Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

Define a lab experiment

A

An experiment conducted in a controlled environment such as a lab.

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2
Q

Define a field experiment

A

An experiment that is conducted in a setting that is similar to a real life setting.

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3
Q

Define IV

A

Independent variables are what the researcher manipulates in the study.

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4
Q

Define DV

A

Dependent variables are what the researcher is aiming to measure in the study.

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5
Q

Null Hypothesis

A

This is a hypothesis that predicts the IV will have no affect on the DV.

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6
Q

One-tailed Hypothesis

A

A concrete prediction ,you predict a change and what it will do.

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7
Q

Two-tailed Hypothesis

A

An unsure prediction, you predict a change but don’t predict what it’ll be.

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8
Q

Strengths of Lab experiments

A
  • It is standardised and therefore easy to replicate - reliable.
  • They allow for precise control of extraneous and independent variables. This allows a cause-and-effect relationship to be established.
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9
Q

Limitations of Lab experiments

A
  • The artificiality of the setting may produce unnatural behaviour that does not reflect real life- low ecological validity. This means it would not be possible to generalize the findings to a real-life setting.
  • Demand characteristics or experimenter effects may bias the results and become confounding variables.
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10
Q

Strengths of Field experiments

A
  • Behaviour in a field experiment is more likely to reflect real life because of its natural setting- higher ecological validity than a lab experiment.
  • There is less likelihood of demand characteristics affecting the results, as participants may not know they are being studied. This occurs when the study is covert.
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11
Q

Limitations of Field experiments

A
  • There is less control over extraneous variables that might bias the results. This makes it difficult for another researcher to replicate the study in exactly the same way. (low reliability)
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12
Q

Volunteer sampling

A

When participants choose to be in the study

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13
Q

Opportunity sampling

A

When researchers choose the first people they see in an environment to be in the study

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14
Q

Stratified sampling

A

When the target population is split into subgroups and participants are chosen in proportion to the subgroups

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15
Q

Random sampling

A

When all of the target population have the same chance of being selected

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16
Q

Define quantitative data

A

Numerical data

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17
Q

Define qualitative data

A

Non numerical data

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18
Q

Define a closed question

A

These questions have a predetermined set of answers

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19
Q

Define open questions

A

These questions don’t have fixed responses so ppts can answer however they want to

20
Q

Define a likert scale

A

rating scale used to measure opinions attitudes or behaviours

21
Q

Define a rating scale

A

instrument used to assign scores to people or items along some numerical dimensions

22
Q

Define an identifying characteristics question

A

ppts are given a set of characteristics and asked to highlight those that they think apply to the question

23
Q

Evaluate qualitative data

A

Strengths- high validity, conveys individual meaning
Weaknesses- subjective, hard to analyse large groups, low reliability

24
Q

Evaluate quantitative data

A

Strengths- objective, reliable,easy to compare
Weaknesses- lacks validity

25
Q

Evaluate questionnaires

A

Strengths- cheap,quick,easy to compare, reliable
Weaknesses- increased risk of social desirability, low response rates, low validity

26
Q

Define Standard deviation

A

shows how far scores in a data set deviate from the mean

27
Q

Define range

A

biggest data value-smallest data value

28
Q

When to use standard deviation

A

to summarise continuous data, not categorical data

29
Q

When to use range

A

when you have a distribution without extreme values

30
Q

What is a measure of central tendency?

A

the value or figure that represents the whole series

31
Q

What do we use measures of central tendency for?

A

-they give a description of the group as a whole
-to provide the basis for comparison between groups

32
Q

How to calculate the mean

A

Sum of all values divided by the number of values in total

33
Q

How to find the median

A

the value that occurs in the middle of the data set

34
Q

how to find the mode

A

the value that occurs the most times in a data set

35
Q

Evaluate the use of the mean

A

Strengths
-based on all values
-easy to understand
Weaknesses
-affected by extreme values
-can’t be graphically measured

36
Q

Evaluate the use of mode

A

Strengths
-not affected by extreme value
-can be determined graphically
-shows an important part of the series
Weaknesses
-not based on all results
-can’t be further mathematically manipulated

37
Q

Evaluate the use of median

A

Strengths
-not effected by outliers
-located graphically
Weaknesses
-not based on all values
-not capable of further mathematical treatment

38
Q

What must a graph include?

A

-title
-labelled axis
-correct data

39
Q

What is a bar graph used for?

A

graphing mean,mode or median

40
Q

What is a histogram used for?

A

graphing frequency and continuous data

41
Q

What is a scatter plot used for?

A

correlational data

42
Q

Thematic analysis AO1

A

•analyses qualitative data
•identifies patterns in data
•Steps -familiarise with data
-code the data(note key points)
-see if the codes can be grouped into themes
-review the themes

43
Q

Thematic analysis AO3- strengths

A

•allows for in depth analysis
•encourages the derivation of themes
•reduces large amounts of data to manageable summaries
•gathers large samples
•multiple researchers can code at the same time

44
Q

Thematic analysis AO3- weaknesses

A

•time consuming
•interpretation bias
•requires skill
•not scientific

45
Q

What are the three types of interview?

A

Structured-set questions and no deviation
Semi-structured- set questions but allows for deviations
Unstructured- no set questions