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Psychology Alevel OCR > Research methods > Flashcards

Research methods Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the Harvard referencing order?

A

Surname, initial, (year of publication), ‘Title of article’, Title of journal, volume number, page reference.

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2
Q

What is the null hypothesis>

A

A statment or claim being made which we are trying to disprove (no relationship between variables.)

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3
Q

What is the alternative hypothesis?

A

The hypothesis that we are trying to prove and which is accepted if we have sufficent evidence (states there is no relationship between variable)

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4
Q

What is a type 1 error?

A

false-positive-occurs if an investigator rejects a null hypothesis that is actually true in population. optomistic

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5
Q

What is a type 2 error?

A

false-negative- occurs if the investigator fails to reject a null hypothesis that is actually false in population. persimistic

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6
Q

What is the abstract in a pratcical report?

A

A summary of the entire investigation you have conducted (last stage of your report writing process.)

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7
Q

What is the introduction in the practical report?

A

sets the secne-contains relevant background theory and studies which are written in a logical manner.

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8
Q

What does the method contain in the practical report?

A

Design,apparatus/materials, participants, procedure

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9
Q

What are the 2 section of the reuslts section in the practical report?

A

descriptive stats (measures of central tendency etc.), inferential stats (correct statistical test.)

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10
Q

What is the discussion of the practical report?

A

Shows exactly what you are thinking. here you’ll explain your findings, link back to studies, weaknesses and modifications and furture research, conclusion

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11
Q

What are all the sections for a practical report?

A

Abstract, introduction, method, results, discussion, references and appendices

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12
Q

What is nominal data?

A

Category data e.g. hair colour

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13
Q

What is ordinal data?

A

data that is presented in rank order e.g. places in a beauty contest.

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14
Q

What is interval data?

A

data measured in fixed units with equal distance between points on the scale (e.g. IQ test).

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15
Q

What is the checklist for a Mann whitney U test?

A

-DV produces ordinal data
-Independent measures design
-Difference between IV levels

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16
Q

What are the calculation steps for the Mann Whitney U test?

A

-Rank scores (from lowest to highest)
-Use formula to find U
-calculate the smaller U
-U1=R1-n1(n1+1)/2
-U2=R2-n2(n2+1)/2

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17
Q

What is the checklist for the Wilcoxon signed ranks test?

A

-DV produces ordinal data
-Repeated measures design
-Difference between IV levels

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18
Q

What are the calculation steps for the Wilcoxon signed ranks test?

A

The differences in vales of each condition is calculated, differences are then ranked. The sum of positive and negative differences is found and T is the smallest of these values.

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19
Q

What is the level of significance for the Mann Whitney U test?

A

-If the calculated U value is less than the critical U value= reject null hypothesis (significant).
-If calculated U value is higher than critical U value=accept null hypothesis (not significant)

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20
Q

What is the level of significance for the Wilcoxon ranks test?

A

-If the calculated W value is less than the critical W value=reject null hypothesis (significant).
-If calculated W value is higher than critical W value=accept null hypothesis (not significant).

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21
Q

What is the checklist for the Chi-square test?

A

-DV produces nominal data
-Independent measures design
-Difference between IV levels.

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22
Q

What are the calculation steps for Chi-square test?

A

-Add totals for each column
-Calculate observed and expected frequency frequencies (use formula)
-Chi value-adding all cells of expected frequencies
x2=E (observed-expected)2/expected

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23
Q

What is the level of significance for Chi-square test?

A

-If the calculated Chi value is less than the critical Chi value=accept null hypothesis (not significant)
-If calculated Chi vale is higher than critical Chi value= reject null hypothesis (significant)

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24
Q

What is the checklist for the Binomal sign test?

A

-DV produces nominal data
-Repeated measures design
-Difference between IV levels

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25
Q

What are the calculation steps for the Binomal sign test?

A

-Determine positive and negative values for data
-Add each positive and negative assigned direction.
-smallest direction score=S value

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26
Q

What is the level of significance for the Binomal sign test?

A

-If the calculated S vale is less than the critical S vale= reject null hypothesis (significant)
-If the calculated S value is higher than the critical S value= accept null hypothesis (not significant)

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27
Q

What is the checklist for Spearman’s Rho correlation?

A

-Variables produce a least ordinal data.
-Exploring relationship between two co-variables
-A correlational design has been used.

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28
Q

What are the calculation steps for Spearman’s Rho correlation?

A

-Rank each data set individually
-Find difference between each data set
-square difference (d2) and find total of (d2) column
-Use formula to find rho
r=1-[6ED2/n(n2-1)]

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29
Q

What is the level of significance for a spearman’s Rho correlation?

A

-If the calculated Rho value is less than the critical Ro value=accept null hypothesis (not significant)
-If calculated Rho value is higher than critical Rho value=reject null hypothesis (significant)

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30
Q

what is the equation for variance?

