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Psychology > Research Methods P123 > Flashcards

Research Methods P123 Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a lab experiment?

A

. allow measurements to be made in highly controlled settings whilst deliberately controlling one variable
. can establish clear cause and effect
. high internal validity
. use standardised procedures so replicable and reliable

. p’s can respond to demand characteristics
. low ecological validity

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2
Q

what is internal validity?

A

. whether the experiment measures what it claims to

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3
Q

what is ecological validity?

A

. whether the experiment is applicable to real life

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4
Q

what is a field experiment?

A

. done in natural everyday settings, IV is manipulated and DV is measured
. higher ecological validity
. less artificial so findings can be generalised to life
. less likely to respond to demand c’s

. not possible to eliminate extraneous variables
. more difficult to establish direct cause and effect
. difficult to replicate due to lack of control

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5
Q

what is a natural experiment?

A

. done in a natural setting, IV not changed therefore not a true experiment, good for unethical or impractical research
. high ecological validity
. less likely to display demand characteristics

. cannot eliminate extraneous variables
. more difficult to establish cause and effect
. difficult to replicate due to lack of control

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6
Q

what is a quasi experiment?

A

. IV based on existing difference, not classed as real experiments due to this
. can have same strengths as lab or field/natural

.groups tested may also differ in other ways
. becomes a confounding variable
. can have same weaknesses of lab experiments

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7
Q

what is a confounding variable?

A

. an extraneous variable that has affected the studies results

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8
Q

what is a naturalistic observation?

A

. carried out in a natural setting, can be covert or overt
. high ecological validity
. allows researchers to study unmanipulated behaviour

. cannot control extraneous variables
. difficult to replicate due to environment changing

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9
Q

what is a controlled observation?

A

. take place in controlled lab conditions
. easy to replicate so reliable
. less extraneous variables

.more demand characteristics
. lack ecological validity

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10
Q

what is a covert observation?

A

. done secretly, p’s unaware they’re being observed
. no demand characteristics
. allows to explore secretive behaviour e.g. criminal

. ethical issues (consent)
. might be difficult to record without being noticed

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11
Q

what is an overt observation?

A

. an observation that’s done openly
. researcher can find more information out
. fewer ethical issues

. observer effects can lead to demand characteristics
. might be difficult to recruit p’s okay with observation

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12
Q

what is a participant observation?

A

. observer gets involved, covert or overt
. fuller understanding of group behaviour
. behaviour of p’s more natural

. becomes difficult to step back and be objective
. difficult to record without being spotted (if covert)

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13
Q

what is a non-participant observation

A

. where a researcher follows a group without engaging
. no interference with behaviour
. able to remain objective

. might not fully understand actions of the group
. presence of observer can change behaviour of group

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14
Q

what are behavioural categories in observations?

A

. where a checklist is used every time a behaviour takes place
. makes data easier to quantify
. objective, easy to replicate

. lack of inter observer reliability
. researchers require training, high cost

.can use time sampling or event sampling

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15
Q

what is time sampling?

A

. involves observing at preestablished time frames
. effective in reducing amount of observations
. may miss key behaviours

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16
Q

what is event sampling?

A

. observer followed preestablished behaviours and records each time one occurs
. useful when an event is infrequent so may be missed with time sampling

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17
Q

what is an open question?

A

. qualitative
. no set answer so p’s free to express thoughts and ideas

. qualitative so in depth with fuller understanding
. very time consuming to draw conclusions from

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18
Q

what is a closed question?

A

. quantitative
. pre determined answers

. easy to analyse and draw conclusions
. lacks deep meaning

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19
Q

what is a Likert scale

A

. indicates strength of agreement

20
Q

what is a rating scale?

A

. indicates strength of a feeling

21
Q

what is a fixed choice question?

A

. answer is a tick box for different options

22
Q

what is a structured interview?

A

. q’s all predetermined, quantitative
. easy to replicate for reliability
. can explain q’s that aren’t understood

. p’s often lie for social desirability
. interviewer effect

23
Q

what is an unstructured interview?

A

. closer to a themed conversation, qualitative
. rich data with deep meaning
. can steer interview towards topics

. not standardised so difficult to replicate, unreliable
. difficult to analyse and draw conclusions

24
Q

what requirements should self report research meet?

