Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Psychology > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Psychology 101 flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards AP® Psychology flashcards
1
Q

What is a Extraneous variable (EV)?

A

Any variable other than the IV that may affect the DV if not controlled

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

what are the 4 types of Variables?

A

~> Situation. These are aspects of the environment that might affect the participants behaviour. E.g. Asch was in a random rundown office compared to Yale

~> Participant. this reports to the ways in which each participant varies from the other, and how this could affect the results. E.g. Personality traits like introverted and extroverted

~> Experimenter/Investigator effects. Anything the investigators does that has an impact on the participants performance other than what was intended. E.g. They could be demanding and end up looking at conformity instead of them

~> Demand Characteristics. In an experiment they demonstrate what we want to see instead of how they actually react. E.g Finding out what the experimenter wants

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How can we control extraneous Variables?

A

~> Randomisation. The minimises the effect of EV/CV. This is the use of chance to control the effects of bias when designing materials and deciding on conditions

~> Standardisation. Using the exact same procedure, instructions for everyone

~> Single Blind. To control demand characteristics. It means the participants don’t know what the experimenter is looking for.

~> Double Blind. To control demand characteristics. It means the participants and researcher don’t know what the experiment is for.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is a Lab Experiment?

A

A Experiment takes place in a controlled environment. This is not always in a Lab

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Evaluate Lab Experiments.

A

Strengths:
~> High control over extraneous variables. This is any changes in the dependent variable is the result of IV. This allows us to be more certain with the results (High Internal Validity)

~> Experiment can be Replicated. Able to repeat findings without extraneous variables, and allows us to see if the results are valid

Weaknesses:
~> Lacks generalisability. the experiment could be artificial, and a unfamiliar setting so p’s may not react normally. This means it is not generalisability beyond the research settings

~>There aware behaviour is being observed. Demand characteristics so the results aren’t true.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is a Field Experiment?

A

These are carried out in natural settings such as the street. It means we have complete control of the IV.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Evaluate Field Experiments.

A

Strengths:
~> High Mundane Realism. As the environment is more natural behaviour produced may be more real and authentic

~>High Internal Validity. The participants don’t know that they are being studied

Weaknesses:
~> Lost contrast over extraneous variables. This is because they are in a less controlled environment. this means it might be harder to identify the cause and effect between the IV and Dv

~>Cannot be replicated. As it is done in a street the same events will not happen again, each time it is unique. This means people may have different reactions and so results cannot be compared.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is a Natural Experiment?

A

They use natural occurring events for research purposes. So the experimenter won’t directly manipulate the IV as it is naturally occurring. Could be conducted in a lab

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Evaluate Natural Experiments.

A

Strengths:
~> Researchers can do experiments in places not allowed before for ethical or practical reasons. E.g. Romanian orphans by Ritter

~> High External Validity. they are often involved in the study of real life issues and problems that happen.

Weaknesses:
~> Participants cannot be randomly allocated. They observed differences because of differences in group participants rather than the IV

~> It is hard to know which aspect of the IV has caused that effect on there behaviour.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is a Quasi Experiment?

A

IUt is to establish the cause and effect relationship between the IV and the DV

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Evaluate Quasi Experiments.

A

Strengths:
~> Carried out under controlled conditions. This means we can share the strengths of lab experiments

~> High Internal Validity

~> Experiments can be replicated

Weaknesses:
~>Cannot randomly allocate participants to conditions. These must be confounding variables

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is Sampling?

A

A group of people who take part in a research investigation. The sample is drawn from a target population to be a representation of the population

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is a Sampling Frame?

A

The Source material from which a sample is drawn

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is a Target Population?

A

The entire group a researcher has interest in, the group about which the researcher wishes to draw conclusions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is Random Sampling? Evaluate.

A

All members of the target population have an equal chance of being selected.

Strenghts:
~> It is unbiased

Weaknesses:

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is Systematic Sampling? Evaluate.

A

Participants are chosen mathematically. This is done by taking the nth person in the sampling frame for the sample

Strengths:
~>Experimenter has no influence over who to chose

Weaknesses:
~> Time Consuming

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is Stratified Sampling? Evaluate.

A

The sampling frame is divided into groups that the researcher wants to make sure are represented . a certain number are selected from each group.

Strengths:
~> Accurately affect the population

Weaknesses:
~>

18
Q

What is Opportunity Sampling? Evaluate.

A

Participants who are chosen because they are convenient.

Strengths:
~> Not costely

Weaknesses:
~> Two forms of bias, researcher bias

19
Q

What is Volunteer Sampling? Evaluate.

