Research Methods Flashcards
Define a lab experiment
An experiment conducted in a controlled environment such as a lab.
Define a field experiment
An experiment that is conducted in a setting that is similar to a real life setting.
Define IV
Independent variables are what the researcher manipulates in the study.
Define DV
Dependent variables are what the researcher is aiming to measure in the study.
Null Hypothesis
This is a hypothesis that predicts the IV will have no affect on the DV.
One-tailed Hypothesis
A concrete prediction ,you predict a change and what it will do.
Two-tailed Hypothesis
An unsure prediction, you predict a change but don’t predict what it’ll be.
Strengths of Lab experiments
- 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.
Limitations of Lab experiments
- 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.
Strengths of Field experiments
- 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.
Limitations of Field experiments
- 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)
Volunteer sampling
When participants choose to be in the study
Opportunity sampling
When researchers choose the first people they see in an environment to be in the study
Stratified sampling
When the target population is split into subgroups and participants are chosen in proportion to the subgroups
Random sampling
When all of the target population have the same chance of being selected
Define quantitative data
Numerical data
Define qualitative data
Non numerical data
Define a closed question
These questions have a predetermined set of answers
Define open questions
These questions don’t have fixed responses so ppts can answer however they want to
Define a likert scale
rating scale used to measure opinions attitudes or behaviours
Define a rating scale
instrument used to assign scores to people or items along some numerical dimensions
Define an identifying characteristics question
ppts are given a set of characteristics and asked to highlight those that they think apply to the question
Evaluate qualitative data
Strengths- high validity, conveys individual meaning
Weaknesses- subjective, hard to analyse large groups, low reliability
Evaluate quantitative data
Strengths- objective, reliable,easy to compare
Weaknesses- lacks validity
Evaluate questionnaires
Strengths- cheap,quick,easy to compare, reliable
Weaknesses- increased risk of social desirability, low response rates, low validity
Define Standard deviation
shows how far scores in a data set deviate from the mean
Define range
biggest data value-smallest data value
When to use standard deviation
to summarise continuous data, not categorical data
When to use range
when you have a distribution without extreme values
What is a measure of central tendency?
the value or figure that represents the whole series
What do we use measures of central tendency for?
-they give a description of the group as a whole
-to provide the basis for comparison between groups
How to calculate the mean
Sum of all values divided by the number of values in total
How to find the median
the value that occurs in the middle of the data set
how to find the mode
the value that occurs the most times in a data set
Evaluate the use of the mean
Strengths
-based on all values
-easy to understand
Weaknesses
-affected by extreme values
-can’t be graphically measured
Evaluate the use of mode
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
Evaluate the use of median
Strengths
-not effected by outliers
-located graphically
Weaknesses
-not based on all values
-not capable of further mathematical treatment
What must a graph include?
-title
-labelled axis
-correct data
What is a bar graph used for?
graphing mean,mode or median
What is a histogram used for?
graphing frequency and continuous data
What is a scatter plot used for?
correlational data
Thematic analysis AO1
•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
Thematic analysis AO3- strengths
•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
Thematic analysis AO3- weaknesses
•time consuming
•interpretation bias
•requires skill
•not scientific
What are the three types of interview?
Structured-set questions and no deviation
Semi-structured- set questions but allows for deviations
Unstructured- no set questions