A

. filler questions
. mix of open and closed
. sequence of q’s starting easy
. clear and not leading

25
Q

what is a pilot study?

A

. carried out on a small group of people to find problems with research so it can be fixed before actual study
. saves time and money

26
Q

what is a correlational study?

A

. variables not controlled
. no IV or DV
. just looks for a relationship between two co-variables
. often used when research wouldn’t be ethical/practical
. use existing data
. shown on a scattergram

.allows relationship to be examined when experiment may not be possible
. can be a good starting point for further research

. not possible to establish cause and effect due to no control of v
. correlation does not equal causation

27
Q

describe positive correlation?

A

. high score on one variable and high score on the other variable
. 📈 line goes in this direction

28
Q

describe negative correlation?

A

. high score on one variable and low score on the other
. 📉 line looks like this

29
Q

describe no correlation?

A

. scores on one variable are not connected to scores on the other
. dots will be random on scattergram

30
Q

what is operationalisation?

A

. making sure the variable being measured is clearly defined in a form that’s easily measured

31
Q

what is an aim?

A

. a general statement about the purpose of a study, contains the variables being tested

32
Q

what is a hypothesis and what are the 4 types?

A

. a prediction of what will happen in the study, must be fully operationalised with clear IV and DV
. directional - given if aware of past research so you anticipate a similar outcome
. non-directional - given if unaware of past research, doesn’t predict the way the results will go
. alternative (experimental) hypothesis - states that IV will affect DV, is non directional
. Null hypothesis - always given, predicts Iv wont affect DV

33
Q

what happens in hypothesis for correlations?

A

. looks for a relationship between two co-variables so ‘difference’ replaced with correlation or relationship
. in a directional it will state either positive or negative
. in non direct it doesn’t state positive or negative

34
Q

what is opportunity sampling?

A

. askes whoever is most easily available and willing
. convenient and easy to obtain large sample

. likely to be biased, may select p’s who support hypothesis
. likely unrepresentative and lacks population validity

35
Q

what is self selecting sampling?

A

. advertising for volunteers
. p’s will be motivated to take part
. may take study more seriously than randoms

. less representative because depends on who volunteers

36
Q

what is systematic sampling?

A

. selecting nth person on a list
. selection isn’t biased

. p may refuse to participate
. may end up with unrepresentative sample

37
Q

what is random sampling?

A

. every member of target population has equal chance of being selected
. avoids bias so has population validity

. p’s may not be available/refuse
. could end up with unrepresentative sample

38
Q

what is stratified sampling?

A

. sample perfectly matches target population on a smaller scale
. most representative sample so can be generalised

. very complex and time consuming

39
Q

what is repeated measures design and what are the advantages and disadvantages?

A

. same ps used in each condition
. S reduces amount of total p’s
. S no unbalanced groups inc validity
. W order effects - could be better second time due to practice, may be tired/bored

40
Q

what is independant groups design and what are the advantages and disadvantages?

A

. different p’s used in both conditions
. S no order effects so results more valid
. S demand characteristics, less aware of aims as first time seeing experiment
. W requires more participants
. W unbalanced groups - may have individual differences that could be cofounding

41
Q

what is matched pairs design and what are the strengths and weaknesses?

A

. diff p,s in each condition but each p in group a paired with p in group b, paired based on key characteristics.
. S eliminates unbalanced group so less confounding variables
. S demand characteristics first time p experiences condition
. W requires more ps
. is itme consuming and difficult to achieve

42
Q

what is primary data

A

. collected first hand by researcher specifically to test own hypothesis
.S ensures research is sirectly focused so suits aim
. W costs more time and moneya s requires new data to be colected

43
Q

what is secondary data

A

. not personally collected but used in research
. Stakes less time and money as already exists
. cannot be certain secondary sources achieved through sound research techniques

44
Q

What is investigator effect

A

. Unwonted influence of the investigator on the research outcome, can be subconscious

45
Q

What is meta analysis

A

. When loads of stories are put together a joint conclusion of produce
. Maybe price of publication bias, researchers may not select all relevant studies and just use one for support hypothesis

Psychology (7 decks)

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