Research Methods Flashcards
Psychology Paper 2
what is the aim of a study?
what the purpose of a piece of research is.
what is a hypothesis and what are the three types?
a prediction of what the results will be and can be directional, non-directional or null.
what is a directional hypothesis?
states the direction of the difference or relationship.
- participants will (DV) when (IV1) than (IV2)
what is a non-directional hypothesis?
does not state the direction of the difference of relationship.
- there will be a difference in (DV) between (IV1) and (IV2)
what is a null hypothesis?
no difference / direction / affect / correlation is stated.
- there will be no difference in (DV) between (IV1) and (IV2)
what is an independent variable (IV)?
the cause - the variable that the experimenter manipulates / changes.
what is a dependent variable (DV)?
the effect - the variable that the experimenter measures.
what is an extraneous variable (EV)?
the variable that is needed to be controlled in an experiment as it could affect the DV.
what is a confounding variable (CV)?
any factor that is found after the study has been conducted, which affected the DV but was not controlled for.
what is operationalisation?
clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured.
what are types of extraneous variables?
demand characteristics, investigator effects, participant variables and situational variables.
what are demand characteristics?
any cue from the researcher or research situation that might give away the purpose of the investigation and may lead the ppt to change their behaviour (screw-u or please-u effect).
what are investigator effects?
any effect of the researcher’s behaviour (conscious or unconscious) on the results of the study (DV) e.g. nodding/smiling, leading questions, design of study, selection of participants.
what are participant variables?
any individual differences between participants that might affect the DV e.g. age, intelligence, gender.
what are situational variables?
any features of the experimental situation that might affect the DV e.g. noise, time of day, weather.
how are extraneous variables controlled?
randomisation and standardisation.
what is randomisation?
the use of chance methods to control for the effects of extraneous / confounding variables e.g. bias when designing materials and deciding the order of experimental conditions.
what is standardisation?
using exactly the same formalised procedures and instructions for all participants in a research study, this reduces the effect of extraneous/confounding variables.
what is the experimental method?
an investigation in which a hypothesis is scientifically tested i.e. an independent variable (the cause) is manipulated and the dependent variable (the effect) is measured; only extraneous variables are controlled.
what are the types of experiment?
laboratory, field, natural and quasi.
what is a laboratory experiment?
a experiment carried out in a controlled setting, the IV is manipulated to see the impact on the DV whilst the effects of other variables are minimised as far as possible.
what is an example of a laboratory experiment?
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what are the strengths of a laboratory experiment?
- extraneous variables are closely controlled, meaning the IV is likely to have affected the DV, increasing the internal validity of the study.
- research can be easily repeated as there will be a controlled, standardised procedure, increasing the reliability of the results.
what are the weaknesses of a laboratory experiment?
- artificial nature of the set up means that the results may not reflect ‘real-life’ behaviour, so reducing the external/ecological validity of the study.
- participants know they are being tested so they may change their behaviour (demand characteristics).
- tasks given in the research may not be reflective of everyday tasks (lack of mundane realism).
what is a field experiment?
a controlled experiment conducted outside the laboratory, the IV is still manipulated by the researcher but the experiment takes place in a natural environment.
what is an example of a field experiment?
piliavin (1969) got a confederate to collapse in a train when smelling of alcohol or carrying a walking stick and seeing how many people helped in each condition.
what are the strengths of a field experiment?
- there is higher mundane realism than lab experiments, therefore higher external validity.
- often participants won’t know that they are being studied, so demand characteristics are less of an issue.
what are the weaknesses of a field experiment?
- it is harder to control extraneous variables so harder to know if the IV has affected the DV, lack of internal validity.
- if participants are unaware they are being studied, this raises ethical issues (lack of informed consent).
