research methods

Question 1

research questions

Answer 1

• an answerable inquiry to a concern or an issue.
• in psych, research qs realte to human/animal psychological and/or behavioural processes

Question 2

3 types of research questions

Answer 2

1 - descriptive
2 - relational
3 - casual

Question 3

research aims

Answer 3

• research aims are more specific and reflect more precisely what the researcher wants to find out
• the aim is a study is the reason the study is taking place/the purpose of the research (yr10 book)

Question 4

what is the purpose of a variable? Two key types?

Answer 4

• In research studies, a variable is something that can change (vary) in amount or kind over time.
• two key types are Independant Variable (IV) and Dependant Variable (DV)

Question 5

what is an IV

Answer 5

The condition that the experimenter systematically changes (or manipulates) in order to gauge (measure) its effect on another variable
-suspected case of difference in results between experimental and control grps
- expected to cause a change in DV

Question 6

what is a DV

Answer 6

• The result of effect that the IV has on behaviour

Question 7

what is an EV

Answer 7

• An Extraneous Variable (EV) other than the IV that MAY cause a change in the DV and therefore may affect the results
• when one or more EVs are present in the experiment, it is difficult to conclude with confidence that any change in the DV was solely caused by the presence the IV.

Question 8

controlled variables

Answer 8

• A previously identified EV that is controlled during the course of the experiment
• Controlled variables aren’t part of the experiment at all - but is controlled as it could be an influence to the outcome.

Question 9

confounding variable

Answer 9

• A variable other than the IV that has an effect on the DV which cannot be separated from that of the IV.
• If an experimenter doesn’t find all EVs prior to the experiment, the variable may become confounding.

Question 10

population

Answer 10

the entire group of research interest (from which the sample is taken and to which the researcher will seek to generalise/apply the results of their investigation)

Question 11

sample

Answer 11

• a subset or part of the population - selected for research purposes
• the people who participate in the study

Question 12

sampling techniques - random

Answer 12

• Ensures every member of the population of research interest has an equal chance of being selected to be part of the sample

eg. can be achieved by random number generator or drawing names from a hat

Question 13

adv and lim of random

Answer 13

ADV- ensures a highly representative sample, thereby enabling generalisations with greater confidence
LIM- can only be carried out if a complete list of target population is available. If available, it may be difficult to gain access. If accessed the process of random selection may be time-consuming

Question 14

sampling techniques - stratified

Answer 14

• The process of selecting a sample from a population comprised of various subgroups in such a way that each subgroup is represented
• involves dividing the population to be sampled into diff subgroups (called strata) then selecting a separate sample from each subgroup (called stratum) in the same proportion as they occur in the population of interest.

eg. all students in school (100%)
-> yr7 - 10%, y8-20%, y9 - 15%… strata (proportion in each year level)
-> 4,,2,3… stratified sample (number of participants from each year level)

Question 15

adv and lim of stratified

Answer 15

ADV - enables researchers to sample specific groups (strata) within populations for comparison purposes for a MORE representative sample

LIM - can be very time-consuming and complex procedure and therefore expensive procedure

Question 16

sampling techniques - convenience

Answer 16

• the researcher uses whoever is available at the time/moment
• It can provide a biased sample but it is a commonly used one.
• not a great method of sampling.

eg. asking poeple to volunteer via a newspaper article
- selecting people who walk past you in the school yards
- choosing participants because they are family, friends or classmates

Question 17

random allocation

Answer 17

• a procedure to place participants in groups (or conditions)
  - just as likely to be in exp grp/s as the control grp
• drawing ‘names out of a box’ or tossing a coin re proper ways of randomly allocating pariticpants into grps
• when there are sufficient and large number of participants, it is reasonable to assume that each grp will end up with the same kind of spread of participants (i.e. characteristics, abilities, background) that may affect the DV, therefore the results.