Research Methods Flashcards
Three factors used to find the research method being used
Difference or relationship
Levels of measurements - nominal , ordinal ,interval,ratio
Group designs - independent group designs , repeated measures
Nominal data
Is the simplest data measurement at looks at mode data which is what occurs the most
Ordinal data
Is ,ore complex at looks at the median data which is a range of the data comparing the most to the least
Interval data
Looks at the mean pf the data so the average of all the results combined
Ratio
Is used when comparing as it aims on changing the data into numerical value
Man Whitney
Test of difference
Independent groups
Ordinal data
Wil coxon
Test of difference
Ordinal data repeated measures
Spearmen’s rho
Looks for a relationship
Ordinal data can be interval data
Independent group design
Persons r
Relationship
Interval or ratio data
Related t test
Looking for difference
Repeated measures
Uses interval data
Unrelated t test
Looking for difference
Interval data
Independent group design
Chi squared
Test for difference or relationship
Nonimal data recorded as a frequency
Independent group design
Sign test
Test of difference
Nonimal data
Repeated measures
Null hypothesis
Is a hypothesis the researcher tries to disprove
Alternative hypothesis
Is a hypothesis a researcher tries to prove
Independent variable
Teh spect of the XPRIZE t which is being manipulated by the researcher
Dependent variable
Is the aspect of the experiment t which is being measured and has been caused by a change to the iv
Demand characteristics
Cues which may suggest the I’m of a study to the participant
Laboratory experiment
An experiment that takes place in a special environment whereby variables can be controlled how we this can lead to experimenter bias and low ecological validity
Field experiment
An experiment conducted in a more natural environment but variables still being controlled well however their ethical implications (invasion of privacy ) and loss of control
Quasi experiment
An experiment where the iv has not been determined by the researcher instead it naturally occurs eg gender differences however cannot randomly allocate participant
Natural expriment
An expriment where the iv is not brought by the researcher it would have happened even if the researcher was not there eg examining earthquakes however there are natural occurring events which can affect results and hard to randomise participants into groups
Opportunity sampling
Participants happen to be a alive at the time the study is being carried out so are recruited conveniently however this can cause researcher bias as they get to choose who they want
Random sampling
This is when participants are given a number and chosen using a random number generator Menai g any one can get picked however this is time consuming and relies on volunteers
Systematic sampling
A predetermined system is used where every nth number is selected form the sampling frame can be biased as numbers are not chosen randomly
Volunteer sampling
This involves self selection where the participants offers to take part in a expriment however this can lead to volunteer bias and participants may not take it seriously as they have other motivations to do it like money
Independent group design
This is wear participants only take part in one condition of the iv
Repeated measures
The same participants take part in all conditions of the iv
Matched pairs
Pairs of participants are first matches on some variable which has been found to affect the dvthen one member of each pair does one condition and the other does another
Pilot study
Is a small version of an investigation done before the main one
Control group / condition
It has a set baseline where the results from the experimental condition can be compared to the results form the control
Naturalistic observation
Watching a recording behaviour in a setting where it would normally take place however it is hard to replicate
Controlled observation
Watching and recording behaviour in a controlled / structured enviorment
Overt observation
Where behaviour is recorded with parictipants know they are being recorded however demanded characteristics are likely to occur which reduce the reliability of the results
Covert observation
The participants are unaware that their behaviour is being watched however this can raise ethical issues as participants have not consented to
Participant observation
The researcher who is observing is apart of the group being observed however reasearch ear may lose sight of the objective and identify to strongly with the group
Non participant observation
reasearch ear observers from afar so is not apart of the group however reasechers may lose some valuable insight by doing this
Qualitative data
Data which is displayed in words
Strengths - more depth of detail , allows parictipnats to further their option =higher external validity
Weakness -difficult to analyse, difficult to make comparisons with other data
Quantitative data
Data displayed numerically
Strength- can be anyalsis staistcally and placed into graphs , makes it easier to compare data
Weakness - no meaningful insight into participants views , low external validity
Primary data
When information is obtained first hand by the reasearcher
Strengths- targets the exact information the researcher needs
Weakness - requires time and effort and can be expensive
Secondary data
This is when the data is collected by someone else
Strengths- minimal effort to get data and is normally free
Weakness - data may be outdated or incomplete , data may not be reliable
Unstructedk observation
This consists of continuous recording however this produces qualities data which I’d harder to record and analyse
content anyalsis
Studying human behaviour indirectly by studying things that we produce eg newspapers it allows us to have an insight into structure values ,beliefs and prejudice of our society
How to conduct content analysis
Identify hypothesis you will investigate
Create a coding system depending on what you are investigating eg 1=male 2=female
Counduct content anyalsis and record data in a table
Analyse data which is descriptive and qualitative
Write up a report in the format of a sinetific
Strengths and limitations of content anyalsis
Strengths
Strong external validity
Produces large set of both quantitative and qualitative data
Easy replication
Limitations
Observer bias
Content of choice to analyse can be biased by reasearcher
Integrative bias
Statistical testing
Provides a way of determining whether hypotheses should be rejected or accepted .
Uses of statistical tests
Used to determine a significant difference or correlation exists
Used to find the critical value
Used to cacaulate probability values
Type 1 error
Is the incorrect rejection of a null hypothesis which is actually true
Type 2 error
Error is the failure to reject the null hypothesis that is false
Theory
A set of general principles and laws which can be used to explain specific events
Open Questionnaire strengths and weakness
Strengths
Rich in depth
Useful for sensitive topics so participants can go into detail
Weakness difficult to convert to statistical data
Closed questionnaire strengths and weakness
Strengths
Easy to analyse data and compare data with someone else
Weaknesses
Lack of depth
Can be limiting
Limitations and strengths of questionnaires
Cost effective
Gather this large amount of data quickly
Researcher doesn’t have to be present
As responses are anonymous more people take part
Weakness
Difficult to know wether the tagert population it was intended to answer it
Take a long time to design
It’s difficult to asses the validity because of different bias
Structured interviews
A set of pre determined questions which are asked in a interview
Strength
Standardisation is possible
Easily replicable
Limitations
Interviewer bias
Unstructured interview
There are no predetermined questions as questions are made up as the interview goes on
Strengths
Lots more data collected in depth
Can be tailored to the individual
Limitations
skilled interviewers are needed
Socail desriability bias
Internal reliability
