research methods

Question 1

define ‘inter observer reliability’

Answer 1

this is when one action is being observed by different researchers, each with their own opinion

Question 2

define ‘internal validity’

Answer 2

whether the design, conduct and analysis of a study all answer research questions without any bias

Question 3

define ‘face validity’

Answer 3

a test which must seem to test what it is meant to

Question 4

define ‘content validity’

Answer 4

the extent a test or measurement represents all aspects of the context area

Question 5

define ‘concurrent validity’

Answer 5

compares an old test with a new one to see if they produce similar results

Question 6

define ‘predictive validity’

Answer 6

this is when a test can predict a future outcome

Question 7

define ‘external validity’

Answer 7

if findings from a study can be generalised to people with different characteristics

Question 8

define ‘temporal validity’

Answer 8

when research findings successfully apply over time

Question 9

define ‘inter-rater reliability’

Answer 9

the degree of agreement among independent observers who rate or assess the same thing

Question 10

what is a laboratory experiment

Answer 10

experiments conducted in artificial surroundings.

Question 11

what is a field experiment

Answer 11

experiments conducted in natural and normal environment for the ppts

Question 12

what are the strengths of a lab experiment?

Answer 12

good control of variables, increasing validity.
casual relationships can be determined as only the iv should be affecting the dv

Question 13

what are the weaknesses of a lab experiment?

Answer 13

artificial surroundings may make ppts behaviour unrepresentative, lowering ecological validity. ppts could respond to demand characteristics

Question 14

what are the strengths of a field experiment?

Answer 14

ppts are likely to behave naturally so representative results. less chance of demand characteristics

Question 15

what are the weaknesses of field experiments

Answer 15

control of variables is harder than in a laboratory experiment lowering reliability. there may be extraneous variables affecting DV. ppts may be unaware they are in an experiment, raising ethical issues

Question 16

what are the 3 types of experimental designs

Answer 16

independent measures, repeated measures and matched pairs

Question 17

what are the strengths of independent measures design

Answer 17

no order effects, less chance of demand characteristics, random allocation can help reduce effects of individual differences

Question 18

what are the weaknesses of independent measures design

Answer 18

ppt variables can distort results
more ppts are needed

Question 19

what are the strengths of repeated measures design

Answer 19

less chance of ppt variables. counterbalancing reduces order effects, uses fewer ppts.

Question 20

what are the weaknesses of the repeated measures design

Answer 20

order effects could distort results, more prone to demand characteristics

Question 21

what are the strengths of matched pairs design

Answer 21

less chance of demand characteristics. no order effects, ppt variables less likely.

Question 22

what are the weaknesses of matched pairs design

Answer 22

harder to find ppts, matching criteria must be decided in advance

Question 23

describe a non directional hypotheses

Answer 23

predicts there will be an effect but not specific

Question 24

describe a directional hypotheses

Answer 24

states which condition will be best and the iv will affect the dv

Question 25

what is informed consent

Answer 25

knowing enough about a study to decide whether you want to agree to participate

Question 26

what is right to withdraw

Answer 26

a ppt should know that they can remove themselves and their data from a study at any time

Question 27

what are the psychology rules about deception

Answer 27

ppts should not be deliberately misinformed. if unavoidable, the study should minimise the risk of distress

Question 28

describe a self report

Answer 28

the ppt gives the researcher information about themselves directly

Question 29

what are closed questions

Answer 29

closed questions are questions with a fixed set of possible responses

Question 30

what are open questions?

Answer 30

questions that ask for descriptive answers in the ppts own words

Question 31

what problem do open questions have?

Answer 31

if more than one researcher is involved, there may be a lack of inter-rater reliability. the people who reply to questionnaires may all be similar and this means there could be poor generalisability ppts may lie because of social desirability bias

Question 32

why are filler questions added to questionnaires

Answer 32

to avoid demand characteristics

Question 33

what is a structured interview

Answer 33

an interview format using questions in a fixed order that may be scripted. Consistency might also be required for the interviewers posture etc so they are standardised

Question 34

what is an unstructured interview

Answer 34

an interview format in which most questions depend on the respondents answers.

Question 35

what is a semi structured interview

Answer 35

an interview format using a fixed list of open and closed questions

Question 36

what are the strengths of qualitative data

Answer 36

uses objective measures, scales or questions are often more reliable. Data can be measured using central tendency and spread making it easy to compare

Question 37

what are the weaknesses of quantitative data

Answer 37

data method often limits responses so the data are less valid

Question 38

what are the strengths of qualitative data

Answer 38

data is often valid as ppts can express themselves exactly rather than being limited by fixed choices. Important but unusual responses are less likely to be ignored because of averaging.

Question 39

what are the weaknesses of qualitative data

Answer 39

data is often subjective and findings may be invalid as interpretation or recording of data are biased. May not be generalisable

Question 40

what experimental method involves the manipulated of an IV and is used to test cause and effect relationships

Answer 40

experimental method

Question 41

what method is an in depth study of an individual or small group, used to determine a persons thoughts, feelings and behaviours

Answer 41

case study method

Question 42

what method is used for observation of behaviour in a natural settinng

Answer 42

observation method

Question 43

what is the independent variable

Answer 43

the factor under investigation in an experiment which is manipulated to create two or more conditions and is responsible for changes in the dependent variable

Question 44

what is the dependent variable

Answer 44

the factor in an experiment that is being measured and is expected to change under the influence of the independent variable

Question 45

what is an extraneous variable

Answer 45

a variable which acts randomly, affecting the dv on all levels of the IV or systematically, so can obscure the effect of the IV making results difficult to interpret

Question 46

what is a strength of the repeated measures experimental condition

Answer 46

unlikely to distort the effect of the IV. Counterbalancing reduces order effects, fewer ppts needed

Question 47

what is a weakness of the experimental condition

Answer 47

order effects may distort results

Question 48

what is a strength of the independent measures experimental design

Answer 48

no order effects, ppts only see one level of the IV, reduced demand characteristics, reduced individual differences ( random allocation)

Question 49

what is a weakness of the independent measures experimental design

Answer 49

ppt variables can effect results, more ppts needed, may be less ethical, less effective if a small sample

Question 50

what is a strength of the matched pairs design

Answer 50

reduced demand characteristics, ppt variables are less likely, no order effects