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psychology > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

1
Q

What are research methods?

A

Techniques used to collect data

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2
Q

What is covert observation?

A

The subject doesn’t know that you are observing

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3
Q

What is an aim?

A

A statement of what the researchers intend to find out
Researchers should state their aim beforehand so its clear what the study intends to investigate

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4
Q

What is an experiment?

A

An experiment involves the manipulation of an independent variable to see the changes in the dependent variable

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5
Q

What is a variable?

A

A thing that can vary or change
IV- manipulate
DV- measure

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6
Q

What is a control condition?

A

A baseline level of behaviour without manipulation of IV

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7
Q

What is an experimental condition?

A

Manipulation of IV

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8
Q

What is a directional hypothesis?

A

Predicting the direction of results (one-tailed)
Difference between two conditions

  • more likely to….than…
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9
Q

What is a correlation?

A

Stating a relationship between two ‘things’

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10
Q

What is a non-directional hypothesis?

A

Does not predict direction (two-tailed)
No previous research to help predict
Can predict significant difference

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11
Q

What is a non- directional correlation?

A

There will be a relationship but unknown whether positive or negative

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12
Q

What is a null hypothesis?

A

Will not be found
Not going to be a difference or relationship

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13
Q

What is experimental design?

A

the different ways in which the testing of participants can be organised in relation to the
experimental conditions

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14
Q

What is independent group design?

A

participants are allocated to different groups where each group represents one
experimental condition

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15
Q

What is repeated measures design?

A

All participants take part in all conditions of the experiment

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16
Q

What is matched pairs design?

A

Pairs of participants are first matched on some variable(s) that may affect the DV. Then
one member of the pair is assigned to Condition A and the other to Condition B

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17
Q

What is random allocation?

A

An attempt to control for participant variables in an independent groups design which ensure that each participant has the same chance of being in one condition as any other

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18
Q

What is order effects?

A

A confounding variable that occurs in repeated measures designs, arising from the order
in which conditions are presented e.g. practice effect or boredom effect

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19
Q

What is counterbalancing?

A

An attempt to control for the effects of order effects in a repeated measures design: half
of the participants experience the conditions in one order (A then B) and the other half in
the opposite order (B then A).

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20
Q

What are the 3 experimental designs?

A
  1. Independent groups design
  2. Repeated groups design
  3. Matched pairs design
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21
Q

What are extraneous variables?

A

Variable other than IV and may effect DV if not controlled
Does not vary systematically with IV- effect is random

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22
Q

What are confounding variables?

A

Varies systematically with IV- cannot be sure of true source of change to the DV
Systematic- in fixed system

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23
Q

What are demand characteristics?

A

Participants can deliberately change behaviour within research situations
Cue from researchers or from the research situation may be interpreted by particpants

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24
Q

What are investigator effects?

A

Effect of investigators behaviour on DV
May include from the design of the study, to the selection and interactions with participants during research

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25
Q

What is randomisation?

A

Use of chance to control the effects of bias- reduce extraneous variables
Randomly allocated to different conditions

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26
Q

What is standardisation?

A

Exactly the same formalised procedure and instructions for all participants
Reduces randomisation

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27
Q

What is a single blind procedure?

A

Do not know condition of experiment
Reduces demand characteristics

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28
Q

What is a double blind trial?

A

Investigator and participant do not know
Reduces demand characteristics and investigator effects

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29
Q

What is a laboratory experiment?

A

. An experiment that takes place in a controlled environment
. The researcher manipulates IV and records effects of DV
. Maintain strict control of extraneous variables

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30
Q

What is a field experiment?

A

. An experiment that takes place in a natural setting within which the researcher manipulates IV and records effects on DV

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31
Q

What is a natural experiment?

A

. An experiment where the change in the IV is not brought about by the researcher but would have happened even if the researcher had not been there
Records effects on DV

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32
Q

What is a quasi experiment?

A

. A study that is almost an experiment, but the IV has not been determined by anyone
. The variables simply exist
. E.g old or young

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33
Q

What is ecological validity?

A

. High ecological validity indicates that the findings of the research can be generalised and applied to real-life scenarios
. Real-life situations researched would experience same things as people in the study
. Less validity - cannot be generalised to real life

34
Q

What is the order of control over IV?

A

lab
field
natural

35
Q

What is the order of ecological validity?

A

natural
field
lab

36
Q

What is random sampling?

A

Each member of a population has an equal chance of being selected
. Lottery method

37
Q

What is systematic sampling?

A

When every nth member of a target population is selected from a sampling frame
. Nomination based on number required

38
Q

What is stratified sampling?

A

The composition of the sample reflects the proportions of people in certain sub-groups (strata) in the target population
. Representative

39
Q

What is opportunity sampling?

A

Selecting anyone who happens to be willing to take part

40
Q

What is volunteer sampling?

A

An advert is produced and individuals self-select themselves to take part

41
Q

What are the 5 ethical issues?

