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Psychology (Year 1) > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

What is an experimental method?

A

Any research method with an IV and a DV

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2
Q

What is a non-experimental method?

A

There is no manipulation of variables

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3
Q

What are some characteristics of experiments?

A
  • One IV
  • One DV
  • Hypothesis
  • Standardized procedures
  • Controls
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4
Q

What is an IV?

A

A variable manipulated by the experimenter is the independent variable

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5
Q

What is the DV?

A

Variable which the researcher measures is the dependent variable

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6
Q

What is a control condition?

A

No variables are manipulated. it gives us a baseline

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7
Q

What is an experimental condition?

A

Variables are manipulate, we can compare to the control conditions

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8
Q

What is reliability?

A

Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure.
A measure is considered reliable if we get the same result repeatedly
(considered reliable if we can repeat it and get the same results)

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9
Q

What is validity?

A

The extent to which the experiment claims to measure
- there are 3 main aspects, control, realism and generalizability

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10
Q

What is validity control?

A

How well the experimenter has controlled the experimental situation. without it, researchers cannot establish cause and effect relationships. Without control. we cannot state that it was the IV which caused the change in the DV

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11
Q

What is validity realism and generalisablity?

A

If an experiment is too controlled or the situation too artificial, participants may act differently then in real life
The aim of psychological research is to produce results which can then be generalized beyond the setting of the experiment
- If an experiment is lacking in realism we will be unable to generalize

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12
Q

What is mundane realism?

A

Used to refer to how well an experiment reflects real life

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13
Q

What is internal validity?

A

Internal validity refers to things that happen inside the study
- Asks whether we actually measured what we intended to measure
- Concerned with whether we can be certain that it was the IV with caused the change in the DV
- Can be effected by a lack of mundane realism and EV/CV

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14
Q

What are the aims of a study?

A

The aims of a study are an overview of what the researcher wants to achieve/investigate
-not a prediction

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15
Q

What is a hypothesis?

A

A clear, testable statement that makes a prediction about what will happen in a piece of research

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16
Q

What is an Alternate hypothesis?

A

A statement that tales a prediction that something will happen in a study
- Should be testable and include the IV and the DV

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17
Q

What is a directional hypothesis?

A

A directional hypothesis predicts that the independent variable will have effect on the dependent variable in a specific direction
- Could be a difference or an accusation
- Predicting that it will only go in direction of hypothesis

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18
Q

What is a non directional hypothesis?

A

A non directional hypothesis states that changing the IV will have an effect on the DV but doesn’t say in which direction

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19
Q

What is a null hypothesis?

A

A null hypothesis says that nothing will happen and the IV will have no effect on the DV

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20
Q

What is a pilot study?

A

A practice test, saves time and money

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21
Q

What is a confederate?

A

Someone who is in on the experiment but not the researcher

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22
Q

What are some issues of validity in these experimental design?

A
  • Participant variable caused by independent measures
  • Order effects caused by the use of repeated measures
  • Demand characteristics caused by the use of repeated measures
  • Time consuming nature of matched pairs
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23
Q

What is a lab experiment?

A

Conducted in a special environment where variables can be carefully controlled
Participants are usually aware they are in one but may not know the true aims

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24
Q

What are the key features of a lab experiment?

A

It takes place in a controlled, artificial setting (only IV being manipulated so that nothing else can alter the DV)
Standardized procedures
Experimenter will be manipulating at least one independent variable and measuring at least one DV
Participants know they are in a study but may not know the true aims
Lots of people tested

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25
Q

What are the strengths of a lab experiment?

A

Best way to study some behavior
Researcher has control over the experimental situation and can establish cause and effect relationships
Involve accurate measurements
Standardized procedures - high validity and reliability

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26
Q

What are the weaknesses of a lab experiment?

A

Low ecological validity
Nearly always aware that they are in an experiment
Experimenter effects

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27
Q

How reliable are lab studies?

A

Follow standardized procedures so they are easy to replicate

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28
Q

How can we deal with issues of reliability in lab studies?

A

Can be repeated to see is results are consistent

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29
Q

How valid are lab studies?

A

Artificial setting - EVS can be controlled for
All participants do the experimenter in the same conditions - situational
Some degree of control over participants
Low in mundane realism
Tasks that a participant is asked to do are artificial
Participants know they are in a study
Low ecological validity
Participants may not be representative of the target population

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30
Q

What is a field experiment?

A

The researcher manipulates at least on IV and measure at least one DV
Takes place in the field

31
Q

What are the strengths of field experiments?

A

Higher mundane realism may lead to higher validity
Reduced demand characteristics and participant effects
Aims of study may be less apparent
Can control IV to measure the DV

32
Q

What are the weaknesses of field experiments?

A

Harder to control extraneois and confounding variables
Still the risk of demand characteristics
Can raise ethical issues
May be harder to replicate

33
Q

What are the strengths of conducting research online?

A

Easy to gain large smaples
Diverse sample
Cheaper

34
Q

What are the weaknesses of conducting research online?

