Research Methods Flashcards
What is an aim
A general statement of what the researcher invents to investigate the purpose of the study
What is an alternative hypothesis
States there will be a difference/relationship between the variable/co-variable to be investigated
What is a null hypothesis
States there will not be a difference/relationship between the variable/co-variable to be investigated
What is a directional hypothesis
States the predicted outcome of the difference/ relationship
What is nondirectional hypothesis
Dles not state the predicted outcome of the difference/ relationship
What are the 4 types of experiments
Lab, Field, Natural and Quasi
What is a lab experiment
Conducted in highly controlled environment where each variable can be carefully controlled. Researcher manipulates IV and records effect on DV
What is a field experiment
IV ais being manipulated in natural, more everyday setting
What is a natural experiment
Researcher takes advantage of a naturally occurring IV so they don’t manipulate it. It’s an observational study
What is a Quasi-experiment
Have an IV based on an existing difference between people. No manipulated variable
Which experimwnat are true experimenta
Field and lab
Strengths and limitations of Lab experiment
✔️
- high control over EV
-Can ensure any effect on DV is likely to be caused by manipulation of IV
-high internal validity
-ensures new EV not introduced
-replication are vital
❌️
-lack generalization
- low external validity
-rise to demand characteristics
- low mundane realism
-low mundane realism
- low ecological validity
Strengths and limitations of field experiment
✔️
- less artificial
-more natural
- higher mundane realism
- higher ecological validity
❌️
-loss of control
-ethical issues
Strengths and limitations of natural experiment
✔️
- IV can’t be manipulated for ethical or practical reasons
-increased mundane realism and ecological validity
❌️
- naturally occurring events may rarely happen,reducing research opportunities and generalizing findings to similar situations
-doesn’t demonstrate casual relationship as IV is not directly manipulated
- random allocation
Strengths and limitations of Quasi-experiment
✔️
-allows comparison between types of people
-carried under controlled conditions
❌️
-can’t randomly allocate participants to conditions
-participants may be aware of being studied
What is validity
The extent at which an observe effect is genuine
What is ecological validity
The extent to which findings from research can be generalised to other settings/situation
What is mundane realism
Task used to measure DV and how it effects us
What is Population validity
How well a sample used can be extrapolated to a population as a whole
What is face validity
Whether a test appears ‘on the face value’ to measure what it is supposed to measure
Concordance validity
Extent to which psychological measure relates to an existing measure
What scores correlation must there be for a score to be deemed valid
Positive 0.8
What is Temporal validity
Findings of a study or concepts of a particular theory hold true over time
How to improve validity of experimental research
Control groups
Standardized procedures
Demand characteristics
Double and single blind
How to improve validity of questionnaires
Anonymous
Lie scale
Covert observations
Reduce acquiescence bias
How to improve validity of observations
Behavioural categories
Interpretive validity
Triangulation
Single blind procedures
How to improve validity of qualitative methods
Interpretive validity
Triangulation
Inter-observer/rater reliability
The extent to which there is an agreement between 2 or more observers involved in observations of a behaviour
Reliability
The consistency of measurements
Test-retest reliability
Teh same test or interview is given to the same participants on 2 occasions to see if the same results are obtained
Define repeated measures design
When pps take part in all the conditions of the experiment
Define independant groups design
Pps are allocated diff groups where each group represents one Experimental condition (level of IV)
Define matched pairs
Pairs of pps.are groups in terms of variables relevant to the study. One member of each pair takes part in condition A and the other Condition B
Define Experimental design
Diff ways in which pps can be organised in relation to the conditions of the experiment
✔️❌️ Repeated measures
✔️
no pp varieables effecting DV
Quicker to collect pps
❌️
Order effects which can be fixed by counterbalancing
Demand characteristics could be fixed by double blind
✔️❌️ independent groups
✔️
No order effects
Less demand characteristics
❌️
Pp variables could be overcome by random allocation
✔️❌️ matched pairs
✔️
No order effects
Reduces pp variables
❌️
Time consuming
Still pp variables
Two types of demand characteristics
Screw u and please u effect
Randomisation definition
Use of chance order to control for the effects of bias when designing materials and deciding order of conditions
Counterbalancing
Half pps comples the conditions in one order, the other half in other order
Pp variables
Individual diff between pps that may affect DV
Order effect
An EV that arises from the sequence in which conditions are presented
Interobserver reliability
The extent to which there is an agreement between 2 or more researchers involved in observations of a behaviour
Reliability
The consistency of measurements
Test retest reliability
Same test or interview given to same pps on 2 occasions to see if same results are obtained
Internal reliability
Whether a test is consistently measuring what it should be
External reliability
Test method over time repeated in diff situations.
