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Psychology year 12 > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

What is an aim?

A

A general statement made by the researcher explaining what they wish to study

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2
Q

What is a hypothesis?

A

Pre made assumption of what the investigation will show, showing the relationship between the variables

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3
Q

What are the two types of hypothesis?

A

Non-directional and directional

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4
Q

What is a directional hypothesis?

A

States the differences between the variables

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5
Q

What is a non directional hypothesis?

A

Does not state the differences between the variables, no clear divide

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6
Q

What is a dependant variable

A

The variables measured by the researcher and can be affected by the independent variable

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7
Q

What is the independent variable?

A

Manipulated by the researcher

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8
Q

What is operationalisation?

A

Clearly defining the variables in terms of how they can be measured

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9
Q

What are extraneous variables?

A

Variables which affect the results if not controlled.
Do not work systematically with the IV

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10
Q

What are confounding variables?

A

Variables which work alongside the IV, therefore mean that the effect on the DV cannot be determined wether it’s the IV or confounding variables

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11
Q

What are demand variables?

A

Any cue from the research that may cause the ppt to change behaviour

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12
Q

What is randomisation?

A

Use of chance methods to control for the effects of bias when designing materials and deciding the order of experimental conditions

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13
Q

What is standardisation?

A

Using exactly the same formalised procedures and instructions for all ppts in a research study

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14
Q

What are advantages and disadvantages of random sampling?

A

Unbiased and control over cv’s and ev’s.
Time consuming and may not work

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15
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of systematic sampling?

A

Objective method but highly time consuming and those chosen may refuse

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16
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of stratified sampling?

A

Representative but cannot account for all subgroups

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17
Q

What is stratified sampling?

A

Sample which reflects the proportion of people in different population strata

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18
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of an opportunity sample?

A

Convenient however unrepresentative

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19
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of volunteer sampling?

A

Easy and participants are engaged however there is volunteer bias and respond to cues

20
Q

What is a laboratory experiment? include strengths and weaknesses

A

Highly controlled experiment where the independent variable is manipulated to observe the effect of the dependent variable
+ High levels of control allow cause and effect to be established and it can be replicated to establish reliability
- Artificial conditions means its difficult t generalise to other conditions therefore lacking ecological validity

21
Q

What is a field experiment? Include strengths and weaknesses

A

Experiment conducted in a natural environment with some control
+ improved ecological validity due to natural environment and there’s a potential for generalisation. Reduction in demand characteristics
- Less control over extraneous variables. More time consuming as you need to wait for certain environmental conditions to occur

22
Q

What is a natural environment? include strengths and weaknesses

A

Independent variable occurs naturally and the allocation of the participants is not controlled by the experimenter
+ reduction in demand characteristics as participants are unaware they are taking part in the experiment
- many inevitable extraneous variables due to lack of control. Replication is impossible due to the rarity of the situation

23
Q

What is a quasi experiment? include strengths and weaknesses

A

Independent variable is based on an existing difference between people. It isn’t manipulated, just exists e.g. gender differences
+ Carefully planned therefore replication is possible. Useful to make comparisons between types of people
- random allocation of participants isn’t possible meaning cofounding variables may be present. Laboratory settings means there is a potential for demand characteristics

24
Q

What is internal validity?

A

the extent to which the changes in the dependent variable are caused by the manipulation of the IV as opposed to cofounding variables

25
Q

What is external validity?

A

The extent to which the findings can be generalised beyond the investigation

26
Q

What is ecological validity?

A

Refers to whether the findings can be generalised from a study to another setting particularly real life situations

27
Q

What is temporal validity?

A

The extent to which findings from a study can be generalised to other historical times or era’s

28
Q

What is population validity?

A

The extent to which the findings of a study can be generalised to other groups of people or cultures

29
Q

What are the two types of self-report techniques?

A

Interviews and questionnaires

30
Q

What is a questionnaire?

A

pre-set list of written questions to which a participant responds

30
Q

One strength of a questionnaire is that it can be distributed to lots of people…

A

Researchers can gather large amounts of data quickly and researcher does not need to be present when completed

31
Q

Another strength of a questionnaire is that it is straightforward to analyse…

A

If closed fixed questions are asked, statistical data can easily be converted to graphs and charts for comparison

31
Q

One limitation of questionnaires is that responses may not always be truthful…

A

Respondents tend to present themselves in a positive light

32
Q

Another limitation of questionnaires is response bias…

A

Respondents may favour a particular response this means they will all tend to reply in a similar way

33
Q

What is an interview and its two types?

A

An interview is a face-to-face or online interaction between an interviewer and interviewee
Structured interviews is a list of pre-determined questions asked in a fixed order
Unstructured interview is no set questions, there is a general topic to be discussed but the interaction is free flowing and space for elaboration

34
Q

A strength of a structured interview is it is easy to replicate…

A

Due to its standardised format which also reduces differences between interviewers

35
Q

One limitation of structured interviews is that you cannot elaborate…

A

interviewers cannot deviate away from the set topic or explain their questions which may limit the richness of data collected

36
Q

One strength of unstructured interviews is that there is greater flexibility…

A

Points can be followed as they arise it’s more likely to gain an insight into the interviewee’s worldwide view and collect unexpected information

37
Q

One limitation of unstructured interviews is that there is increased risk of interviewer bias…

A

Closer dialogue between interviewer and interviewee means more opportunity for unconscious cues

38
Q

What are closed questions?

A

Respondents have limited choices

39
Q

One strength of closed questions is that they are easier to analyse…

A

Can produce graphs and charts for comparison making it easier to draw conclusions

40
Q

One limitation of closed questions is that responses are restricted…

A

Forced into an answer that may not represent true feelings which may in turn reduce the validity of the findings

41
Q

What are open questions?

A

respondents provide own answers expressed in words and tend to be personal

42
Q

One strength of open questions is that answers are not restricted…

A

likely to have more external validity than statistics

43
Q

One limitation of open questions is that they are difficult to analyse…

A

May be forced to reduce answers to statistics

44
Q
A

Psychology year 12 (6 decks)

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