research methods

Question 1

sampling techniques

Answer 1

volunteer
opportunity
systematic
stratified
random

Question 2

experimental designs

Answer 2

independent groups
repeated measures
matched pairs

Question 3

the difference between a type of experiment and an experimental design?

Answer 3

A type of experiment is the variable arrangement used – laboratory, field, natural or quasi.
An experimental design is how participants are allocated to the conditions within the study.

Question 4

What are the major extraneous variables associated with repeated measures designs?

Answer 4

Order effects
Use of the same materials

Question 5

What is the major extraneous variable with an independent groups design?

Answer 5

Participant variables/extraneous variables (list individual differences)

Question 6

lab study

Answer 6

independent variable is manipulated by the researcher and the environment is carefully controlled.

Question 7

field study

Answer 7

independent variable is manipulated by the researcher and the environment is natural.

Question 8

natural experiment

Answer 8

the independent variable is naturally-occurring within the environment (not or can’t be manipulated by the researcher)

Question 9

quasi

Answer 9

the independent variable is a naturally-occurring difference between participants (can’t be manipulated by the researcher

Question 10

Name the six types of observation

Answer 10

Naturalistic
Controlled
Overt
Covert
Participant
Non-participant

Question 11

time sample

Answer 11

A target individual or group is established and then the researcher records their behaviour in a fixed time frame e.g. every 5 minutes.

Question 12

event sampling

Answer 12

A target behaviour is established and then the researcher records every time this behaviour occurs.

Question 13

measures of central tendency

Answer 13

These tell us about the central (middle) values for a set of data. They are ‘averages’ i.e. ways of calculating a typical values or a set of data. They include the mean, median and mode.

Question 14

measures of dispersion

Answer 14

These tell us how dispersed or spread out the data items are. They include the range and standard deviation.

Question 15

mean

Answer 15

Interval data

Question 16

median

Answer 16

Ordinal data

Question 17

mode

Answer 17

Nominal data

Question 18

range

Answer 18

Ordinal data

Question 19

standard deviation

Answer 19

Interval data

Question 20

ethical guidelines

Answer 20

Informed consent
Deception
Right to withdraw
Protection of participants
Privacy
Confidentiality

Question 21

The sections of a psychological report

Answer 21

Abstract
Introduction
Method
Results
Discussion
References

Question 22

reliability

Answer 22

is a measure of consistency. It refers to how consistent the findings from an investigation or measuring device are. A measuring device is said to be reliable if it produces consistent results every time it is used

Question 23

validity

Answer 23

Validity is the extent to which a study measures what it intends to measure.
Internal validity refers to whether the effects observed in a study are due to manipulation of the independent variable and not any other factor.
External validity refers to how well you can generalise the results from research participants (apply the findings of a study) to people, places and times outside of the study.

Question 24

Inferential statistics

Answer 24

involves tests which tell us whether a result is “significant”

Question 25

The sign test

Answer 25

Is a test for Repeated Measures (or counterbalanced RM) designs that collected Nominal data Before we start, we need to know whether the hypothesis was directional or non-directional. We use different criteria for each: Directional: One Tailed Test Non-directional: Two Tailed Test Challenge: write an operationalised directional hypothesis for the study.

Question 26

systematic review

Answer 26

Searches for studies that have similar aims/hypotheses

Question 27

meta analysis

Answer 27

Analyses the data of not just their study, but other studies that have similar aims/hypotheses Produces an effect size in % - measures the strength of the relationship between the different studies, the larger the effect size the stronger the relationship

Question 28

longitudinal study

Answer 28

Conducted over a long period of time, makes comparisons between the same individual at different ages

Question 29

cross sectional study

Answer 29

Compares individuals of different ages at the same point in time

Question 30

role play study

Answer 30

Individuals are required to take on certain role and then their behaviour is observed as if it were real life

Question 31

cross cultural study

Answer 31

Compares behaviours in different cultures

Question 32

nominal data

Answer 32

data in separate categories Eg. grouping people according to their favourite football team

Question 33

ordinal

Answer 33

data is ordered Eg. asking people to rank their favourite football teams from best to worst

Question 34

interval

Answer 34

the data measured uses units of equal intervals Eg. GCSE grades

Question 35

ratio

Answer 35

there is a true zero point, as there is in most measures of physical quantities Eg. cm, seconds

Question 36

5 ways of displaying data

Answer 36

Table Bar chart Line graph Scattergram Histogram

Question 37

bar chart

Answer 37

singular groups

Question 38

histogram

Answer 38

range of values

Question 39

normal distribution

Answer 39

A normal distribution is symmetrical about the mean - bell shaped curve The symmetry means the mean, median and mode are all the same Many human characteristics are normally distributed eg. height and IQ

Question 40

Positive skewed distribution

Answer 40

Cluster of scores at the lower end of data set - curve has a tail to the right Mode is less than the median, which are both less than the mean Examples include income and no. of children in a family

Question 41

Negative skewed distribution

Answer 41

Cluster of scores at the higher end of the data set - curve has a tail to the left Mode is more than the median, which are both more than the mean An example includes age at retirement

Question 42

economic psychlogy

Answer 42

Economic Psychology involves seeking a better understanding of people’s behaviour in their economic lives. The field is primarily concerned with the rationality of decisions relating to economics. Irrational thinking can occur due to: Availability Heuristic The framing effect

Question 43

Availability Heuristic

Answer 43

The more available an option is, the more likely we are to select it. For example, people often overestimate the likelihood of being in a plane crash because there is lots of information available about plane crashes when we make a probability judgement about the likelihood of a crash occurring.

Question 44

framing effect

Answer 44

People’s decisions differ depending on whether a choice is presented as a gain or a loss. Tversky and Kahneman (1986) asked participants to choose between two treatments that were going to be used with 600 people suffering from a deadly disease. Two groups of participants were given the same facts about the success and failure rates of the treatment but the facts were framed differently. When one treatment was positively framed 72% of participants picked it compared to only 22% of participants selecting the treatment when it was negatively framed.

Question 45

operationalizing

Answer 45

Independent and Dependent variables must be operationalised; this means clearly defining them so they can be manipulated (IV) and measured (DV) Benefits: Ensures studies can be repeated (reliability) Issues: Some variables are difficult to operationalise (e.g. anger levels). Operationalising variables means only one aspect of the variable is measured.

Question 46

control variable

Answer 46

In an experiment want to produce valid results. Therefore need to be sure that the only reason why the dependent variable changes is because the independent variable has been changed. As a result all other variables that could affect the dependent variable must be controlled. There are two types of variables that need to be controlled: Extraneous variables: Nuisance variables that have an effect on the DV. (If extraneous variables are present the validity of the study is reduced) Confounding variables: Variables that affect the dependent variable and vary systematically with the IV. (If confounding variables are present, the study is meaningless)

Question 47

aim

Answer 47

A statement of what the researchers intend to find out.

Question 48

hypothesis

Answer 48

A precise statement about what the presumed relationship between the variables. Operationalisation is a key part of making the statement testable.