research methods Flashcards
what is an aim
intention to find an answer to a particular question
what is a hypothesis
a testable statement with operationalised variables
what is a one tailed hypothesis
DIRECTIONAL
based on previous research
what is a 2 tailed hypothesis
NON DIRECTIONAL
association between 2 variables
when to use different charts
- bar chart= independent or discrete data, not linked
- histogram= data is related - repeated measures, continuous data
- scattergraph= correlation, 2 variables
what is correlational analysis
- research method looking for a relationship between 2 variables
cannot establish cause and effect - results more applicable
- on,y shows relationship
what are distributions
normal = symmetrical, mean, median, mode same place
negative skewed= mode highest point, mean is higher
positive skewed= mean is lower
variables
independent= variable u manipulate
dependent= variable u measure
what is operationalisation
clearly defining your variable
what are the controls
random allocation= avoid potential bias- participants have equal opportunity
counterbalancing= overcome order effects when using repeated measures.
randomisation= can’t make a pattern
standardisation = reading instructions so everyone hears the same thing
what are extraneous variables
variable that could potentially effect the outcomes of your research study
what is a participant variable
something specific to participant = e.g. not enough sleep
what is validity
how truthful something is
ecological=
population = gender bias
temporal= is it time valid
beta bias= minimise any potential differences between male and females
code of ethics
informed consent
deception
right to withdraw
confidentiality
protection from harm
independent groups
- participants only take part in one condition
adv= no order effects
disadv = participant variables- individual differences
repeated mesures
- participants take part in both experimental conditions
adv= no participant variables
disadv= order effects, first condition may have an effect
what is counterbalancing
each condition tested 1st or 2nd equal amounts
matched pairs
- matched on key characteristics relevant to the study
disadvantage= time consuming, not possible to control all variables to match
what is field experiment
natural
manipulates iv
cant control extraneous variables
adv= participants unaware of participation = natural behaviour
high ecological validity
disadv= ethical issues, no control over extraneous variables
lab experiment
carried out in a controlled setting
adv= establish cause and effect
high internal validity
good control over all variables
disadv= lack ecological validity
could display demand characteristics
what is a standardised procedure
all the same for all participants
necessary in order to be able to repeat the study
what are demand characteristics
people may show in lab experiment
participants try to guess the aim and adjust their behaviour accordingly - reduces validity of findings
what is a double and single blind
double blind = participant and researcher don’t know
single blind = only participants know if they’re taking part or not
what is a natural experiment
experimenter not manipulated the IV directly
adv= natural environment-high ecological validity
disadvantage= can’t control extraneous variables
quasi experiment
studies that are almost experiments
IV is naturally occurring , can still control environment
behavioural categories
table of pre determined operationalised behaviours
event and time sampling
event = sit and watch and tally
time = look at behaviour once every 10 mins for 1 min over hour period
what is a controlled observation
researchers watch participants in a controlled, contained environment such as a lab
what is a naturalistic observation
record behaviours of your research subjects in real world settings
- avoid interfering or influencing any variables
difference between a covert and overt observation
covert= researcher undercover, participants unaware they r being observed
overt= participants aware they are being observed
what is a participant observsrion
observer becomes part of the group being observed, allows observer to get a closer look
non participant observation
observer remains outside the group and simply watches their behaviour
self report : interview
- can be structured ( set quesrions) or unstructured (spontaneous)
adv = see whether quesrions asked make interviewee nervous
less chance of socially desirable responses
disadvantage= can cause biases
time consuming
self report : questionnaire
adv= easily gather large amounts of info or data
time effective
disadvantage= socially desired responses
reduce validity of findings
what are investigator effects
influence participants behaviour
can be avoided by using a double blind experiment
what is content analysis
way of analysing qualitative data, turning it into quantitative data
descriptive statistics
mean - the average
- add all values & divide by how many values there are
- INTERVAL level of data used
mode - most common
- NOMINAL level of data used
median - middle value
- ORDINAL level of data used
measures of dispersion
range - difference between highest & lowest
standard deviation - shows amount of variation in a data set
what types of satay are there
qualitative - non numerical, difficult to analyse, opinions
quantitative - numerical, easy to analyse
primary - collected yourself, firsthand
secondary - study combining results of lots of studies - meta analysis
what is a pilot study
small scale trial run of study to test any aspects of design
make improvements
identify that everything works
no problems
types of sampling
random = everybody has equal chance of being in any conditions of study
volunteer = advertise in appropriate place where people will be who u might want to participate and they can choose
opportunity = ask people who are available in that moment in time
systematic = sample obtained by selecting every nth person then select every nth person after that
stratified = sample of participants produced by identifying sub groups then selected randomly from sub groups.
what are the features of science
FLYING HARRY POTER
FHPOTER
F = falsifiability - show something to be false
H = hypothesis testing- testible statement
P = paradigm shift- shared set of assumptions
O = objectivity - info based on facts you can’t argue with
T = theory construction -
E = empirical methods - knowledge gained through carrying out experiments & providing evidence to back up what your saying
R = replicability - soemthing that can be repeated
levels of measurment
nominal- data in form of categories
ordinal - ordered in rank position
interval - fixed unit of measurement
