Research methods Flashcards
what is an aim
a statement of what the researchers intend to find out in a study
what is a hypothesis
a precise and testable statement to predict the outcome of the experiment
what is an experimental hypothesis
predicts something is going to happen
what is a null hypothesis
a prediction that no difference will be found
what is a directional hyphothesis
predicts what the difference will be
what is a non directional hypothesis
predicts a difference but not which will be better or worse
what are extraneous variables
any variable that could affect the DV that isnt the IV
what are situational variables
features of a research situation that may influence participants behaviour
how to control situational variables
counterbalance - split group and standardise everything
what are participant variables
the way each participant differs from one another and how it could affect the result
what are investigator effects
experimenter is unconciously biased towards the experiment
what two ways do you control investigator effects
double blind design
inter rater reliability
what is the double blind design
both the participant and the person conducting the experiment are blind in their aims
what is inter rater reliability
multiple people rate the same behaviours as the researcher - increases reliabilty decreases bias
what are demand characteristics
when the participant knows the intention of the study and may change their behaviour
how to control demand characteristics
single blind design
deception
what is the single blind design
participant is unaware of the experiments intentions
what is deception
lying about the aims of the study
what are independent groups
different participants take part in different conditions
strengths of the independent groups
- avoids order effects
- avoids demand characteristics
limitations of independent groups
- more people needed
- participant variables are hard to control
what are repeated measures
every participant takes part in each condition
strengths of repeated measures
- participant variables are controlled as compared with yourself
- less people needed
limitations of repeated measures
order effects
demand characteristics
what is matched pairs
different but similar participants are used in each condition and are matched on variables that are relevant to the study
strengths of matched pairs
- reduces participant variables
- avoids order effects
limitations of matched pairs
-if one person drops out you lose double the data
- impossible to match people exaclty
what is the definition of a population
a large group of individuals who the researcher is interested in studying
what is a target population
a desired sub group of the population to be studied
what is a sample
group of people who take part in the study drawn from the target population
what is a random sample
all participants have a equal chance of being selected
what are the strengths of random sampling
free from bias
limitations of random sampling
no garuntee its representative
time consuming
what are opportunity samples
people who are available and willing to take part at the time
what are the limitations of opportunity samples
researcher bias
can be not representative
strengths of opportunity sampling
easiest and quickest
What is volunteer sampling
people who put themselves forward for the study
strengths of volunteer sampling
- easy
- no experimenter bias
- produce more committed individuals
limitations of volunteer sampling
volunteer bias - only one type of person
not representative
what is systematic sampling
every Nth member of the target population is selected to take part
what are the strengths of systematic sampling
avoids researcher bias
limitations of systematic sampling
time consuming
no guaruntee its representative
what is stratified sampling
researchers identify the ratio needed to represent the whole of the population
strengths of stratified sampling
every group is represented
limitations of stratified sampling
time consuming
need a whole list of the population
how many types of experiment are there
4
what are the 4 types of experiment
- lab experiments
- field experiments
- quasi experiments
- natural experiments
what are lab experiments
take place in a highly controlled environment
what are field experiements
conducted in every day settings
what are natural experiments
independent variable is naturally ocurring
what are quasi experiments
researcher doesnt control IV its a pre existing difference
what is an ethical issue
a conflict between the participants well being rights and the researchers aims
what is the BPS
British Psychological society
what is informed consent
when a participant agrees to take part in an experiment with an understanding to what they are agreeing to
what is the right to withdraw
the right to leave the study whenever and any data will be removed aswell
what is deception
the participant is mislead into the nature of the experiment, should be minimal
what is debrief
after the study participants will discuss to experiment and will be told if they have been deceived
what is protection of participants
researchers must ensure participants are protected mentally and physically
what is confidentiality
participants and the data are to be kept anonymous
what age do you need parental consent
under 16
what is presumptive consent
a similar group of people consent to the study so consent is assumed for the actual group
what is prior general consent
participants agree to take part in a number of studies including deception
what is retrospective consent
consent is asked after the study
what is a pilot study
a small scale version of the study done to identify any issues
