Research Methods Flashcards
Ethical issues
Considerations that researchers need to consider before ,during and research is conducted
What do ethical issues take into consideration
The welfare of the participants the integrity of the research and the use of the data
The British psychological society
Code of ethics sets out of a series of guidelines that researchers need
5 main ethical guidelines
Deception
Right to withdraw
Informed consent
Privacy and confidentiality
Protection from harm
Deception
When information is deliberately withheld from participants or they are knowingly misled. It prevents participants from giving fully informed consent which means that they might be taking part in research that goes against their views or beliefs.
How deception dealt with
participants should be fully
and told the
. At this
point the participant should be given the right to withdraw the publication of their results. The participants should be fully
debriefed the and nature of the research
contact details of the
experimenter should be given if
participants have any further
questions or querie
Right to withdraw
withdraw (remove themselves or their data from the study) at any stage. This includes after the research has been conducted, in which case the researcher must destroy any data or information collected. Participants who are not given the right to withdraw may feel unnecessary or undue stress and are therefore not protected from harm.
How to deal with deception
fully debriefed and told
. At this point the participant
should be given the right to withdraw the publication of their results
confidentiality
where a participant’s personal information is protected by law under the Data Protection Act both during and after the experiment.
person’s details or data may be used by other parties against the participant’s wishes.
How to deal with the issue
provide with a fake name, number or initials to protect their identity and assure anonymity
Informed consent
aims of the
research should be made
before they agree to
participate.
It is possible that the participant may have
felt obliged to take part or even coerced into it, especially if they are not fully informed.
How to deal with informed consent
1)presumptive consent
2)prior general consent
3)retrospective consent
Presumptive consent
involves taking a random sample of the population and introducing them to the research, including any deception which may result. If they agree to take part in the research it can be presumed that other future participants would do the same so the consent is generalised
Prior general consent
Agreeing to take part before hand in numerous psychological investigations which may or may not involve deception
Retrospective consent
Participants giving consent for their participation after already taking part
Privacy
The right of individuals to decide how informstion about them will be communicated to others a skilled researcher may obtain more info from a participant than they wish to give which could be an invasion of privacy and the participant may layer feel ashamed or embarrassed
How to deal with privacy
Informed consent and right to withdraw
Should explain to participants the way in which their info will be protected and kept confidential
Protection from harm
Psychologists have the responsibility to protect their participants from physical or psychological harm, including stress. The risk of harm must be no greater than that which they are exposed to in everyday life.
Participants should leave the research in the same state as they entered it. If
they are harmed, they
may suffer from
long‐term effects that
could impact their lives in future
How to deal with the protection from harm
Participants should be debriefed at the end of the experiment and in some instances they
referred to counselling.
What is an experiment
The manipulation of an independent variables to see what effect it has on the dependent variable
Control other variables whch might affect the results
Independent variable
Is the variable that you manipulate
Dependent variable
Variable you measure
Aim
General statement that describe the purpose of an investigation
Alternate hypothesis
Testable statement which predicts how one variable will affect another
It is a statement which predicts a difference between conditions in an experiment
Correslqtion between two variable
States there will. Be a difference/relationships between the variables to be investigated
Directional hypothesis
A higher number of
States the direction of the difference /relariondhip
Non directional
Will be a difference
Does not state the direction of the difference /relstionship
Null
Will be no difference
Stated there will not be a difference/relationships between the variables
Non directional hypothesis example
There will be a difference in the number of words recalled in the morning than the evening
Sampling techniques
Opportunity sa,plying
Volunteer sampling
Random sampling
Systematic sampling
Stratified sampling
Opportunity sampling
Selecting anyone who is available and willing t take part in the study at the time
Used in psychological research due to its ease of application
Example of opportunity sampling
A researcher went t. Supermarket and asked customers if they want to participate in a study
Evaluation of opportunity sampling
Convenient
Quicker and easier
Save money
Bias due to specific area not rep of target population
Investigator bias select particular individuals or avoid others according to their own subjective preferences
Volunteer sampling
self‐selecting to take part in a study by responding
Posters in various locations
Eg asking a level students to participate
First 20 volunteers
Evaluation of volunteer
-participants generally approach the researcher
-minimal effort
%quicker and easier
Looking for particular participants
Bias-particular type of person putting them self forward
More curious or inquisitive
It representative so less generalisable