A

Informed Consent
Right to withdraw
Confidentiality
Deception
Protection from harm

42
Q

What is informed Consent?

A

Given comprehensive information of nature and purpose of the research and role in it in order to make an informed decision to take part in the study

43
Q

What is the right to withdraw?

A

Withdraw from participating I’d they are uncomfortable in any way and also can refuse for their data to be used

44
Q

What is confidentiality?

A

Participants right to have personal information protected

45
Q

What is protection from harm?

A

Should not experience any physical or psychological harm

46
Q

What is Deception?

A

Deliberately misleading or withhold information at any stage of study

47
Q

What are participants made aware of during the debrief?

A

Aims of investigation
Any details not supplied during study

48
Q

What is presumptive consent?

A

Rather than getting consent from the particpants themselves, a similar group of people are asked whether the study is acceptable, if this group agree, the consent of original participants is presumed

49
Q

What is prior general consent?

A

Participants give their permission to take part in a number of different studies- including one that will involve Deception, by consenting, participants are effectively consenting to being decieved

50
Q

What is retrospective consenting?

A

Participants are asked for their consent during debriefing having already taken part in the study, they may or may not have been aware of their participation or they may have been decieved

51
Q

What are observations?

A

. Non-experimental method meaning they cannot establish cause and effect relationships
. Allows psychologists to study observable behaviour
. No iv

52
Q

What are naturalistic observations?

A

Watching and recording behaviours in the settings where it would usually occur

53
Q

What are controlled observations?

A

Watching and recording behaviour in a structured environment
Some variables are managed

54
Q

What are covert observations?

A

Participants behaviour is watched and observed without their knowledge or consent

55
Q

What are overt observations?

A

Participants behaviour is watched and observed with their knowledge and consent

56
Q

What are participant observations?

A

The researcher becomes a member of the group whose behaviour they are watching or recording

57
Q

What are non-participant observations?

A

The researcher remains outside the group whose behaviour they are watching or observing

58
Q

Explain the internal validity of naturalistic observations

A

Low as they cannot determine the behaviour or influence in any way due to extraneous variables

59
Q

Explain the external validity of naturalistic observations

A

High as they can often be generalised to everyday life

60
Q

Explain the reliability of naturalistic observations

A

Difficult due to lack of control over research observations

61
Q

Explain the demand characteristics of naturalistic observations

A

No as it is an environment that they are used to

62
Q

Explain the internal validity of controlled observations

A

High as they can manipulate behaviour in the ‘lab’ setting as extraneous variables are less of a factor

63
Q

Explain the external validity of controlled observations

A

Low as it cannot be generalised to everyday life

64
Q

Explain the reliability of controlled observations

A

Extraneous variables are less of a factor and so replication is made easier

65
Q

Explain the demand characteristics of controlled observations

A

Yes as it is in a ‘lab’ setting and they would be aware of the unusual surroundings

66
Q

Explain the internal validity of covert observations

A

High as the participants do not know that they are being observed

67
Q

Explain the ethical issues of covert observations

A

High because they do not have the consent of the people that they are observing

68
Q

Explain the demand characteristics of covert observations

A

Low because they do not know that they are being observed

69
Q

Explain the internal validity of overt observations

A

Low as the participants may change behaviours if they know that they are being observed

70
Q

Explain the ethical issues of overt observations

A

Low because the participants know that they are observed and have a choice to take part

71
Q

Explain the demand characteristics of overt observations

A

High because they know that they are being observed and could piece it together

72
Q

Explain the internal validity of participant observations

A

High as they can get increased insight into the lives of the people that they are studying

73
Q

Explain the objectivity of participant observations

A

They could be influenced by the people they are observing as they have became a member of that group

74
Q

Explain the internal validity of non-participant observations

A

Lower as they are not physically within the group to get detailed information and may feel removed from the group

75
Q

Explain the objectivity of non-participant observations

A

They may be more opinion-free and not influenced as they are not physically in the group and are observing from a further distance

76
Q

What is an abstract

A

Key details of report
Short summary of 150-200 words

77
Q

What is an introduction

A

Past research
Funnel- broad to begin with and gets narrower
Details theories and concepts
Very specific aims and hypothesis

78
Q

What is a method

A

Split into several sub-sections so study can easily be replicated
Design, research methods usef, type of research, why
Sample- people involved in study, biological/ demographic information and target population
Any materials provided
Step by step from beginning to end
What and how ethics are addressed

79
Q

What are results

A

Key findings
Graphs, tables and charts
Reference to choice of stats test
Qualitative or quantitative data

80
Q

What is discussion

A

Results in verbal and not statistical
Mindful of limitations due to past investigations
Wider implications of data are considered

81
Q

What is referencing

A

All data in full
Journal articles, books, websites
Prevents plagarising

82
Q

What is the order in referencing

A

Surname
Letter of first name
Year
Title
Location
Publisher

psychology (8 decks)

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