- replication is more difficult as the exact natural situation can not be replicated each time.
what is a natural experiment?
an experiment where the IV varies due to a naturally occurring event and the researcher takes the opportunity to study it.
what is an example of a natural experiment?
williams (1986) looked at the effects in gender attitudes after the introduction of TV to a small town in canada.
what are the strengths of a natural experiment?
- there is high external validity as the IV is naturally occurring.
- the effects can be tested of factors that could not be manipulated by the researcher e.g. the effects of the lack of attachment in romanian orphans.
what are the weaknesses of a natural experiment?
- there is less control over extraneous variables than field experiments.
- participants can’t be randomly allocated to conditions, introducing the possibility of bias.
- naturally occurring IVs may be rare, so studies can’t be repeated.
what is a quasi experiment?
an experiment where the IV cannot be manipulated by the researcher so they use a naturally occurring IV.
what is an example of a quasi experiment?
gender differences in attitudes towards food.
what are the strengths of a quasi experiment?
it can be tested under controlled conditions, increasing the scientific credibility of the research and allows replication.
what are the weaknesses of a quasi experiment?
- participants can’t be randomly allocated to conditions, introducing possible confounding variables.
- it is difficult to control for extraneous variables so it is difficult to establish cause and effect.
- researchers cannot be certain that the IV caused the DV.
what is an experimental design?
it refers to the way in which participants are used in experiments (how they are arranged).
what are the 3 experimental designs?
independent groups, repeated measures and matched pairs.
what is the independent groups design?
participants are allocated to different groups where each group represents one experimental condition (each participant only does one condition).
what are the strengths of the independent groups design?
- no issue of order effects.
- less time consuming
- less chance of demand characteristics
what are the weaknesses of the independent groups design?
- it is difficult and expensive, different participants need to be recruited for each condition.
- participant variables may be an issue, results may be due to a confounding variable rather than manipulation of the IV which can reduce the validity of findings.
how can participant variables be controlled for in the independent groups design?
random allocation
what is random allocation?
an attempt to control for participant variables which ensures that each participant has the same chance of being in one condition as any other (by distributing participants into each condition through the use of random techniques).
what is the repeated measures design?
all participants take part in all the conditions of the experiment, (each participant takes part in both conditions).
what are the strengths of the repeated measures design?
- no participant variables - participants take part in both conditions so there is more confidence that results were due to the manipulation of the IV, meaning there is higher validity.
- it is time efficient and cost effective, the same participants are used twice (at least) so extra participants do not need to be recruited.
what are the weaknesses of the repeated measures design?
- order effects, repeating two tasks could create boredom or fatigue which could deteriorate the participants’ behaviour in the second condition or performance may improve due to knowledge of first task, therefore order acts as a confounding variable.
- an increased chance of demand characteristics, it is more likely that participants will work out the aim of the study when experiencing all conditions of the experiment.
how can order effects be controlled for in the repeated measures design?
counterbalancing
what is counterbalancing?
an attempt to control for the effects of order, in counterbalancing half the participants experience the conditions in one order (condition A then B) and the other half in the opposite order (condition B then A).
what is the matched pairs design?
pairs of participants are matched on some variable(s) that may affect the DV, then one member of the pair is assigned to condition A and then the other to condition B.
what are the strengths of the matched pairs design?
- participants only take part in one condition so order effects and demand characteristics are less of a problem.
- reduced risk of participant variables, due to matching process so findings are more valid.
what are the weaknesses of the matched pairs design?
- difficult and expensive, different participants need to be recruited for each condition.
- can be time-consuming due to pre-test process.
- difficult to match participants identically, matching is a more complex process.
what does the term population refer to?
a group of people who are the focus of the researcher’s interest, from which a smaller sample is drawn.
what is a sample?
a group of people who take part in a research investigation, the sample is drawn from a (target) population and is presumed to be representative of that population.
what are sampling techniques?
the method used to select people from the population.
what are the 5 sampling techniques?
random, volunteer, opportunity, systematic and stratified
what is random sampling?
each member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected through chance methods e.g. picking names out of a hat.
what are the strengths of random sampling?
there is internal validity, lack of extraneous / confounding variables due to the sample being potentially unbiased.
what are the weaknesses of random sampling?