A

May end with a biased sample
Participants are unobserved
Easy for participants to lie
Ethical issues are raised

35
Q

What are the key features of a natural experiment?

A

Is an IV but not under direct control of the experimenter
Can take place in lab or field
Often the only way to investigate certain phenomena

36
Q

What are the key features of a difference study?

A

IV is not under direct control, it is a pre exsisting difference

37
Q

What are strengths of a Quasi Experiment?

A

Allow research of phenomena that for ethical and practical reasons cannot be studied any other way

38
Q

What are the Weaknesses of a Quasi Experiment?

A

Participants cannot be randomly allocated (participant variables)
COnnot draew definite cause and effect conclusions
Extranoues variables
Researcher has little control
Limited by conditions which vary naturally

39
Q

What are observations?

A

Observations are a non-experimental method of investigation. There os no manipulation of varriables, no IV, no DV. Researchers will observe behaviour and look for patterns

40
Q

Observations as a research TECHNIQUE?

A

Used as part of another research method (lab/field). May use observations as a way to measure the DV and gain additional data

41
Q

Observations as a research METHOD

A

May observe and record how many acts are demonstrated. There are no conditions, the researcher has not controlled the environment. Participants may not know they are in a study

42
Q

What is a natural observation?

A

Behavior is studied in a natural situation where everything has been left as it normally is

43
Q

What is a controlled observation?

A

Variables are controlled by the researcher, reducing the naturallness

44
Q

What is a Participant observation?

A

Researcher joins the group or takes part in the situation they are observing

45
Q

What is a non participant observation?

A

Observer watches from a distance and is not directly involved

46
Q

What is a Overt observation?

A

Participants have given permission to be observed

47
Q

What is a Covert observation?

A

Participants do not know they are being observed

48
Q

What is a structured observation?

A

Researcher has a system that is used to record behaviour

49
Q

What is an unstructured observation?

A

Record all relevant behavior, may be unpredictable

50
Q

What is event sampling?

A

Counting each time a particular behaviour is studied

51
Q

What is time sampling?

A

Recording data at particular times

52
Q

Validity of observations

A

High ecological validity, tend to be more valid, gives a greater insight to the behaviour being studied
X - May have a sample bias, observer bias, little control of the extraneous variables

53
Q

Reliability of observations

A

X -Can be difficult to replicate.
Reliability can be assessed using inter-observer reliability

54
Q

Dealing with validity in observations

A
  • Can conduct further observations
  • Use more than one observer (double blind trial)
  • Assess the coding system
55
Q

Dealing with reliability in observations

A
  • Use 2 observers - inter observer reliability
  • training of observers in the coding scheme used
56
Q

What are questionnaires?

A

A set of questions that collects information about a topic. Collects the same information from a large number of people. Accesses what people think directly

57
Q

What is a semantic differential question?

A

The participant makes a mark on a line to express the level of agreement with a particular view

58
Q

What is a likert scale question?

A

A number of responses to a question which often demonstrate a degree of agreement

59
Q

What is a rating scale question?

A

Gives a number that shows a degree of agreement with two statements

60
Q

What is a forced choice question?

A

Participants choose from a number of statements that they agree with the most

61
Q

What are the strengths of questionnaires?

A

-Closed questions produce qualative data
- Open questions produce qualative data, unexpected data and rich detail
- Easy to repeat
- May feel more able to reveal personal information
- Flexible method

62
Q

What are weaknesses of questionnaires?

A
  • Social desirability
  • May be leading questions
  • Sample bias
  • Questions may be interpreted differently
  • People may be forced to select answers which do not represent their real thoughts
  • Open questions may be harder to anaylse
63
Q

What is an unstructured interview?

A

There are no set questions but may have an idea of a topic. The interviewer makes up questions as the interview progresses

64
Q

What is a structured interview?

A

A set list of questions, it is a standarised method and is easily repeated

65
Q

What is a semi structured interview?

A

New questions are developed through the interview, may begin with predetermined questions then change

66
Q

What are the strengths and weaknesses of structured interviews?

A

Requires less interviewing skills
Easier to analyse as the answers are more predictable
Can be easily repeated
Qualative data can be collected
X Answers the participants give may be restricted by the questions asked

67
Q

What is the purpose of nomothetic research?

A

Gain results which can then be generalised beyond the participants of the study

68
Q

What is opportunity sampling?

A

Selecting people who are easily avaliable
S - Easy, first people found
W - Could be biased

69
Q

What is self selected sampling?

A

Asking for volunteers
S - Variety of people
W - Sample may be biased (volunteer bias)

70
Q

What is random sampling?

A

Everybody in the sample has an even chance of being chosen
S - Potentially unbiased
W - More time and effort

71
Q

What is systematiic sampling?

A

Selecting every nth person
S - Unbiased
W - Not truly random

72
Q

What is stratified/Quota sampling?

A

Participants are selected due to their frequency in the population
S - Equal in subgroup-s
W - May be biased in other ways

73
Q

What is snowball sampling?

A

Current participants recruit more participants
S - Locates groups that may be hard to access
W - Not likely to be a good cross-section

Psychology (Year 1) (16 decks)

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