Research Methods Flashcards
What is the independant variable ?
This is the variable that the researcher manipulates in order to determine its effect on the dependant variable. An example would be seeing how chocolate effects mood. Chocolate is the independent variable.
What is the dependant variable
The variable being measured. An example would be how chocolate affects mood. Mood is the dependant variable.
What the control condition?
Where the independant variable is not manipulated. Provides a standard against which the experimental conditions can be compared.
What is an extraneous variable
Any variable other than the independant variable that could affect the dependant variable. For example the weather and personal life events.
What is a confounding variable ?
This is any variable other than the independent variable that has affect the dependant variable. Examples include noise and light.
What is operationalisation?
The variable needs to be defined and stated how it will be measured.
What is a laboratory experiment?
This is when an experiment is carried out in a controlled environment, such as a laboratory, allowing the researcher to exert a high level of control over the IV and eliminate any extraneous variables. Participants are randomly allocated to a condition. They are conducted in an artificial setting.
Advantages of laboratory experiments
1) one strength is that lab experiments have a high level of control over the IV and conditions. Therefore it is very easy to control any EV and prevent them from confounding variables that could affect data collected
2) the researcher can modify the IV and can establish a cause and effect relationship between the IV and DV.
3) another strength is that it can be easily repeated by other researchers to see if similar results are obtained. If findings are similar, the results are reliable.
Disadvantages of laboratory experiments
1) one disadvantage is that demand characteristics might occur within the study. Some participants may behave ina more positive light than normal and this is called social desirability bias.
2) a high level of control over the independant varibake and extraneous variables means the experiment can lack mundane realism. This means the study lacks ecological validity .
What is a field experiment
This is an experiment carried out in the real world rather than an artificial setting of a laboratory. The IV is still manipulated by the researcher to see the effect on the dependant variable. An example may be to observe people in the street.
Advantages of field experiments
1) one strength is that there is more mundane realism and ecological validity than lab experiments.
2) the researcher can manipulate the independant variable, cause and effect relationship between the independent and the dependant can be established.
3)an advantage is that there is less chance of demand characteristics than a lab experiment. Participants may not even be aware they are in an experiment so they behave more naturally.
Disadvantages of field experiments
1) there is less control over extraneous variables when compared to a lab experiment. Therefore, the effect on the dependant variable may not be caused by the independent variable. This means research may not be valid
2) another disadvantage is that there is less control over the sample . Therefore the sample may not be representative of the target population.
3) another disadvantage is that it may be difficult to replicate which means that they might be unreliable especially compared to lab experiments.
What is a natural experiment
The researcher takes advantage of a naturally occurring independant variable to see its effect on the dependant variable. A natural experiment is a study that measures variables that aren’t directly manipulated by the researcher for comparing behaviour in a single sex and mixed school.
Advantages of natural experiments
1) an advantage of natural experiments is that there is a high level of mundane realism and ecologicaly validity compared to lab experiments.
2) another advantage is that they are useful when it is impossible or unethical to manipulate the independent variable in a lab experiment / field experiment. For example a group of naturally stressed men aged 60-65 who have high stress levels and cholesterol.
Disadvantages of natural experiments
1) there is low control over extraneous variables compared to a lab experiment
2) a disadvantage is that they are very difficult to replicate. This means the results may be unreliable and if the experiment was repeated, the same results would be unlikely.
3) a problem of natural experiments is that they are very difficult to determine cause and effect due to low control of variables.
What is a quasi experiment ?
They contain a naturally occurring independant variable, however this variable is a difference between people that already exists such as age and gender. The researcher examine the effect of this variable on the dependant variable. They take place in a lab setting. An example would be that males have a higher testosterone level than females in a sample of 50 men and women aged 40-70.
Advantages of a quasi experiments
1) a strength is that there is a high level of control. The effects of extraneous variables are minimised. So the experimenter can be more confident that is the independant variable which has affected the dependant variable.
2) a strength is that replication is very likely. Due to strict controls, it is easier to replicate and find whether resist are reliable.
Disadvantages of quasi experiments
1) lack of ecological validity because this setting is artificial so the experiment may not be a reflection of real life.
2) demand characteristics could occur because participants could accurately or inaccurately guess the aim of the study and respond according to what they think is being investigated. This can make data collected invalid.
What is an observation?
An observation is when a researcher watches or listens to participants engaging in whatever behaviour is being studied.
How can psychologists observe participants
1) they can record data- make notes or videos so they have a more accurate permanent record
2) sampling behaviour using event sampling or time sampling (when you observe every 10 minutes or so)
What is non participant observation
This is when the researcher does not get directly involved with the interactions of the participants and does not take part in their activities. For example observing participants in the gym and the psychologist stands around and does not engage in any exercise.
Advantage and disadvantage of non participant observation
1) an advantage is that the researcher can study a situation in its natural setting without altering conditions so it is less likely for the participant to show demand characteristics.
2) one disadvantage is that it relies solely on observing behaviour. The data collected will be qualitative, interpretive and to some extent limited.
What is Participant observation?
This is when the researcher is directly involved with the interactions of the participants and will engage in the activities that the participants are doing, eg doing exercise in a gym.
What is one Advantage and disadvantage of participant observation
1) one advantage is that it gives the researcher a better understanding of what is happening which enables the researcher to collect quantitative and qualitative data through surveys and interviews.
2) this can lead to inaccurate and biased data if participants alter their behaviour in response to the researcher’s presence, leading to social desirability bias.