Research Methods

Question 1

Research aim

Answer 1

What the researcher intends to find out

Question 2

Research Hypothesis

Answer 2

A prediction of our research
(States what we expect to find out)

Question 3

Directional hypothesis

Answer 3

Specifically states what what the variable with affect another

Eg. it is expected that males will perform better than females

Question 4

Non- directional hypothesis

Answer 4

THERE WILL HE A DIFFERENCE between the variable
(We don’t know how)

Eg. eating chocolate will effect your mood

Question 5

Null hypothesis

Answer 5

NO DIFFERENCE/ no relationship between variables

Eg. There will be no difference in performance between those who eat breakfast and those who don’t

Question 6

Independent variable

Answer 6

Variable that the researcher CHANGES/ MANIPULATES

Question 7

Dependent variable

Answer 7

The variable the the researcher MEASURES

Question 8

What’s the IV and that’s the DV

Qn: a researcher is interested in finding out if males will perform better on a spatial awareness test than females

Answer 8

IV: gender
DV: Performance

Question 9

Situational variables

Answer 9

Things in the environment that may cause the effect

Question 10

Participant variables

Answer 10

Differences between people

Question 11

Investigator or experimenter effect

Answer 11

How the researcher or experimenter may influence the results

Question 12

Operationalisation of variables

Answer 12

A way of measuring mental processes

Question 13

Non-operationalised and operationalised

Answer 13

Non- operationalised:
Aggression
Operationalised: testosterone levels

N.O.
happiness
OP.
self reports

N.O.
Young/old people
OP.
Reaction times, memory recall, hearing test

Question 14

Confounding variables

Answer 14

Factors other than the independent variable that may cause a result

Eg. Stress making you lose weight instead of exercise
(based on ‘exercise helps weight loss’ study)

Question 15

Extraneous variable

Answer 15

Any variables we arnt investigating that can have a potential affect on the outcome of our research

Eg. Time of day you weigh yourself
(Based on Weight loss study)

Question 16

Why do we need to control extraneous variables?

Answer 16

So they don’t have an effect on our research

If they influence the DV they become confounding variables a

Question 17

Strengths and weaknesses of an experiment

Answer 17

Strengths:
-Can control all extraneous variables
-can get alot of data – cause+effect
-takes place in real life setting- no demand characteristics
-increasing ecological validity (only in field experiment)

Weaknesses:
-can be unethical
-real life setting makes it difficult to control confounding variables

Question 18

Independent groups

Answer 18

Participants are set into groups and each group does a level of IV

STRENGTHS:
Measures natural, real life behaviour = Reduced demand characteristics

WEAKNESSES:
- need more participants
= time consuming
-individual differences may lead to differences in the group results =false conclusions

Eg. One group completes a h/w task with TV on, group 2 completes without TV off

Question 19

Matched pairs

Answer 19

Pairs of participants are matched in terms of key variables or share characteristics relevent to topic of study

STRENGTHS:
-can control subject variables
-more accurate results

WEAKNESSES:
-time consuming
-matches are never perfect
-difficult to match them
-cant control variables

Eg. Same IQ level for participants A in group 1 and participants A in group B

Question 20

Quasi experiments

Answer 20

These are not true experiments because the IV has not been deliberately manipulated

Used when it would be impossible, impractical or unethical to manipulate IV

2 types of quasi experiment:
-Natural experiments
-difference studies

Question 21

(Quasi experiment)

Natural experiments

Answer 21

When it’s not possible to or not practical to manipulate IV

Question 22

(Quasi experiments)

Difference studies

Answer 22

When IV is a condition that already exists

Question 23

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a quasi experiment

Answer 23

ADVANTAGES:
- allows research where it would be unethical or not practical to manipulate the IV eg violence on TV
- more realistic - ecologically valid
-enables researchers to study
‘real’ problems eg. Effects of stress on health

DISADVANTAGES:
-may be other variables present that’s may also cause DV to change
-cant assume cause and effect – because you havnt directly changed the IV you can’t assume IV was responsible for causing change to dv

Question 24

Observational study

Answer 24

Where researcher watched or listens to participants engaging in whatever behaviour is being studied

Observations are recorded

Question 25

Overt observation

Answer 25

When a participant knows that they are being observed

-Social desirability

-Demand characteristics

Question 26

Covert observations

Answer 26

Participants unaware of being observed

P- more realistic behaviour

N- unethical, no contact, no consent

Question 27

Natural observations

Answer 27

Conducted in natural environment

P- behaviour will be realistic
= generalise results
=Research has ecological validity

N- if it’s covert natural observation you don’t have participants consent

Question 28

Controlled observation

Answer 28

Eg. Little Albert

All variables are controlled - pressume cause and effect

P- increases internal validity

N- artificial Almost fake - can’t generalise - lack ecological validity