research methods Flashcards
what is a research method?
the strategies, processes, or techniques used in the collection of data or evidence for analysis.
what are research aims?
a statement of what the researcher intends to find out in the study
what does an experiment involve?
the manipulation of an independent variable to measure the effect on a dependent variable.
what is the independent variable?
the thing that is manipulated
what is the dependent variable?
the thing we measure
what is the control condition?
provides a baseline measure of behaviour without the manipulation of the independent variable.
what is the experimental condition?
it involves the manipulation of the independent variable.
what do you do with results from the control condition and experimental condition?
compare them
what is a research hypothesis?
predicts a statistically significant effect of an independent variable on a dependent variable.
what is a directional hypothesis?
a hypothesis that shows a direction of the results.
what is a non directional hypothesis?
does not predict the direction of the results.
when is a non directional hypothesis used?
when there is no previous research or the research is contradictory
what is a correlational hypothesis?
states a relationship between two things.
what is a null hypothesis?
predicts a statistically significant effect or relationship will not be found.
what is the difference between the aim and the hypothesis?
an aim is the goal of the study, a hypothesis is a testable statement
what is an extraneous variable?
any variable other than the independent variable that may have an effect on the dependent variable unless it is controlled
what are examples of extraneous variables?
•noise
•temperature
•light
•size of room
•mood
•intelligence
•anxiety
•nerves
•concentration
•age
•gender
•accent
what is a confounding variable?
any extraneous variable that varies systematically with the independent variable, so that we cannot be sure of the true source of change to the dependent variable.
what are demand characteristics?
any cue from the researcher or situation that may reveal the purpose of the investigation which may lead to participants deliberately or unconsciously changing their behaviour.
what are investigator effects?
any effect of the investigators’ behaviour on the dependent variable. Can include design of the study, to the selection and interaction with the participants during research.
what is randomisation?
use of chance to control for the effects of bias when designing the study.
•helps to reduce extraneous variables
Randomisation involves participants being randomly allocated to different conditions.
what is standardisation?
Using exactly the same formalised procedures and instructions for all participants. Can reduce:
•situational variables
•investigator effects
•demand characteristics
what are blind procedures?
participants do not know which condition they are taking part within an experiment.
•used to try to reduce demand characteristics and investigator effects
what is independent groups design?
different participants are used in each condition of the experiment
what is repeated measures design?
the same participants take part in both conditions of the experiment.
what is matched pairs design?
pairs of participants are matched in terms of key variables such as age.
what are the strengths of repeated measures design?
•fewer participants are required
•participant variables are controlled for
what are the limitations of repeated measures design?
•order effects
•demand characteristics
what are the strengths of independent groups design?
•order effects are avoided
•demand characteristics are avoided
what are the limitations of independent groups design?
•more participants are required to produce the same amount of data
•participant variables
what is counterbalancing?
•an attempt to control for the effects of order effects in a repeated measures design
•half the participants experience the conditions in one order and the other half in the opposite order
what are the strengths of matched pairs design?
•participant variables are reduced
•order effects are avoided
•demand characteristics are reduced
what are the limitations of matched pairs design?
•time consuming and expensive
•individual differences still occur
what is a laboratory experiment?
•takes place in a controlled environment
•researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV
•maintaining strict control of extraneous variables
what is a field experiment?
•an experiment that takes place in a normal setting within which the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the 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.
what is a quasi experiment?
•the IV has not been determined by anyone
•the variables simply exist
what is ecological validity?
indicates the findings of the research can be generalised and applied to real life situations
what is a population?
refers to the large group of individuals that a particular researcher may be interested in studying, for example students attending sixth form.
what is a target population?
refers to a particular subset of the overall population from which the sample will be taken
what is a sample?
refers to the group of people who will take part in a research investigation. it is drawn from the target population and is presumed to be representative of that population
what is random sampling?
each member of a population has an equal chance of being selected
what is systematic sampling?
when every nth member of the target population is selected from a sampling frame
what is stratified sampling?
the composition of the sample reflects the proportions of people in sub-groups within the target population
what is opportunity sampling?
selecting anyone willing or available to take part
what is volunteering sampling?
an advert is produced and individuals self-select themselves to take part
what are strengths and limitations of random sampling?
strengths:
•free from researcher bias
limitations:
•time consuming to conduct
•difficult to get a list of everyone
•could be unrepresentative
what are strengths and limitations of systematic sampling?
strengths:
•free from researcher bias
•usually fairly representative
limitations:
•time consuming to conduct
•difficult to get a list of everyone
•participants may refuse to take part
what are strengths and limitations of stratified sampling?
strengths:
•free from researcher bias
•produces the most representative sample
limitations:
•time consuming to conduct
•participants may refuse to take part
what are strengths and limitations of opportunity sampling?
strengths:
•saves time
•saves money
limitations:
•unrepresentative sample
•researcher bias occurs
what are the strengths and limitations of volunteer sampling?
strengths:
•easy
•less time consuming
limitations:
•volunteer bias occurs
•unrepresentative sample
when do ethical issues arise?
when a conflict exists between the rights of participants in research studies and the goals of the researcher to produce authentic, valid and worthwhile data.
What is the BPS?
a code of ethics which is a quasi-legal document that instructs psychologists in the UK about behaviour that is acceptable when dealing with participants.
What are ethical issues?
•informed consent
•right to withdraw
•confidentiality
•deception
•protection from harm
what is cost-benefit analysis?
the responsibility of an ethics committee to weigh up the costs and benefits of the research proposals to decide whether the study should go ahead.
•benefits may include ground-breaking nature of the research
•costs may include the damaging effect on individual participants or the reputation of psychology as a whole
what is presumptive consent?
rather than getting consent from the participants themselves, a similar group of people are asked if the study is acceptable. If this group agree, then consent of the 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 deceived.
what is retrospective consent?
participants are asked for their consent (during debriefing) after already having taken part in the study. They may not have been aware of their participation or they may have been subject to deception.