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AS Level Psychology > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

What is an experiment?

A

An investigation that allows researchers to look for a casual relationship; an independent variable is manipulated and is expected to be responsible for changes in the dependent variable.

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2
Q

What is an independent variable? (IV)

A

The factor under investigation in an experiment that is manipulated to create two or more conditions (levels) and is expected to be responsible for the changes in the DV.

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3
Q

What is an experimental condition?

A

One or more of the situations in an experiment that represent different levels of the IV and are compared to the control condition.

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4
Q

What is a control condition?

A

A level of the IV in an experiment from which the IV itself is absent. Its compared to one or more experimental conditions.

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5
Q

What is an dependent variable? (DV)

A

The factor in an experiment that is measured and is expected to change under the influence of the IV.

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6
Q

Name 4 key features of an experiment.

A
  • Experiments investigate cause & effect relationship between IV & DV.
  • IV is manipulated and it always has at least two levels which are compared.
  • DV is always measured and is influenced/caused by IV.
  • Procedure is usually standardized.
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7
Q

What is experimental design?

A

The way in which participants are allocated to levels of the IV.

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8
Q

Name the three types of experimental design.

A
  • Independent measures design
  • Repeated measures design
  • Matched pairs design
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9
Q

What is independent measures design?

A

Experimental design in which a different group of participants is used for each level of the IV (condition)

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10
Q

What is repeated measures design?

A

Experimental design in which each participant performs in every level of the IV.

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11
Q

What is matched pairs design?

A

Experimental design in which participants are arranged into pairs. Each pair has the same characteristics in ways that are important to the study and one member of each pair performs in a different level of the IV. Controls for participant variables.

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12
Q

List strengths and weaknesses of independent measures design

A

Strengths:
- No order effect
- Less likely to show demand characteristics

Weaknesses:
- Participant variables present
- More participants required

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13
Q

List strengths and weaknesses of repeated measures design

A

Strengths:
- Participant variables absent
- Less participants required

Weaknesses:
- More likely to show demand characteristics
- Order effect present

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14
Q

List strengths and weaknesses of matched pairs design

A

Strengths:
- Participant variables absent
- Less likely to show demand characteristics

Weaknesses:
- More participants required
- Very difficult practically to locate pairs

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15
Q

What is a control?

A

Action taken by the researcher to try and ensure that the IV causes the DV rather than some uncontrolled variable by keeping the factor that could affect the DV constant across different levels of the IV.

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16
Q

What is an uncontrolled variable?

A

A variable that either acts randomly affecting the DV across all levels of the IV, or systematically affects the DV in only one level of the IV. Therefore results are less valid as not only the IV causes the DV.

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17
Q

What is a confounding variable?

A

A variable that acts systematically on one level of the IV so the results are less valid as not only the IV causes the DV.

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18
Q

What is a situational variable?

A

Any aspect of the situation which could influence the participants’ behaviour and outcome of the study (DV). Stems from the environmental aspects where the study is conducted.

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19
Q

Name 4 examples of situational variables

A
  • Noise
  • Light
  • Temperature
  • Time of day
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20
Q

What is a participant variable?

A

Characteristics of individual participants which might influence the outcome of the study (DV). Stems from ways in which participants may differ from each other.

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21
Q

Name 7 examples of participant variables

A
  • Age
  • Gender
  • IQ
  • Tiredness
  • Reading ability/dyslexia
  • Previous experience
  • Previous knowledge
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22
Q

What is order effect?

A

Participants performing in a repeated measures design do better or worse in the second level of the IV because of the order in which the conditions are done.

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23
Q

What is practice effect?

A

Participants perform better in the second level of the IV as they have gained experience from the previous level of the IV.

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24
Q

What is fatigue effect?

A

Participants perform worse in the second level of the IV as they feel tired/bored from the previous level of the IV.

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25
Q

What are demand characteristics?

A

an uncontrolled variable where participants form an interpretation of the experiment’s purpose and subconsciously change their behavior to fit that interpretation.

26
Q

What are random allocations to conditions?

A

To divide the participants to the levels of the IV by chance, i.e. tossing a coin, giving them a 50/50 chance of doing condition 1 or condition 2 first. Then you assume the same number of males/females etc. in each group. Controls for participant variables.

