect
Participants may work up the independent variable and change their behaviour accordingly (defect of demand characteristics).
The Task need to be changed between conditions making it an extraneous variable.
Independent measures design strengths
Not order effect.
The same task can be used in both conditions because participants will not be familiar with it.
Independent measures design weaknesses
Differences between conditions could be due to participant variables.
Potentially more participants need to be recruited as they cannot be used more than once per condition.
Order effect
Factors that impact negatively research find because participants find the same order of conditions in an experiment.
Target population
Entire set of people psychologist want to research on.
Sample
A group selected from a larger population
Representative
An accurate reflection of a larger pop group.
Generalisability
The ability to draw conclusions applied to a logical outside of research.
Different ways to get a sample
Random sample (example selected using chance)
Opportunity sample (example selected by convenience)
Self-selected sample (a sample selected through volunteers)
Random sampling
Where everyone in the target population of an equal chance of being selected.
1) putting names into a hat
2) using random number generator software.
opportunity sampling
We are participants are chosen because they are easily available.
1)Using from your friends because of research or has regular contact with them
2) using people that are in vicinity for example a university student, colleague colleagues, local residence.
Self Selected
Where participants nominate themselves for a study without being directly approached.
1) advertising for participant
2) pause to serve it online to see who would respond.
Opportunity sampling weakness and strength
Strength: quick and convenient
Weakness: Tends to be biased and unrepresentative.
Self-selected sampling weakness and strength
Strength: psychologist does not have to put much effort into selecting participants as they volunteer themselves – full consent of participants as they’ve come forward willingly.
Weakness: tends to be biased a certain type of people are more likely to volunteer to take part in psychological research and therefore will be over-represented in the sample.
Random sampling strengths and weaknesses
Strength: it is very likely to give representative sampling compared to the two of the method. This is because there is no base in the selection and it is left to chance, most type of people would be represented in the right proportions.
Weakness: chance of Freak sample where, certain type of people that will put represented and others are under-represented or are missing from the sample.
Ethical issues
- psychological harm. (An ethical issue that relates to protecting participants from distress, discomfort and embarrassment.)
-deception(ethical issue that relates to be honest with participants about the purpose and process of research)
-lack of informed consent. (An ethical issue that relates to participants agreeing to take part in research knowing what the research is about)
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ways of dealing with ethical issues
– Debriefing (way of dealing with ethical issues at the end of research including an explanation of the study)
– Right to withdraw (insuring participants know they can opt out or stop a study at any point)
-Confidentiality (Making sure that participants are not identifiable through the use of names or other types of data)
Experiments features
- an independent variable is set up
-a dependent variable is measured - there is an attempt to control extraneous variables.
Strengths and weakness of experiments
Strengths: The experiment helps research to reliably establish cause and effect.
weakness: often lacks construct validity because they measure the dependent variable in a narrow way.
Laboratory experiment
An experiment went to research and directly manipulate the IV, and does this in a controlled environment – such as a lab, controlling noise, temperature, and space.
Field experiment
An experiment with the research directly manipulated Ivy into this in a natural environment – such as school shopping Centre,hospital ward.
Natural experiment
An experiment where there is an IV but it is not directly manipulated by the researcher because it is predetermined- e.g comparing people with depression and those without.