A

s2=E(x-mean)2/n-1

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31
Q

what is a strength and weakness of variance?

A

S: using variance means outliers do not affect the measure
W:However, the final answer is squared number and so this makes it hard to compare with the mean.

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32
Q

what is a strength and weakness of standard devaiation?

A

S: it is the most precise measure of dispersion. For example, he standard deviation considers all available scores in the data set, unlike the range.
W: It requires the mean to be the measure of central tendency and therefore, it can only be used with interval data, because ordinal and nominal data does not have a mean.

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33
Q

what is a strength and weakness of nominal data?

A

S: Quick to find the mode as a measure of central tendency
W: Mean or median cannot be calculated

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34
Q

what is a strength and weakness of ordinal data?

A

S: median ca be used as a linear scale can be produced
W: The gas between the different scores are only relative, because people may have interpreted measures differently.

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35
Q

what is a strength and weakness of interval data?

A

S: Mean is an appropriate measure to summarise data
W: Measures used, though agreed concept n intervals, ay not be scientific (e.g. someone counting seconds rather than using a timer).

36
Q

what is a strength and weakness of the mean?

A

S: Mean is a sensitive measure and it takes all the values into account.
W: If there are unusual scores (very high or low outliers) the mean can be skewed to give a distorted impression.

37
Q

what is a strength and weakness of the median?

A

S: It is not affected by extreme scores
W:Only takes account of the position of he scores and does not take account of the values of the scores. Hence it can be misleading if it is used in a small set of scores.

38
Q

what is a strength and weakness of the mode?

A

S: It is not affected by extreme scores and it is the only measure of central tendency to be used with nominal data.
W: Tells us nothing about the other scores and there may be more than one mode in a set of data.

39
Q

what is a strength and weakness of the range?

A

S: Quick and easy to generate and therefore speeds up the process of drawing conclusions for researchers
W: The range is vulnerable to extreme scores in the data set.

40
Q

How do you calculate standard deviation (the steps)

A

-Calculate the mean for a data set
-Subtract mean from each score individually
-Square above for each score individually
-total above
-count up the number of scores -1
-Divide step 4 by step
-square root

41
Q

What is the brief structure of the 15 mark RM essay?

A

DECISION & DEFINE: make a decision from the options outlined. Explain what the type of experiment is.
REASON: explain why you want to use the specific type of experiment IN CONTEXT OF THE STEM.
LINK TO OWN RESEARCH: Explain how you would do the experiment with relation to the stem (i.e. how you would do the experiment with relation to the stem (i.e how you would manipulate the IV to find out the DV)

42
Q

What is a structured interview?

A

An interview method that asks predominantly closed questions in a fixed order. the questions are likely to be scripted so they are standardised, and consistence might even be required for the interviewer’s posture etc.

43
Q

What is an unstructured interview?

A

An interview method that generally begins with a standard question for all participants but, from there on, questions depend on the respondent’s answers. There might be a list of topics for the interviewer to cover.

44
Q

What is a naturalistic observation?

A

A research method in which behaviours seen in the ps normal environment are recorded without interference from the researchers in either the social or physical environment.

45
Q

What is a participant observation?

A

A way to collect data such that the ps behaviour is recorded by a researcher who is engaged with them as part of the social setting.

46
Q

What is a non-participant observation?

A

A way of collecting data such that the participant’s behaviour is recorded by a researcher who is not engaging with them as part of the social setting. the observer may be overt or covert.

47
Q

What is an overt observation?

A

A procedure in which participants are aware that they are being watched.

48
Q

What is a covert observation?

A

A procedure in which the participants are aware that they are being watched e.g. if the role of the observer is not known to the participants, or if they are hidden.

49
Q

What is random smapling?

A

selecting participants so that each member of a population has an equal chance of being chosen. It is representative of the population.

50
Q

What is snowball sampling?

A

A technique for selecting participants used when they are hard to find or when are particular kind of person is needed. Starting with a very small number of participants, these individuals then recruit further members of the sample.

51
Q

What is opportunity sampling?

A

The selection of ps according to availability. It is non-representative

52
Q

What is self-selected sampling?

A

a way to recruit people through advertising; the participants respond to a request rather than being approached by the experimenter. it is non-representative.

53
Q

What is a one tailed hypothesis?

A

A statement predicting the nature i.e direction of a relationship between variables. e.g. in an experiment whether a change in the IV will produce an increase or decrease in the DV etc.

54
Q

What is a two tailed hypothesis?

A

A statement predicting how one variable will be related to another e.g. whether there will be a difference in the DV between levels of the IV (in an experiment). (not as specific as one tailed.)

55
Q

What is meant by coding frames?

A

A system for differentiating behaviours to be recorded in an observation, which uses abbreviations to represent different behavioural categories and their dimensions (such as severity). it may also include operationalised definitions of the behavioural categories.

56
Q

What is meant by a likert rating scale?