27
Q

What is a standardized procedure?

A

Each participant goes through exactly the same steps of the procedure during the experiment. Controls for situational variables.

28
Q

What are standardized instructions?

A

Each participant receives the same instructions and no hints can be given. Controls for situational variables.

29
Q

Why are standardized procedures useful?

A

Enable researchers to replicate a study and check if the results are reliable. If the results are similar, they are reliable.

30
Q

What is reliability?

A

Reliability is a measure of whether something stays the same, i.e. is consistent

31
Q

What is counterbalancing?

A

Controls for order effect and it means that each condition is tested first or second in equal amounts.

32
Q

What is randomisation?

A

Controls for order effect and it means that participants are randomly allocated to do either condition A followed by B or vice versa.

33
Q

What is deception?

A

Controls for demand characteristics and it means that the participants are lied to about the true aim of the study.

34
Q

What is single blind?

A

Controls for demand characteristics and it means that the participants are not aware in which level of the IV they are in.

35
Q

What is a lab experiment?

A

Research method in which there is an IV, a DV and strict controls. It looks for a casual relationship and is conducted in a setting that is not in the usual environment for the participants with regard to the behavior that they are performing.

36
Q

What is a field experiment?

A

Investigation looking for a casual relationship in which an IV is manipulated and is expected to be responsible for the DV. It is conducted in a usual environment for the participants with regard to the changes in behavior being investigated and some control of variables is possible.

37
Q

What is internal validity?

A

Extent to which only IV causes the DV, uncontrolled variables are controlled making the results valid.

38
Q

What is validity of experiments?

A

Extent to which the researcher is testing what they claim to be testing

39
Q

What is external validity?

A

The extent to which the findings are generalisable to real life and to the target population

40
Q

3 Strengths of Lab experiments

A
  • good control of variables: internal validity
  • understand causal relationship between IV and DV
    -Standardized procedure allows replication so reliability of results can be checked.
41
Q

2 Strengths field experiment

A
  • High ecological validity
  • No demand characteristics
42
Q

2 Weaknesses lab experiment

A
  • Presence of demand characteristics
  • Low ecological validity
43
Q

3 Weaknesses field experiment

A
  • Control of variables is harder
  • Participants may be unaware they are in a study: ethical issues
  • Breaking informed consent ethical guideline
44
Q

What is generalisability?

A

Extent to which we can apply the findings of our research to the target population we are interested in.

45
Q

What is ecological validity?

A

Extent to which the findings of research conducted in one situation would generalise to other situations. E.g. lab. represents the real world effectively and whether the task is relevant to real life (has mundane realism)

46
Q

What is an aim?

A

A general statement describing the purpose of the study: its always written to “investigate”

47
Q

What is a hypothesis?

A

A testable statement based on the aims of an investigation.

48
Q

What is an alternative hypothesis?

A

A testable statement predicting the outcome of the study. Predicts a difference between the levels of IV and DV

49
Q

Who are participants?

A

People who take part in the investigation

50
Q

What is a sample?

A

A group of people who take part in an experiment

51
Q

What is a population?

A

A group sharing one or more characteristics. For example, student population

52
Q

What is the target population?

A

Group of individuals the researcher is interested in studying

53
Q

What are sampling techniques?

A

Methods used to select participants for a study from the target population. Three types: random, self-selected, and opportunity sampling technique.

54
Q

What is a representative sample?

A

The selected participants are typical of the target population. They have similar characteristics to the target population.

55
Q

1 Strength of opportunity sampling

A

Easy and quick

56
Q

2 Strengths of self-selected volunteer sampling

A
  • more committed to finishing procedure
  • target large number of participants
57
Q

1 strength of random sampling

A

No bias

58
Q

1 Weakness of opportunity sampling

A
  • May not be representative of the target population. Researcher may select similar people
59
Q

2 Weaknesses of self-selected volunteer sampling

A
  • Might show demand characteristics
  • May be more motivated than rest of population
60
Q

1 Weakness of Random sampling

A

Practically difficult

AS Level Psychology (2 decks)

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