research methods

Question 1

what is an aim

Answer 1

intention to find an answer to a particular question

Question 2

what is a hypothesis

Answer 2

a testable statement with operationalised variables

Question 3

what is a one tailed hypothesis

Answer 3

DIRECTIONAL
based on previous research

Question 4

what is a 2 tailed hypothesis

Answer 4

NON DIRECTIONAL
association between 2 variables

Question 5

when to use different charts

Answer 5

• bar chart= independent or discrete data, not linked
• histogram= data is related - repeated measures, continuous data
• scattergraph= correlation, 2 variables

Question 6

what is correlational analysis

Answer 6

• research method looking for a relationship between 2 variables
  cannot establish cause and effect
• results more applicable
• on,y shows relationship

Question 7

what are distributions

Answer 7

normal = symmetrical, mean, median, mode same place
negative skewed= mode highest point, mean is higher
positive skewed= mean is lower

Question 8

variables

Answer 8

independent= variable u manipulate
dependent= variable u measure

Question 9

what is operationalisation

Answer 9

clearly defining your variable

Question 10

what are the controls

Answer 10

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

Question 11

what are extraneous variables

Answer 11

variable that could potentially effect the outcomes of your research study

Question 12

what is a participant variable

Answer 12

something specific to participant = e.g. not enough sleep

Question 13

what is validity

Answer 13

how truthful something is
ecological=
population = gender bias
temporal= is it time valid
beta bias= minimise any potential differences between male and females

Question 14

code of ethics

Answer 14

informed consent
deception
right to withdraw
confidentiality
protection from harm

Question 15

independent groups

Answer 15

• participants only take part in one condition
  adv= no order effects
  disadv = participant variables- individual differences

Question 16

repeated mesures

Answer 16

• participants take part in both experimental conditions
  adv= no participant variables
  disadv= order effects, first condition may have an effect

Question 17

what is counterbalancing

Answer 17

each condition tested 1st or 2nd equal amounts

Question 18

matched pairs

Answer 18

• matched on key characteristics relevant to the study
  disadvantage= time consuming, not possible to control all variables to match

Question 19

what is field experiment

Answer 19

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

Question 20

lab experiment

Answer 20

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

Question 21

what is a standardised procedure

Answer 21

all the same for all participants
necessary in order to be able to repeat the study

Question 22

what are demand characteristics

Answer 22

people may show in lab experiment
participants try to guess the aim and adjust their behaviour accordingly - reduces validity of findings

Question 23

what is a double and single blind

Answer 23

double blind = participant and researcher don’t know
single blind = only participants know if they’re taking part or not

Question 24

what is a natural experiment

Answer 24

experimenter not manipulated the IV directly
adv= natural environment-high ecological validity
disadvantage= can’t control extraneous variables

Question 25

quasi experiment

Answer 25

studies that are almost experiments
IV is naturally occurring , can still control environment

Question 26

behavioural categories

Answer 26

table of pre determined operationalised behaviours

Question 27

event and time sampling

Answer 27

event = sit and watch and tally
time = look at behaviour once every 10 mins for 1 min over hour period

Question 28

what is a controlled observation

Answer 28

researchers watch participants in a controlled, contained environment such as a lab

Question 29

what is a naturalistic observation

Answer 29

record behaviours of your research subjects in real world settings
- avoid interfering or influencing any variables

Question 30

difference between a covert and overt observation

Answer 30

covert= researcher undercover, participants unaware they r being observed
overt= participants aware they are being observed

Question 31

what is a participant observsrion

Answer 31

observer becomes part of the group being observed, allows observer to get a closer look

Question 32

non participant observation

Answer 32

observer remains outside the group and simply watches their behaviour

Question 33

self report : interview

Answer 33

• 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

Question 34

self report : questionnaire

Answer 34

adv= easily gather large amounts of info or data
time effective
disadvantage= socially desired responses
reduce validity of findings

Question 35

what are investigator effects

Answer 35

influence participants behaviour
can be avoided by using a double blind experiment

Question 36

what is content analysis

Answer 36

way of analysing qualitative data, turning it into quantitative data

Question 37

descriptive statistics

Answer 37

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

Question 38

measures of dispersion

Answer 38

range - difference between highest & lowest
standard deviation - shows amount of variation in a data set

Question 39

what types of satay are there

Answer 39

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

Question 40

what is a pilot study

Answer 40

small scale trial run of study to test any aspects of design
make improvements
identify that everything works
no problems

Question 41

types of sampling

Answer 41

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.

Question 42

what are the features of science

Answer 42

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

Question 43

levels of measurment

Answer 43

nominal- data in form of categories
ordinal - ordered in rank position
interval - fixed unit of measurement