Research Methods

Question 1

What is the matched pairs experimental design?

Answer 1

Where different participants go through each condition. The participants are matched up based on certain characteristics, they are then randomly assigned to one condition each

Question 2

What is a strength of matched pairs?

Answer 2

There are less likely to be demand characteristics as the participants are only taking part in one condition so they aren’t likely to guess the purpose of the study.

Question 3

What is a limitation of matched pairs?

Answer 3

It is time-consuming and difficult to match the participants.

Question 4

How do you calculate the mean?

Answer 4

Add up all of the values then divide thy by how many values there are

Question 5

How do you calculate the median?

Answer 5

Place the values in ascending order and then find the middle value

Question 6

What is the mode?

Answer 6

The most common value in a set of numbers

Question 7

What is standard deviation?

Answer 7

A digit that says how far values deviate from the mean value

Question 8

What does a high standard deviation say?

Answer 8

Not all participants reacted the same way to the IV

Question 9

What does a low standard deviation say?

Answer 9

It implies that all participants reacted fairly similarly

Question 10

What is qualitative data?

Answer 10

Data that is expressed in words rather than numbers

Question 11

What is a strength of qualitative data?

Answer 11

Offers more detail so has more external validity

Question 12

What is a limitation of qualitative data?

Answer 12

It is more difficult to analyse
- Conclusions rely on subjective interpretations from researcher which may be subject to researcher bias

Question 13

What is a Laboratory experiment?

Answer 13

An experiment conducted in highly controlled environments.

Question 14

What is a strength of a laboratory experiment?

Answer 14

Due to the high levels of control replication is easier as there are no confounding or extraneous variables

Question 15

What is a limitation of laboratory experiments?

Answer 15

Demand characteristics
- In a lab environment, participants are aware they are being tested

Question 16

What is a field experiment?

Answer 16

Where the IV is manipulated in a natural setting.

Question 17

What is a strength of field experiments?

Answer 17

High external validity
- Participants are unaware they are being studied so they produce authentic behaviour

Question 18

What is a limitation of field experiments?

Answer 18

Ethical Issues
- Participants can’t consent if they don’t know they’re being studied and this may be an invasion of privacy

Question 19

What is a natural experiment?

Answer 19

Like a lab or field experiment but the researcher has no control over the IV

Question 20

What is a strength of natural experiments?

Answer 20

High external validity
- Involves the study of real-world as it happens

Question 21

What is a limitation of natural experiments?

Answer 21

A naturally occurring event may only happen very rarely. This may limit the scope for generalising finding to other similar situations.

Question 22

What is a quasi experiment?

Answer 22

An experiment that has an IV that is based on an existing difference between people (e.g. age, gender)

Question 23

What is a strength of quasi-experiments?

Answer 23

Similar strengths to lab experiments (repeatability) as carried out in controlled conditions

Question 24

What is a limitation of quasi-experiments?

Answer 24

IV is not deliberately changed so we can’t claim that the IV caused any observed changes.

Question 25

What is randomisation?

Answer 25

The use of chance methods when designing materials and deciding the order of experimental conditions

Question 26

What is standardisation?

Answer 26

The use of exactly the same procedures and instructions for all participants in a research study

Question 27

What is operationalisation?

Answer 27

Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured

Question 28

Ethics

Question 29

What is informed consent?

Answer 29

Making the participants aware of the aims of the research, the procedures, their rights (including the right to withdraw), and also what their data will be used for

Question 30

How do you deal with informed consent?

Answer 30

Participant should be issued with a consent form detailing all information that might affect the decision to participate

Question 31

What is deception?

Answer 31

The deliberate, misleading or withholding of information from participants at any stage of the investigation

Question 32

How is deception dealt with?

Answer 32

At the end of the study, participants should be given a full debrief where they will be made aware of the aims of the investigation and any details that were withheld during the study

Question 33

What is protection from harm?

Answer 33

What is that shouldn’t be place there any more risk of being in the daily lives and should be protected from physical and psychological harm

Question 34

How is protection from harm dealt with?

Answer 34

If a participant was subject to stress embarrassment, they may require counselling, which should be provided by the researcher

Question 35

What is privacy and confidentiality?

Answer 35

Participants have the right to control information about themselves. This is the right of privacy.

Confidentiality refers to our right to have any personal data protected

Question 36

How is confidentiality dealt with?

Answer 36

If participant details are held, it must be protected however it’s more usual to record no personal details and researchers will usually refer to participants using numbers or initials when writing up the investigation