Research methods Flashcards

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1
Q

Independent variable

A

The groups in the experiment. What the researcher manipulates (the cause)

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2
Q

Dependent variable

A

The researcher measures this (the effect)

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3
Q

What does operationalising mean?

A

Being specific about what you are measuring and how it will be measured. Needs to be done for both IV and DV

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4
Q

What is a hypothesis?

A

Where the researcher will make a clear testable prediction about the outcome of the investigation

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5
Q

What is a 1 tailed or “directional” hypothesis?

A

When the researcher predicts which condition will be higher

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6
Q

What is a 2 tailed or “non directional” hypothesis?

A

When the researcher predicts there will be a difference between the conditions

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7
Q

What is a null hypothesis?

A

when the researcher predicts there will be no significant difference between the conditions

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8
Q

What is an extraneous variable?

A

An additional variable that may have an effect on the result (DV)

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9
Q

What are the 4 Types of extraneous variables?

A

Participant - Characteristics of the p
Situational - External environmental factors
Researcher - Researcher bias
Demand characteristics - Participant changing behaviour to fit the aims of experiment

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10
Q

Quantitative data strengths and weaknesses:

A

+ More objective
+ Easier to compare and manipulate
- can lack meaning/validity

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11
Q

Qualitative data strengths and weaknesses:

A

+ Has more meaning/validity
- More subjective
- Harder to compare and manipulate

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12
Q

What is primary data?

A

Data collected by researcher for the purpose of specific investigation

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13
Q

What is secondary data?

A

Data that has been collected previously not by the researcher conducting the current investigation

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14
Q

Strengths and weaknesses of primary data:

A

+ You can control your own procedure
+ You can be more sure of the validity
- Small sample
- Need to consider ethical guidelines

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15
Q

Strengths and weaknesses of meta analysis:

A

+ increased sample size
+ don’t need to consider ethical guidelines
+ can overcome issues of population validity
- Cannot choose exactly what to study
- Publication bias
- Validity of the original studies not detemined
- Mixing studies not measuring the same thing

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16
Q

What is publication bias?

A

The failure to publish the results of a study on the basis of the direction or strength of the study findings

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17
Q

Mean definition and +/-

A

The arithmetic average
+ Most sensitive, extracts most info from scores because all raw data is included
- Can be greatly affected by outliers

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18
Q

Median and +/-

A

The middle value when scores are arranged in descending order
+ It is not effected by outliers
- Does not take all raw scores into account

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19
Q

Mode and +/-

A

The most frequently occurring value
+ Only measure possible when data is not numerical (nominal)
- Mode is not applicable in data sets without modes

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20
Q

What is standard deviation?

A

Most powerful measure of dispersion, tells us how far on average each score is from the mean
+ uses all data points

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21
Q

What are Independent groups?

A

Participant divided into 2 groups, each do experimental task with the IV set for condition 1 or 2. And compare each groups results.

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22
Q

What is repeated measures?

A

Participants do experimental task with IV set for condition 1, then repeats with condition 2 and compare.

23
Q

What is matched pairs?

A

Recruit a group of P’s, find out what sort of people you have in the group and recruit another group that matches them 1 for 1.
Carry out the experiment as independent groups

24
Q

Strengths and weaknesses of independent groups:

A

+ No order effects
+ Lower drop out rate
- Groups may not be well matched
- Requires a different set of participants for each condition

25
Q

Strengths and weaknesses of repeated measures :

A

+ Groups are perfectly matched
+ requires fewer participants
- Order effects such as practice, boredom and fatigue

26
Q

Strengths and weaknesses of matched pairs:

A

+ Control of participant variables
- Time consuming and may not be possible to completely match both groups

27
Q

What are the main 5 ethical issues

A

Informed consent
Deception
Right to withdraw
Protection from harm
Privacy/confidentiality

28
Q

What is the animal ethical code?

A

Replace - Find alternatives (e.g computer modelling or less sentient animals)
Reduce - Use fewer animals
Refine - Improve procedures to cause less harm

29
Q

What makes a natural experiment?