- difficult and time-consuming, a complete list of the target population may be extremely difficult to obtain.
- selected participants may refuse to take part.
- it is possible that the sample may end up being unrepresentative rather than representative.
what is volunteer sampling?
participants put themselves forwards to take part in a study.
what are the strengths of volunteer sampling?
it is easy, convenient and less time-consuming due to the participants being more engaged than others so there is less of an effort needed from researchers.
what are the weaknesses of volunteer sampling?
volunteer bias - only a certain type of people will be attracted so representativeness is reduced.
what is systematic sampling?
when every nth member of the target population is selected and a sampling frame is produced, which is a list of people in the target population organised in a way.
what are the strengths of systematic sampling?
the method is objective, the researcher has no influence after selection so it is likely to be representative.
what are the weaknesses of systematic sampling?
it is time-consuming and participants may refuse to take part, resulting in a volunteer sample.
what is stratified sampling?
the sample reflects the proportions of people in certain sub-groups (strata) within the target population, to carry out a stratified sample the researcher first identifies the different strata that make up the population and then the proportions needed for the sample to be representative are worked out.
what are the strengths of stratified sampling?
the sample is representative because it is designed to accurately reflect the composition of the population so the findings are more generalisable.
what are the weaknesses of stratified sampling?
it is hard to represent differences in people so complete representation of the target population is not possible.
what is opportunity sampling?
a technique where the participants are available at the time of the study.
what are the strengths of opportunity sampling?
it is convenient, much less time consuming and costly than other methods.
what are the weaknesses of opportunity sampling?
- there is a high chance of obtaining an unrepresentative sample.
- the researcher has complete control over the selection of participants, could lead to researcher bias.
what are ethical issues?
they arise when a conflict exists between the rights of participants in research studies and the goals of research to produce authentic, valid and worthwhile data.
what is informed consent?
it involves making participants aware of the aims of the research, the procedures, their rights (including to withdraw) and what their data will be used for, from the researcher’s point of view, asking for informed consent may make the study meaningless because the participants’ behaviour will not be ‘natural’.
what is deception?
deliberately misleading or withholding information from participants at any stage of the investigation, there can be occasions where deception can be justified if it does not cause the participant distress.
what is protection from harm?
participants should not be placed at any more risk than they would be ‘normally’ and they should be protected from physical and psychological harm.
what is privacy?
participants have the right to control information about themselves, if this is invaded the confidentiality should be protected, this right to privacy extends to where the study takes place (institutional / geographical location not named).
what is confidentiality?
it refers to our right to have any personal data protected.
what is the british psychological society (BPS) code of conduct?
it is a set of ethical guidelines that researchers have a duty to observe when conducting research.
how to deal with informed consent?
participants should be issued with a consent letter or form detailing all relevant information that might affect their decision to participate.
how to deal with deception and protection from harm?
at the end of the study participants should be given a full debrief (where participants are made aware of the true aims and any extra details), they should also be told what their data will be used for and given the right to withdraw / withhold data, participants may also require counselling, which the researcher should provide, if they experience any embarrassment or stress.
how to deal with confidentiality?
personal details must be protected (maintain anonymity), researchers usually refer to participants by number or initials and during briefing/debriefing participants are reminded that their data will be protected.
what is a pilot study?
a small-scale version of an investigation that takes place before the real investigation is conducted, the aim is to ensure that there are no issues and if necessary the researcher is able to make changes/modification.
what is a single-blind procedure?
participants are not aware of the aims/conditions until the end of the study to control for the confounding effects of demand characteristics.
what is a double-blind procedure?
neither participants nor individual conducting research know the aim/condition of the study.
what are observational techniques?
involve observing actual behaviours which are subsequently recorded.
what are the types of observation?
