Research Methods Flashcards
What are research methods?
Techniques used to collect data
What is covert observation?
The subject doesn’t know that you are observing
What is an aim?
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
What is an experiment?
An experiment involves the manipulation of an independent variable to see the changes in the dependent variable
What is a variable?
A thing that can vary or change
IV- manipulate
DV- measure
What is a control condition?
A baseline level of behaviour without manipulation of IV
What is an experimental condition?
Manipulation of IV
What is a directional hypothesis?
Predicting the direction of results (one-tailed)
Difference between two conditions
- more likely to….than…
What is a correlation?
Stating a relationship between two ‘things’
What is a non-directional hypothesis?
Does not predict direction (two-tailed)
No previous research to help predict
Can predict significant difference
What is a non- directional correlation?
There will be a relationship but unknown whether positive or negative
What is a null hypothesis?
Will not be found
Not going to be a difference or relationship
What is experimental design?
the different ways in which the testing of participants can be organised in relation to the
experimental conditions
What is independent group design?
participants are allocated to different groups where each group represents one
experimental condition
What is repeated measures design?
All participants take part in all conditions of the experiment
What is matched pairs design?
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
What is random allocation?
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
What is order effects?
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
What is counterbalancing?
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).
What are the 3 experimental designs?
- Independent groups design
- Repeated groups design
- Matched pairs design
What are extraneous variables?
Variable other than IV and may effect DV if not controlled
Does not vary systematically with IV- effect is random
What are confounding variables?
Varies systematically with IV- cannot be sure of true source of change to the DV
Systematic- in fixed system
What are demand characteristics?
Participants can deliberately change behaviour within research situations
Cue from researchers or from the research situation may be interpreted by particpants
What are investigator effects?
Effect of investigators behaviour on DV
May include from the design of the study, to the selection and interactions with participants during research
What is randomisation?
Use of chance to control the effects of bias- reduce extraneous variables
Randomly allocated to different conditions
What is standardisation?
Exactly the same formalised procedure and instructions for all participants
Reduces randomisation
What is a single blind procedure?
Do not know condition of experiment
Reduces demand characteristics
What is a double blind trial?
Investigator and participant do not know
Reduces demand characteristics and investigator effects
What is a laboratory experiment?
. An experiment that takes place in a controlled environment
. The researcher manipulates IV and records effects of DV
. Maintain strict control of extraneous variables
What is a field experiment?
. An experiment that takes place in a natural setting within which the researcher manipulates IV and records effects on DV
What is a natural experiment?
. 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
What is a quasi experiment?
. 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
What is ecological validity?
. 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
What is the order of control over IV?
lab
field
natural
What is the order of ecological validity?
natural
field
lab
What is random sampling?
Each member of a population has an equal chance of being selected
. Lottery method
What is systematic sampling?
When every nth member of a target population is selected from a sampling frame
. Nomination based on number required
What is stratified sampling?
The composition of the sample reflects the proportions of people in certain sub-groups (strata) in the target population
. Representative
What is opportunity sampling?
Selecting anyone who happens to be willing to take part
What is volunteer sampling?
An advert is produced and individuals self-select themselves to take part
What are the 5 ethical issues?
Informed Consent
Right to withdraw
Confidentiality
Deception
Protection from harm
What is informed Consent?
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
What is the right to withdraw?
Withdraw from participating I’d they are uncomfortable in any way and also can refuse for their data to be used
What is confidentiality?
Participants right to have personal information protected
What is protection from harm?
Should not experience any physical or psychological harm
What is Deception?
Deliberately misleading or withhold information at any stage of study
What are participants made aware of during the debrief?
Aims of investigation
Any details not supplied during study
What is presumptive consent?
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
What is prior general consent?
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
What is retrospective consenting?
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
What are observations?
. Non-experimental method meaning they cannot establish cause and effect relationships
. Allows psychologists to study observable behaviour
. No iv
What are naturalistic observations?
Watching and recording behaviours in the settings where it would usually occur
What are controlled observations?
Watching and recording behaviour in a structured environment
Some variables are managed
What are covert observations?
Participants behaviour is watched and observed without their knowledge or consent
What are overt observations?
Participants behaviour is watched and observed with their knowledge and consent
What are participant observations?
The researcher becomes a member of the group whose behaviour they are watching or recording
What are non-participant observations?
The researcher remains outside the group whose behaviour they are watching or observing
Explain the internal validity of naturalistic observations
Low as they cannot determine the behaviour or influence in any way due to extraneous variables
Explain the external validity of naturalistic observations
High as they can often be generalised to everyday life
Explain the reliability of naturalistic observations
Difficult due to lack of control over research observations
Explain the demand characteristics of naturalistic observations
No as it is an environment that they are used to
Explain the internal validity of controlled observations
High as they can manipulate behaviour in the ‘lab’ setting as extraneous variables are less of a factor
Explain the external validity of controlled observations
Low as it cannot be generalised to everyday life
Explain the reliability of controlled observations
Extraneous variables are less of a factor and so replication is made easier
Explain the demand characteristics of controlled observations
Yes as it is in a ‘lab’ setting and they would be aware of the unusual surroundings
Explain the internal validity of covert observations
High as the participants do not know that they are being observed
Explain the ethical issues of covert observations
High because they do not have the consent of the people that they are observing
Explain the demand characteristics of covert observations
Low because they do not know that they are being observed
Explain the internal validity of overt observations
Low as the participants may change behaviours if they know that they are being observed
Explain the ethical issues of overt observations
Low because the participants know that they are observed and have a choice to take part
Explain the demand characteristics of overt observations
High because they know that they are being observed and could piece it together
Explain the internal validity of participant observations
High as they can get increased insight into the lives of the people that they are studying
Explain the objectivity of participant observations
They could be influenced by the people they are observing as they have became a member of that group
Explain the internal validity of non-participant observations
Lower as they are not physically within the group to get detailed information and may feel removed from the group
Explain the objectivity of non-participant observations
They may be more opinion-free and not influenced as they are not physically in the group and are observing from a further distance
What is an abstract
Key details of report
Short summary of 150-200 words
What is an introduction
Past research
Funnel- broad to begin with and gets narrower
Details theories and concepts
Very specific aims and hypothesis
What is a method
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
What are results
Key findings
Graphs, tables and charts
Reference to choice of stats test
Qualitative or quantitative data
What is discussion
Results in verbal and not statistical
Mindful of limitations due to past investigations
Wider implications of data are considered
What is referencing
All data in full
Journal articles, books, websites
Prevents plagarising
What is the order in referencing
Surname
Letter of first name
Year
Title
Location
Publisher