Improve reliability of interviews
Use same interviewer. Structured interviews.
Improve reliability of experiments
Precise replication of particular method. Standardisation
Improve reliability of questionnaires
Test retest method. Recieves positive 0.8 score
Improve reliability of observations
Behavioural characteristics have been operationalised
What is the split half method
See if 2 half produce same result. If they do this means high internal reliability. Only effective with large questionnaires to which all questions measure the same construct
What is random sampling
Produced by using a technique in which every member of the target population has a equal chance of being selected
Systematic sampling
Produced by selecting every nth person on a list of the target population
Define stratified sampling
Selecting participants in proportion to their frequency in the target population
Opportunity sampling
Selecting people who are willing and available to take part.
Evaluate random sampling
No research bias
Time and effort
May still end up being unrepresentative
Evaluate systematic sampling
No researcher bias
May still biased
Opportunity sampling evaluation
Convenient, not representative so cannot generalise researcher bias
Volunteer sampling evaluation
Minimal effort, volunteer bias
Define repeated measures design
When pps take part in all conditions of tge experiment
Strengths and weaknesses of repeated measures design
✔️
No pp variables affecting DV
Quicker to collect pp
❌️
Order effects(can be fixed by counterbalancing)
Demand characteristics could be fixed by double blind
Define independent groups design
Pps are allocated to diff groups where each group represents a different experimental condition
Strengths and weaknesses of independent groups design
✔️
No order effects
Less demand characteristics
❌️
Pp variables effect DV could be overcome with random allocation (stratified sampling)
Define matched pairs design
Pairs of pps are grouped in terms of variables relevant to the study. One member of each pair takes part in condition A, the other takes part in condition B
Strengths and weaknesses of Matched pairs design
✔️
No order effects
Reduces pp variables
❌️
Time consuming
They are diff people but treated as one (pp variable)
How to address informed consent
Pps must be issued a consent letter
Briefing pps
Under 16s parental consent
Presumptive and retrospective consent
How to address deception
Debrief at end
Feedback
ROW
Counseling provided
Share findings with them
Tell them how their data will be used
How to address protection against harm
Counseling
Feedback
How to address privacy/confidence
Anonymity
Use initials or numbers
During briefing and debriefing pps will be reminded that their data will be protected throught the process
What is a questionnaire
A set of qs used to assess a person’s thoughts and or experience
Strengths of questionnaires
Cost effective, quick
No researcher needed
Straightforward to analyse
Responses more likely honest
Limitations of questionnaires
Not truthful
Demand characteristics and social desirability bias(acquiescence bias)
Leading qs
Have to be returned for analysis
Open questions
Allows pps to ans how they want, collect dich and detailed insight into the human condition
Qualitative data
Closed questions
Restrict pps to predetermined responses, quantitative data, use liberty ranking scales or checklists
Structured interview definition
Pre set questions and asked in fixed order
Unstructured interview definition
General topic discussion and interviewees encouraged to expand and elaborate on answers
Strengths and weaknesses of structured interviews
✔️
Standardized, can be replicated
Format reduces differences between interviews
❌️
Low quality as u can’t deviate form qs
Strengths and weaknesses of unstructured interviews
✔️
More flexible, Cana sk follow up questions
Use open qs to collect qualtitative data
High validity of data
❌️
Data analysis is difficult
Interviewees may lie
Expensive
Definition of semi structured interview
Pre set qs but interviewers can ask follow up qs as they see fit
Definition of self report techniques
Any method in which a person is asked or explin their feelings, behaviours or experiences related to a given topic