naturalistic, controlled, covert, overt, participant and non-participant.
what is a naturalistic observation?
it is conducted in the environment where the behaviour would normally occur e.g. in a classroom.
what are the strengths of a naturalistic observation?
it is high in external validity as there are more natural behaviours and findings can be generalised to real life.
what are the weaknesses of a naturalistic observation?
it can be difficult to replicate so cannot check reliability, as researcher is not in control of variables.
what is a controlled observation?
it often takes place in a laboratory setting where researchers control some variables e.g. bandura’s study.
what are the strengths of a controlled observation?
replication is much easier as confounding/extraneous variables are less of a factor, reliability can be checked.
what are the weaknesses of a controlled observation?
there is low ecological validity due to the researcher recording behaviours in artificial environments.
what is a covert observation?
participants are unaware that they are the focus of the study and their behaviour is observed in secret (covertly).
what are the strengths of a covert observation?
investigator effects are unlikely meaning that participants’ behaviour will be genuine, leading to an increase in internal validity.
what are the weaknesses of a covert observation?
it is less ethical as participants are not aware that they are taking part and cannot give consent.
what is an overt observation?
when participants know that their behaviour is being observed and have given their informed consent beforehand.
what are the strengths of an overt observation?
it is possible to inform participants in advance and obtain informed consent.
what are the weaknesses of an overt observation?
behaviour can be distorted through investigator effects in which the participants change their behaviour through social desirability bias.
what is a participant observation?
when the observer becomes part of the group they are studying.
what are the strengths of a participant observation?
the researcher can gain a greater insight into the experiences of those being observed (gives rich qualitative data) which increases external validity and high ecological validity (true to real life).
what are the weaknesses of a participant observation?
- the researcher may lose objectivity as they become part of the study and can be unethical due to ethical issues (deception).
- it can be dangerous and time-consuming and collecting data can be difficult.
what is a non-participant observation?
the researcher remains separate from those they are studying and records behaviour in a more objective manner.
what are the strengths of a non-participant observation?
the researcher is more likely to remain objective so there is less danger of them adopting characteristics of the ‘lifestyle’ they are observing, higher in validity (investigator effects less likely).
what are the weaknesses of a non-participant observation?
the researcher may lack the extra insight gained from being a participant themselves, as they are removed/far from the environment they are studying.
what is a structured observation?
an observation study using predetermined coding scheme to record the participants’ behaviour.
what are the strengths of a structured observation?
- data is much easier to analyse to spot trends and make conclusions.
- data is more likely to be numerical, therefore quantitative, so more straightforward.
what are the weaknesses of a structured observation?
data is in less detail as only certain things have been recorded.
what is an unstructured observation?
observation where there is no checklist so every behaviour seen is written down in as much detail as possible.
what are the strengths of an unstructured observation?
qualitative data is produced so more detail.
what are the weaknesses of an unstructured observation?
- qualitative data is much more difficult to record and analyse.
- there is more risk of observer bias (only recording things that fit with the observer’s preconceived ideas) and only may record ‘appealing’ behaviours.
when designing observations, what things do researchers need to decide?
- which type of observation?
- unstructured or structured?
- behavioural categories (structured)?
- which sampling method to use? (time/event)
what are behavioural categories?
when designing a structured observation, psychologists must decide which specific behaviours should be examined - key behaviours or collections of behaviours, that the researcher conducting the observation will pay attention to and record.
what are the strengths of behavioural categories?
makes data collection more structured and objective and to be useful, categories should be unambiguous and clear (categories should also be exclusive and not overlap).
what are the weaknesses of behavioural categories?
it can be difficult to ensure that the categories do not overlap because some behaviours may be too similar to be able to tell the difference e.g. ‘grinning’ and ‘smiling’.
what are the 2 sampling methods?
time sampling and event sampling.
what is time sampling?
a researcher records behaviours within prescribed intervals e.g. every 5 minutes.