Research methods Flashcards
What is a hypothesis?
A prediction of what the psychologist expects to find when they conduct their research.
Whats an alternate hypothesis?
Predicts there will be a pattern in the results, whether this is a difference or a correlation.
Whats a null hypothesis?
Predicts there will be no difference or pattern in the results.
What are the types of variable?
-Independent
-Dependent
-Extraneous
What is an independent variable?
What the researcher changes.
What is a dependent variable?
What the researcher measures.
What is an extraneous variable?
A variable that can impact the results of an experiment that isn’t an IV or DV.
What is standardisation?
The process of keeping extraneous variables the same across conditions.
Examples of extraneous variables
-Time
-Location
-Weather
-Questions
What are the types of experimental design?
-Repeated
-Independent
What is repeated measures design?
Participants are involved in ALL experimental conditions.
Advantage of repeated measures design?
No risk of individual differences affecting results.
Disadvantage of repeated measures design?
High risk of order effects (practice/fatigue)
What is independent measures design?
Each group of participants is involved in one experimental condition then groups are compared.
Positives of independent measures design?
Less risk of order effects.
Negatives of independent measures design?
High risk of individual differences affecting results.
What are the 3 types of experiment?
-Lab
-Field
-Natural
What is a lab experiment?
Researcher directly manipulates the IV in a controlled environment.
What is a field experiment?
Researcher directly manipulates the IV within a realistic environment.
What is a natural experiment?
Researcher cannot directly manipulate the IV but can still measure its effect on the DV.
What are the positives of lab experiments?
High levels of control over extraneous variables and can repeat study.
What are the negatives of lab experiments?
Lack ecological (real life) validity.
What are the positives of field experiments?
High ecological (real life) validity and more natural behaviour.
What are the negatives of field experiments?
Poor control of extraneous variables.
What are the positives of natural experiments?
Can research things that would be unethical to manipulate.
What are the negatives of natural experiments?
Cannot randomly allocate participants to conditions so issues with individual differences.
What are the 2 types of interviews?
-Structured
-Unstructured
What are structured interviews?
Interviews where the researcher decides the questions beforehand.
What are the positives of structured interviews?
Requires less interviewing skill, easier to analyse answers, can easily be repeated, qualitative data can be collected, quantitative data can also be collected
What are the negatives of structured interviews?
Useful data may be missed and follow up questions cannot be asked.
What are unstructured interviews?
Researcher doesn’t have pre-planned questions and questions depend on participants answers.
What are the positives of unstructured interviews?
More in-depth data.
What are the negatives of unstructured interviews?
Responses are difficult to standardise and compare.
What is a population
Everyone
What is a target population
What is a target population
What is a sample
The group taken from the target population to be studied
What does the sample need to be?
-Representative of a wide range of age, gender, etc.
-Generalisable to a wider population.
What are the 3 types of sampling?
-Self-select sample
-Opportunity sample
-Random sample
Positives of self select sampling
Participants are willing and able
Negatives of self select sampling
Small chance of unrepresentative sample
Positives of opportunity sampling
Quick, easy, inexpensive
Negatives of opportunity sampling
More chance of unrepresentative sample/researcher bias
Positives of random sample
Limits researcher bias/more chance of representative sample
Negatives of random sample
Effort required by researcher and it takes more time
What are the types of observations
-Covert/Overt
-Participant/Non-participants
-Naturalistic/Controlled
What are covert/overt observations?
-Covert: Participants don’t know they’re being watched.
-Overt: Participants know they’re being watched.
What are participant/non participant observations?
-Participant: Researcher joins in with participants when observing.
-Non-participant: researcher doesn’t interact with participants.
What are naturalistic/controlled observations?
-Naturalistic: Participants are observed in a real life situation.
-Controlled: Participants are observed in an artificial situation.
What are the positives of covert observations?
No observer effects: participants behave more naturally.
What are the negatives of covert observations?
Cannot get informed consent.
What are the positives of overt observations?
Can get informed consent.
What are the negatives of overt observations?
Observer effect: participants may change their behaviour.
What are the positives of participant observations?
Researcher may gain more in-depth data from being involved.
What are the negatives of participant observations?
Researcher may be distracted
What are the positives of non-participant observations?
Researchers are less biased as they aren’t involved.
What are the negatives of non-participant observations?
Researcher may miss important details
What are the positives of naturalistic observations?
Participants behave more naturally in a natural context
What are the negatives of naturalistic observations?
Lack of control over extraneous variables.
What are the positives of controlled observations?
Can control extraneous variables which may affect participants behaviour.
What are the negatives of controlled observations?
Participants may not behave naturally in an artificial context.
What are questionnaires?
A self report method, a list of pre-set questions.
What are closed questions?
Set of specific answers that are usually on a scale
What are open questions?
Participant writes their own response
What are the positives of closed questions?
Questions are standardised so its easier to compare data
What are the negatives of closed questions?
Useful data may be missed as only certain info is given.
What are the positives of open questions?
Can get more detailed, in-depth data.
What are the negatives of open questions?
Cannot be standardised so answers are difficult to compare.
What is a self-select sample?
A sample selected through volunteers, who usually respond to an advert.
What is an opportunity sample?
A sample selected by convenience, where the researcher recruits whoever is willing and available at the time.
What is a random sample?
A sample selected using chance, where every member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected.
What is mode?
The most common value
What is median?
The middle value if the values are ordered
What is range?
The largest-smallest value
What is a normal distribution?
bell curve
What is a positively skewed distribution?
When the scores pile up on the low end. The “tail” points to the higher end.
What is a negatively skewed distribution?
When most scores pile up on the high end. The negative skew refers to the direction in which the tail points
What is a scatter graph?
Represents data from a correlational study
What is a bar chart?
For comparing separate data categories
What is a thematic table?
Represents qualitative data in theme categories?
What is a frequency table?
For recording data (also called a tally chart)
What is a line graph?
For representing continuous data
What is a histogram?
For representing continuous data in intervals
What is validity?
How accurately a study measures what it says it’s measuring
What is reliablility?
If the study is consistent and can easily be repeated
What are 3 ethical problems?
-Protection of participants
-Deception
-Informed consent
What are 3 ethical solutions?
-Right to withdraw
-Debriefing
-Confidentiality
What is gender bias?
When the sample favours one gender
What is age bias?
Where the sample favours one age group
What is cultural bias?
Where the sample favours one culture
What is observer bias?
Participants behave differently because theyr’e being watched
What is experimenter bias?
To favour one approach/theory over another
What is questioning bias?
To phrase a question to favour a certain view