A

A question type that measures attitudes using statements to which participants respond by choosing an option, typically from choices of ‘strongly agree’, ‘agree’, ‘don’t know’, ‘disagree’ or ‘strongly disagree.

57
Q

What is meant by a semanting differential rating scale?

A

A rating scale on which ps choose between 2 extremes, rating their response towards an opposing pair of descriptive words, such as ‘calm’ and ‘tense’. the participant chooses one of several numerical values.

58
Q

What are some strengths and weakness of correlation?

A

S:avoids practical and ethical problems raised by other methods-as there are no manipulation of variables.
-can reveal direction and strength of a relationship.
-can be used on ecologically valid data
W: can’t establish a cause and effect
Only uses quantitative data

59
Q

What are some strengths and weaknesses of self-report?

A

Strengths:

  • Participants can be asked about their feelings and cognitions (i.e. thoughts), which can be more useful than simply observing behaviour alone.
  • Scenarios can be asked about hypothetically without having to physically set them up and observe participants’ behaviour.

Weaknesses:

  • Gathering information about thoughts or feelings is only useful if participants are willing to disclose them to the experimenter.
  • Participants may try to give the ‘correct’ responses they think researchers are looking for (or deliberately do the opposite), or try to come across in most socially acceptable way (i.e. social desirability bias), which can lead to giving untruthful responses.
60
Q

What are some strengths and weaknesses of snowball smapling?

A

S: Its quicker to find samples, cost effective
W:Sampling bias, lack of cooperation

61
Q

What are some strengths and weaknesses of opportunit smapling?

A

S:Quick, Easy, cheap
W: Biased, cannot be generlaised, reasearcher has control over selcetion.

62
Q

What are some advantages and disadvantages of random sampling?

A

A: Free from researcher bias, prevents from choosing people who may support their hypothesis.
D: Time consuming, may end up with an unrepresentative sample, some may refuse to take part

63
Q

What are some strengths and weaknesses of a self-selected sample?

A

S: Can reduce the amount of time looking for ps, individuals may be more willing and commited to the study
W: self-selection bias- may be more motivated than the genral pop etc. so may not be a representative sample.

64
Q

What type of distribution refers to a situation in which the majority of partcipants score highly on the measure on which they are assesseed?

A

negatively skewed

65
Q

When would it be best to use the median rather than the mean?

A

When there are a few scores much lower than the rest.

66
Q

In the study by Simons and Chabris investigating inattentional blindness, how was the dependent variable operationalised?

A

Detection of ‘gorilla’

67
Q

What type of data is displayed in a histogram?

A

continuous

68
Q

What is a coding frame?

A

a technique that enables qualitative data to be recorded as quantitative data

69
Q

What can be included in the appendices?

A

Any additional information such as raw data, statistical calculations, stimulus material and so on is placed here. Each appendix has a title and is referred to somewhere in the main body of the report.

70
Q

What is included in the method section of the practical report?

A

Experimental design (if appropriate)
Participants
Materials
Procedure
Results.

71
Q

In the cross-cultural study of helping behaviour by Levine, which type of correlation was found between the variables ‘purchasing power’ and ‘the overall level of help given?’

A

Significant negative correlation

72
Q

What is a type of logical reasoning used in science?

A

Induction

73
Q

In which type of distribution is the mean greater than both the median and the mode?

A

Negatively skewed.

74
Q

What is some criterion for the use of a parametric inferential statistical test?

A

 Data must be interval

 Data must be normally distributed. This means that before applying a parametric test to data a researcher has to plot the data to see if it is indeed normally distributed

75
Q

What is the symbol for ‘much greater than’

A

> >

76
Q

If a researcher checks to see if participants have answered questions that ask about the same thing in the same or similar way, what is this?

A

External reliability

77
Q

What is the symbol for ‘much less than’?

A

«

78
Q

Which of these is an ethical consideration when conducting psychological research: integration, integrity, intercourse and interrogation?

A

Integrity

79
Q

What would assess the internal reliability of a questionnaire used by a psychologist in their research?

A

Comparing responses to questions asking the same things.

80
Q

What describes the target population?

A

The people you want to study and apply the findings to.

81
Q

What does the alternative hypothesis in an experiment state?

A

There will be an effect of the IV on the DV

82
Q

What is the name given to the technique that allows verbal or visual information/ data t be converted into numerical data for the purpose of analysis?

A

Coding frame

83
Q

In which type of distribution is the mean, median and mode all the same score?

A

A normal distribution

84
Q

What type of distribution refers to a situation in which the majority of ps score highly on the measure on which they are assessed?

A

Negatively skewed

85
Q

What does the null hypothesis in an experiment state?

A

There will not be an effect of the IV on the DV

86
Q

What is the type of reasoning given to the type of reasoning where a theory is established first and then data obtained to test if it is true?

A

Deductive

Psychology Alevel OCR (39 decks)

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