A

Self selecting sampling, participants who volunteer to take part

Strengths:
~> Less time consuming

Weaknesses:
~> Volunteer Bias

20
Q

What is a Pilot Study?

A

Small-scale trial runs of the actual investigation. This will involve a small handful of participants in order to test the procedure, coding system, and questions in a questionnaire.

21
Q

What is the Ceiling and Floor effect?

A

The ceiling effect is when the task is to easy.

The floor effect is when the task is to hard

22
Q

What are the two group conditions within research?

A

Experimental group, and control group

The experimental group is the group that receive the variables being tested or changed.

The control group is the group that the experimental group are compared to, they don’t receive the testing variables

23
Q

What is a Observation?

A

Watching and recording people’s behaviour

24
Q

What are the 4 types of observations?

A

Participant observations, Non-Participant observations, Naturalistic observations, Controlled observations.

25
Q

What is Participant observation?

A

The observer acts as part of the group being watched

Strengths:
~> Close Proximity
~> Won’t miss details

Weaknesses:
~> Could influence participants behaviour

26
Q

What is Non-participant Observation?

A

The experimenter does not become part of the group being observed

Strengths:
~> Less Likely to be influenced by researcher

Weaknesses:
~> Might miss details due to proximity

27
Q

What is a Naturalistic Observation?

A

Observation can take place in a natural situation

Strengths:
~> High ecological validity
~> Happens in real life

Weaknesses:
~> Not replicable- researcher not in charge of the variables

28
Q

What is a Controlled Observation?

A

Observations can take where some variables are controlled and manipulated by the experimenter. They determined the behaviours to be observed

Strengths:
~> See how the IV affects the DV

Weaknesses:
~> Unnatural conditions- low ecological validity

29
Q

What is a Overt observation?

A

‘Open’ observations. Participants know why they are being observed and why

Strengths:
~> Inform Participants
~> Get Consent

Weaknesses:
~> Demand Characteristics

30
Q

What is a Covert Observations?

A

The observations is kept secret from the participants. The observer is under cover

Strengths:
~> Limits demand characteristics

Weaknesses:
~> It’s unethical

31
Q

What are the two ways observers can record observations?

A

Unstructured and Structured

32
Q

What is a structured way of Observations?

A

Targets certain behaviours as the focus of observations, and this allows researchers to qualifying observations

Strengths:
~> Quick
~> Produces reliable data
~> Replicable

Weaknesses:
~> Researchers could be bias
~> Lack of validity
~> Doesn’t tell us about meaning

33
Q

What is a Unstructured way of Observations?

A

Writes down everything as they see it, and this produces rich behaviour data

Strengths:
~> A lot of detail in data
~> Produces Qualitative Data (Words)

Weaknesses:
~> takes along time- could miss details
~> Hard to replicate

34
Q

What is a Self Report Study?

A

Participants give information about themselves without research interference e.g. interviews, and questionnaires

35
Q

What is a Questionnaires?

A

This is a pre-set list of questions to assess a persons thought or expierence

36
Q

What are the two types of questions?

A

Open questions, not fixed range as participants are free to answer in any way they wish (Qualitative)

Closed questions, a fixed number of responses of yes or no questions (Quantative)

37
Q

Evaluate Questionnaires.

A

Strengths:
~> Cost-effective. Allows gathering data quickly, and they can be quickly and cheaply distributed

~> Truthful. It can be completed in private so people are honest. This means we get evidence and results that are helpful.

Weaknesses:
~> Distributing on mass. this only allows data relies on responses

~> Social Desirability Issues. This is what society wants we will admit, so they look at us positively

~> People could get confused

38
Q

What is a Interview?

A

A formal talk that holds questions for a interviewee to answer.

39
Q

What are the three types of interviews?

A

~> Structures Predetermined Interviews
~> Questions are on a fixed order, it is like a questionnaire but
conducted face to face
~> Semi-structured Interviews
~> Questions are said and they can ask follow up questions
~> Unstructured Interviews
~> No set questions but they have a general aim

40
Q

Evaluate Structured Interviews.

A

Strengths:
~> Replicable. There is a standard format to follow, so this reduces the differences in interviews

Weaknesses:
~> Limits data. No unexpected information

41
Q

Evaluate Unstructured Interviews.

A

Strengths:
~> More Flexibility. The participant can ask follow up questions, and so they can gain insight of there world view

Weaknesses:
~> Increase in Interviewer bias. You could change the results to what you want to see

~> Analysis is difficult. Different answers make it harder to merge

Psychology (5 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions