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Research methods Flashcards

1
Q

Define standardisation

A

Using the same formalised procedures and instructions for all ppts in RS

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2
Q

Why is it important to use standardised procedures?

A

Prevents non-standardised procedures acting as an extraneous variable

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3
Q

What are extraneous variables

A

Any variable other then the IV, that may effect the DV if not controlled, they do not vary with the IV

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4
Q

Define investigator effects

A

Any effect that the investigators behaviour has on the RS outcome e.g leading qs

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5
Q

Define demand characteristics

A

Any cue from the researcher/research situation that may be interpreted by the ppt as revealing the aim of the study, resulting in change of behaviour.

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6
Q

What is a confounding variable?

A

Any variable, other then the IV that may affect the DV and vary systematically with the IV

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7
Q

What is a directional hypothesis?

A

States the direction of the difference of the relationship

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8
Q

What is a non-directional hypothesis?

A

Does not state the direction, only a ‘differece’

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9
Q

When is a directionally hypothesis used?

A
  • findings of previous R/S suggests a particular outcome
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10
Q

When is a non-directional hypothesis used?

A
  • when there is no previous research
  • within research there is contradictory evidence
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11
Q

What are the two levels of the IV

A
  • control condition
    -experimental condition
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12
Q

Define operationalisation

A

Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured

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13
Q

What is one strength and one limitation of the independent group design?

A

Limitation: ppt are different, so effect on DV may be down to individual differences
Strength: no order effects they’re less likely to guess the aim, unlike repeated measures

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14
Q

What is one strength and limitation of repeated measures?

A

Limitation: order effects: ppts do 2x tasks so could result in demand characteristics
Strength: ppt variables are controlled+fewer ppl needed(more economical)

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15
Q

What is one strength and one limitation of matched pairs?

A

Limitation: there is an attempt to reduce ppt variables, but never matched perfectly there will always be important differences between them that could affect the DV
Strength: only one condition-order effects and demand characteristics are less of an issue

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16
Q

what is a pilot study?

A

small-scale version of an investigation that takes place before the real investigation is conducted

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17
Q

what is the aim of a pilot study?

A

check procedures, materials,measuring scales etc work and allows modification by researcher

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18
Q

what is a single blind procedure?

A

ppts are unaware of aims, conditions etc to control demand characteristics

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19
Q

what is a double blind procedure?

A

where both the ppt and researcher are unaware of aims, conditions etc

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20
Q

What is a pilot study?

A

A small-scale version of an investigation that takes place before the real investigation is conducted

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21
Q

What is a pilot study?

A

A small-scale version of an investigation that takes place before the real investigation is conducted

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22
Q

What is the aim of a pilot study?

A

Check procedures, materials, measuring scales work+ allows amendments to be made

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23
Q

What is a volunteer sample?

A

Participant select themselves to participate =Produce an advert/ppt raise hands.

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24
Q

What is a random sample?

A

All ppt have same chance of being selected e.g use of numbers

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25
What are the 5 types of sampling techniques?
- volunteer - random -systematic -opportunity - stratified
26
What are the 4 types of experiment?
-lab -field -natural -quasi
27
What is a lab experiment?
Experiments high are conducted in a highly controlled environment
28
What is a field experiment?
An experiment where the IV is manipulated in a more natural everyday setting
29
What is a natural experiment?
When the researcher takes advantage of a pre-existing IV. ‘Natural’ bc the variable would’ve changed even if the experimenter was not interested.
30
What is a quasi experiment?
Experiments that have an IV that is based on existing differences between people e.g age. Variable isn’t manipulated it simply exist
31
What are two strengths of lab experiments?
- high control over extraneous variables. Ensuring that effect on DV was result of manipulation of the IV. Ensuring cause+effect (int validity) -replication =more possible bc of high lvl of control. Ensures new extraneous variables= not introduced when repeating the experiment. Replication=vital for ensuring validity
32
Give two limitations of a lab study
- lack generalisability, lab environment=artificial+ not like everyday life. In diff contexts ppt may behav differently, resulting in their behav not being generalised to everyday setting (low ext validity) - ppt=aware of being tested giving rise to DC =unnatural behav - artificial tasks do not represent real life experience( low mundane realism
33
Give one strength of field experiments
- higher mundane realism than lab bc environ=more natural. Behav=more authentic+valid, especially as ppt=unaware of being studied (high int validity)
34
What are two limitations of a field experiment?
- lack of control of ext variables. Cause+effect can’t be established, +precise replication is often impossible - ethical issues-unaware can’t consent and RS may invade privacy
35
What are 2 strengths of natural experiments?
- provide opportunities 4 RS that may not be undertaken for ethical reasons e.g Romanian orphans - high ext validity bc involve RL issues+problems e.g effect of Nat disaster
36
Give 2 limitations of the natural experiment
- naturally occurring event-rare-limit oppurtunities for RS+ scope of generalising to similar situations - ppt=not randomly allocated in experimental conditions. Can’t ensure cause+effect of IV+DV
37
What is one strength of a quasi experiment?
Often carried out under controlled conditions+ share same strengths as lab
38
What is one limitation of a quasi experiment
Can’t randomly allocate ppts to conditions therefore CF
39
What is a systematic sample?
Every nth member of the target population is selected. A sampling frame is produced=list of target pop. Then sampling system=nominated
40
What is a stratified sample?
Composition of the sample reflects the proportions of ppl in certain sub groups(strata) within the target population
41
How do you carry out a stratified sample?
1. Identify diff strata of the population 2. Proportions=worked out for the strata 3. Ppt selected through random sampling
42
What is an oppurtunity sample?
Selection of ppt who are willing+available
43
what are the 6 observational techniques?
naturalistic vs controlled covert vs overt ppt vs non-ppt
44
what is a naturalistic observation?
watching+recording behaviour in the setting within which it would normally occur
45
what is a controlled observation?
watching+recording behaviour within a structured environment (i.e variables=managed)
46
what is a covert observation?
ppt behaviour= watched+recorded without their consent or knowledge
47
what is an overt observation?
ppt behaviour =watched+recorded w/their knowledge + consent
48
what is a participant observation?
researcher becomes a member of the group whose behaviour he/she is watching+recording
49
what is a non participant observation?
researcher remains outside of group whose behaviour she/he is watching+recording
50
give one strength and one limitation of a random sample
s: free from researcher bias-no influence over selected ppt l: sample could still be unrepresentative l: difficult +time consuming e.g making list of target pop
51
give two strengths of a systematic sample
no researcher bias, fairly representative
52
give one strength+limitation of a stratified sample
s: avoid researcher bias, once strate=selected, random sample used l: stratification=not perfect it cant reflect how people are idff. complete representation of target pop=impossible
53
give one strength+limitation of an oppurtunity sample
s:sampling=convenient saves time, effort, cost compared to random l: researcher bias-complete control over selection of ppt
54
give one strength+limitation of a volunteer sample
s: minimal effort, so less time-consuming l: volunteer bias- asking may attract certain profile of ppl e.g those whore helpful, keen may affect how findings can be generalised
55
what are ethical issues?
conflicts btwn rights of ppt+goals of RS to create authentic+valid data
56
what are the 5 ethical issues?
deception, informed consent, protection from harm, privacy, confidentiality
57
what is deception?
deliberately misleading/witholding info
58
what is privacy?
right to control info about themselves
59
what is confidentiality?
if privacy invaded-ppt=right to have any personal data protected
60
what is used during research to deal with ethical issues?
BPS code of conduct - contains a BPS code of ethical guidelines
61
how do you deal with informed consent?
- ppt issued with a consent letter with all details of relevant info that may affect there decision in ppt+sign -U16-parents
62
how do you deal with deception+protection from harm (4)
- full debrief with details they=unaware of e.g aim/other conditions - told what the data will be used for +their right to withdraw data - told their behaviour=normal - extreme- provided counselling
63
how do you deal with confidentiality?
protect personal details or record none (anonymity)+ remind ppt data=protected during briefing+debriefing
64
give one strenght+limitation of a covert observation
s: ppt=unaware removed DC+observes nat behav. inc validity l: ethics-informed consent
65
give one strength+limitation of an overt observation
s: more ethically acceptable l: ppt=aware=significant influence on their behav.
66
give one strength+limitation of a naturalistic observation
s: high ext validity-findings can be generalised to RL=studied in environ which would normally occur in l: lack of control=replication=difficult
67
give one strenght+limitation of an controlled observation
s: EV=less of an issue=more control=replication=easier l: may produce findings not generalisable to RL
68
give one strength+limitation of an ppt observation
s: researcher experiences situation=high insight into lives on ppt being studies=high int. validity l:danger as researcher may identify too strong with those being studies+lose objectivity
69
give one strength+ limitation of a non-ppt observation
s: researcher maintains objective psychological distance from ppt, less likely to be subjective l: lose valuable isnight gained in ppt obs. as too far away from ppl+behav being studied
70
what is a paradigm shift?
a significant change in the dominant unifying theory within a scientifc discipline result of a scientific revolution
70
define a paradigm
set of shared assumptions and agreed methods within a scientific discipline
71
why does a paradigm shift occur?
when there=too much contradictory evidence to ignore, so a set of core beliefs are challeneged+revolutionised
72
why is psychology seen as a pre-science?
too much internal disagreement from approaches, traditional sciences have core beliefs that dont change/differ
73
where does theory construction come from?
evidence from direct observation
74
define theory
gen laws/rules to explain behav
75
what is hypothesis testing used for?
for the hypothesis to be accepted or refuted as if refuted can be revisited and a new hypothesis is formed. known as deduction
76
what is the theory of falsification?
just bc a theory has been repeatedly tested, doesnt mean its true, it just hasnt been proven false yet
77
what are the strongest theories?
those that have been repeatedly tested and tried to be falsified but not been proven false
78
what must occur for findings to replicable?
it must be repeatable across context+circumstance
79
what do empirical methods emphasise?
emphasise data collection based on direct, sensory experience
80
how can you improve the reliability of questionnaires?
- test-re-test - if correlation co-efficient=lower then 0.80 then qs need to be alter/ removed-misinterpreted - use closed qs
81
how can you improve the reliability of interviews?
-strcutured interviews -same trained interviewer-no leading qs
82
how can you improve the reliability of experiments?
-lab=more replicable methods not field =strict control
83
how can you improve the reliability of observations?
bheavioural categories are - operationalised - self-evident -no overlapping - all possible ebhaviours ocvered so diff viewers=diff judgements
84
85
what is it when observers intepret things in diff ways?
subjectivity bias
85
what is face validity?
a measure is scrutinised to determine if it appears to measure what it is suppose to measure
86
what is concurrent validity
extent to which psychological measure relates to an exsisting similar measure
87
define a case study
a detailed+in depth analysis of an single person, group or event of a particular interest
88
define content analysis
a research technique which enables the indirect study of behaviour by examining the communication which ppl produce
89
aim of content analysis
summarise +describe coomunication in systematic way so overall conclusions can e drawn
90
what are the stages of content analysis?
1. transcribe 2.code 3. tally 4. write a report

Psychology (12 decks)

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