A

If the independent variable is naturally occurring

30
Q

Two examples of psychology’s contribution to the economy

A

The role of fathers - Research indicated fathers were equally able to provide good quality care for children. Allowing more women to re-enter the workforce after having children
Drug treatments for psychiatric illness - Absence from work costs the economy an estimated £15bn a year. Improved understanding of anxiety and depression improves the lives of individuals and the productivity of the workforce

31
Q

What is opportunity sampling? (include +/-)

A

The sampling technique of taking the sample from people who are available at the time and fit the criteria you are looking for.
+ Quick and easy
+ Practical
- Biased, similar characteristics (e.g. psychology students)

32
Q

What is random sampling? (include +/-)

A

Every member of the population has an equal chance of being chosen.
+ Unbiased, cannot choose more suitable Ps
- Not representative of the pop characteristics

33
Q

What is Systematic sampling? (include +/-)

A

When every nth member of the target population is selected
+ Unbiased, cannot choose more suitable Ps
- Not representative of the pop characteristics

34
Q

What is stratified sampling? (include +/-)

A

Classifying the population into categories and then choosing a sample which consists of Ps from each category in the same proportions as they are in the population
+ Representative for one characteristic
- Not representative for all characteristics
- Takes ages

35
Q

What is volunteer sampling? (include +/-)

A

Self selected sampling, volunteer when asked or in response to an advert
+ Likely to give consent
+ Low effort needed
- Not representative due to characteristics of volunteers

36
Q

What are 5 features of scientific research

A
  • Empirical
  • Objectivity
  • Reliability
  • Established cause and effect
  • Create general laws
37
Q

What is falsifiability?

A

It is the principle that a proposition or theory could only be considered scientific if in principle it was possible to establish it as false.
e.g - “All swans are white” this could be proven incorrect with the finding of one black swan so is falsifiable .
“all swans are beautiful” is less falsifiable as beauty is subjective and difficult to disprove

38
Q

Why is the psychodynamic approach considered unscientific?

A

Oedipal complex / penis envy / the unconscious are subjective and unfalsifiable.

39
Q

What is meant by “new paradigm research” ?

A

A shift in the fundamental assumptions, methodologies, or perspectives within a particular field of study. Driven mainly via technological advances. Has to adhere to scientific criteria to be accepted and considered new paradigm research.

40
Q

What is meant by a “multi-method discipline” ?

A

A field of study or academic discipline that employs and integrates a variety of research methods to investigate and understand phenomena.

41
Q

Definition and +/- of Laboratory experiments:

A

Artificial environment for the behaviour
+ Standardised
+ Highly controlled, high internal validity
- Lack ecological validity, findings cannot be generalised
- Demand characteristics are a disadvantage, P’s are aware they are being observed

42
Q

Definition and +/- of Field experiments:

A

Takes place in a realistic environment for the behaviour, the researcher still manipulates the IV.
+ higher ecological validity and mundane realism
+ Avoids demand characteristics because participants are not aware they are being observed
- Less control over EV’s
- Ethical guidelines - Deception/consent/right to withdraw etc.

43
Q

Definition and +/- of Natural experiments:

A

An experiment where the independent variable is naturally occurring
+ Allows research to take place that might not be ethical otherwise
+ Natural experiments often have high external validity
- A naturally occurring event might happen vary rarely, reducing opportunity for research. Less scope for generalising findings to other situations
- Participants might not be randomly allocated to experimental conditions, researcher less sure on direct cause and effect

44
Q

Definition and +/- of quasi experiments:

A

Researcher takes advantage of a pre existing IV based on existing differences between people
+ Same strengths as lab or field experiments depending on how they are carried out
+ Sometimes only viable option
- Quasi experiments like natural experiments, cannot randomly allocate participants to experimental conditions and therefore there might be confounding variables

45
Q

What are confounding variables?

A

Confounding variables are variables that are not the focus of the study but have a systematic effect on the relationship between the independent variable (IV) and the dependent variable (DV).

46
Q

What is reliability?

A

Refers to the consistency of a study or measuring device. Findings are reliable if the results are similar each time using the same design, procedures and measurements

47
Q

Ways of assessing reliability:

A
  • The test-retest method (same test taken by same Ps on 2 different occasions)
  • Inter-observer reliability (Different observers use the same measure, the findings are correlated)
48
Q

Outline one way in which a psychologist could have assessed the reliability of the questionnaire (3 marks)

A
  • Test-retest method, same people tested using the same questionnaire to see if the findings remained consistent. The researcher could check for a positive correlation between the answers on the 2 questionnaires
49
Q

What is validity?

A

The accuracy, the degree to which something measures what it claims to do

50
Q

What is temporal validity?

A

Whether research findings successfully apply across time

51
Q

What is face validity?

A

A measure of whether it looks subjectively probable that a tool measures what its supposed to.

52
Q

Brainstorm ways of improving internal and external validity

A
  • Counterbalancing
  • Expertise
  • Standardised procedures
  • Single blind and double blind technique
  • Anonymous responses
  • Conduct observations covertly
53
Q

What does operationalise mean?

A

Means to turn the variables in your experiment into a measurable form

54
Q
A