Research Methods Flashcards
What is the IV?
The variable that is manipulated by the researcher to measure any change in the dependent variable
What is the DV?
The variable that is measured and that changes in response to the manipulation of the independent variable
Outline a laboratory experimental technique
- a well-controlled environment (artificial)
- only variable that changes is the IV.
- Extraneous variables eliminated, so only variable that influences DV is IV.
Outline a field experimental technique
- everyday environment of participants (natural)
- experimenter still manipulates IV, but in real-life setting.
Outline the Natural experimental technique
- enable researcher to investigate effects of events difficult to manipulate e.g. children’s experience of war.
- naturally occurring event
- artificial and natural environment
Outline quasi experimental technique
- naturally occurring individual differences btw participants
- e.g gender, IQ , existence of a mental disorder etc
- artificial and natural environment
What are the strengths and limitations of Lab experiments
Strengths:
- high internal validity (as results are trustworthy and not affected by extraneous variables)
- high replicability
Limitations:
- lacks ecological validity
What are the strengths and limitations of Field experiments
Strengths:
- ecological valitdity
- eliminates demand characteristics
Limitations:
- internal validity ocmpromised
- difficult to replicate
What are the strengths and limitations of natural experiments
Strengths:
- ecological validity
- Eliminated demand characteristics
- can investigate otherwise unethical phenomena e.g war
Limitations:
- internal validity compromised
- cannot replicate
What are the strengths and limitations of Quasi experiments
Strengths:
- high ecological validity
- allows to investigate IV they cannot manipulate
What is overt observation
Disclosed (participant knows they are being studied)
What is covert observation
Undisclosed (participant does not know as researcher acts as member of the group)
What is naturalistic observation
- can be a pilot study (trial run)
- indent iffy range of behaviours (which can be used as the focus of later research)
- researcher watching subjects in normal environment
- (can be I laboratory if behaviour observed not being manipulated in any way)
What is controlled observation
- (structured)
- likely laboratory
- researcher decides where observation will take place, what time, which participants, what circumstances, standardised procedure
- behaviour schedule (code of prev agreed scale) - systematic - easily counted and turned into statistics
What is a participant and non-participant observation
- type of naturalistic observation
- researcher joins in - deeper insight - covert (false identity), overt (reveals identity and asks permission to observe) (P)
- observes but not as member of group (N-P)
What is self-report
‘Investigative strategies that require the participant to answer questions’
Outline questionnaire self-report techniques
Open:
- qualitative, depth
- BUT: time consuming to collect, difficult to analyse numerically
Closed:
- quantitative, easy to analyse
- BUT: No depth of data
Strengths:
- Large no. of respondents at same time
- not labour intensive (researcher does not have to be present)
- respondent can be more honest, no fear of being judged
Limitations:
- not present - difficult to tell truthful, if doesnt understand question may miss it out or write irrelevant answer
- participants dropping out
Outline interview self-report techniques
- face to face qualitative and quantitative
- carefully planned and piloted - relevant to area of study
- sensitive issues (might not wish to divulge)
- lots of info and make sure understand as can ask questions and clarify
Structured:
- focus questions on topic
:) exact same experience so analysed easily
:( no extra info may be collected
Unstructured:
- wide range of topics, issues not prev considered
:) ‘interesting’ answers can be followed up
:( lack of structure - no valid info
Semi-structured:
- combo of ^
:) ‘interesting’ answers can be followed up, exact same experience so analysed easily
Strengths:
- FTF - seek clarification, see from body lang if truthful, interesting answers followed up
Limitations:
- FTF - embarrassing or personal - not truthful/judged
- time-consuming, expensive
- demand characteristics
What are ethical issues of interviews and how can we limit
- Embarrassment - difficult to withdraw - psych harm = monitor emotional and psych state, offer right to withdraw, full debrief, (counselling if necessary)
- contact w interviewer - confidentiality limited = not acknowledge respondent outside of interview env and dont reveal to member of public
- not always sensitive to reactions + forget to remind right to withdraw = monitor emotional and psych state, offer right to withdraw
What is an aim
- A general statement of researchers intentions
- link btw background theory, research and study that is subject of the report
- PRESENT TENSE
(E.g aim of this investigation is to investigate…. Using….)
What is a hypothesis
Prediction of what the researcher wants to find specific to the investigation tat is subject of the report
- has to be fully operationalised
- IV and DV must be expressed
- FUTURE TENSE (e.g there will be a difference between males and females in the time taken (in minutes) to complete a puzzle)
What is a Null Hypothesis
- no effect of IV on DV and any effect is due to chance
- standard again which any effect can be measured (whole point of research is to reject Null)
- e.g There will be no difference between males and females in the time taken (in minutes) to complete a puzzle (H0)
- ALWAYS NON-DIRECTIONAL (two tailed)
What is Alternative/alternate hypothesis
- effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable (or, correlation between the two variables)
- e.g There will be a difference between males and females in the time taken (in minutes) to complete a puzzle (HA)
- CAN BE DIRECTIONAL OR NON-DIRECTIONAL (one or two-tailed)