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Research methods Flashcards

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1
Q

What is an experimental method

A

a scientific method involving the manipulation of variables to determine cause and effect

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2
Q

What is a variable

A

any object, characteristic or event that varies in some way

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3
Q

In an experiment, what does the researcher manipulate

A
  • independent variable (IV)
  • dependent variable (DV)
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4
Q

Definition of research methods

A

the means by which explanations are tested

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5
Q

What is an IV

A

the factor manipulated by researchers in an investigation

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6
Q

What is a DV

A

the factor measured by researchers in an investigation

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7
Q

Definition of operationalisation of variables

A

the process of defining variables into measurable factors

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8
Q

Definition of extraneous variables

A

variables other than the IV which affect the DV

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9
Q

What are confounding variables

A

uncontrolled extraneous variables that negatively affect results

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10
Q

What are demand characteristics

A

features of a research which allow participants to work out its aim and/or hypothesis

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11
Q

What are the 3 main types of extraneous variables

A
  1. participant variables- concern factors such as p’s age or intelligence
  2. situational variables- concern the experimental setting and surrounding environment
  3. experimenter variables- concerns changes in the personality, appearance and conduct of the researcher
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12
Q

What technique reduces demand characteristics

A

single-blind procedure

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13
Q

What are some advantages of lab experiments

A

+ highly controlled
+ easily replicable
+ cause and effect
+ can isolate variables

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14
Q

What are some disadvantages of lab experiments

A
  • experimental bias
  • problems operationalising the IV and DV
  • low ecological validity
  • there are demand characteristics
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15
Q

What are field experiments

A

experiments conducted in naturalistic settings where the researcher manipulate the IV

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16
Q

What is a natural experiment

A

experiment where the IV varies naturally

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17
Q

What is a quasi experiment

A

where the researcher is unable to freely manipulate the IV or randomly allocate p’s to different conditions

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18
Q

Advantages of field and natural experiments

A

+ high ecological validity
+ no demand characteristics

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19
Q

Weaknesses of field and natural experiments

A
  • less control
  • less easy to replicate
  • ethical issues regarding lack of informed consent
  • sample bias
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20
Q

What are the two types of observational techniques

A
  • participant observation - involves observers becoming actively involved in the situation e.g. Zimbardo
  • non-participant observation - doesn’t involve researchers becoming actively involved in the behaviour being studied e.g. Ainsworth
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21
Q

Two ways that observations can be

A
  1. overt- when p’s are aware they are being observed
  2. covert- when p’s aren’t aware they are being observed
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22
Q

What are some advantages of observational techniques

A
  • high external validity
  • practical method
  • fewer demand characteristics
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23
Q

Weaknesses of observational techniques

A
  • cause and effect- causality cannot be inferred since the variables are only observed
  • observer bias
  • replication
  • ethics into informed consent
  • practical problems
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24
Q

What are naturalistic observations

A

surveillance and recording of naturally occurring events

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25
Q

What are behavioural categories

A

dividing target behaviours into subsets of behaviours through use of coding systems

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26
Q

What is inter-observer reliability

A

where observers consistently code for behaviour in the same way

27
Q

What is event sampling

A

counting the number of times a behaviour occurs in a target individual or individuals

28
Q

What is time sampling

A

counting behaviour in a set time frame

29
Q

What is self-report technique

A

p’s giving information about themselves without researcher interference

30
Q

What are questionnaires

A

self report method where p’s record their own answers to a pre-set list of questions

31
Q

What are the 2 types of questions

A
  • closed
  • open
32
Q

Advantages of questionnaires

A
  • quick
  • lack of investigator effects
  • quantitative and qualitative analysis
  • replication
33
Q

Weaknesses of questionnaires

A
  • misunderstanding
  • biased samples
  • low response rates
  • superficial issues
  • social desirability/idealised answers
34
Q

What are the three types of interviwew

A
  • structured
  • unstructured
  • semi-structured
35
Q

Advantages of interviews

A
  • complex issues can be covered
  • ease misunderstandings
  • data analysis
  • replication
36
Q

Weaknesses of interviews

A
  • interviewer effects
  • interview training
  • ethical issues
  • participant answers
37
Q

What are correlation studies

A

factors measured in a correlation to asses their direction and strength of a relationship

38
Q

What are the 2 types of correlation

A
  • positive
  • negative
39
Q
A
40
Q

Advantages of a correlation study

A
  • allows predictions to be made
  • allows quantification of relationships
  • no manipulation
41
Q

Weaknesses of correlation study

A
  • quantification problem
  • cause and effect
  • extraneous relationships
  • only works for linear relationships
42
Q

What is an aim

A

a precise statement of why a study is taking place

43
Q

What is a hypothesis

A

precise testable research predictions

44
Q

What is an experimental hypothesis

A

predicts that differences in the DV will be beyond the boundaries of chance

45
Q

What is a null hypothesis

A
  • the hypothesis of no differences
  • IV wont affect the DV
  • it says there wont be any significant difference
46
Q

What are the two types of experimental hypothesis

A
  • directional ( one tailed)
  • non-directional ( two tailed)
47
Q

What is sampling

A

the selection of p’s to represent a wider population

48
Q

strengths of random sampling

A
  • unbiased selection
  • generalisation
49
Q

weaknesses of random sampling

A
  • impractical
  • not representative
50
Q

What is opportunity sampling

A

selecting participants who are available and willing to take part

51
Q

What is volunteer sampling

A

they self-select themselves to take part in a study

52
Q

What is systematic sampling

A

taking every nth person from a list to create a sample

53
Q

What is stratified sampling

A

small scale reproduction of a population

54
Q

What are pilot studies

A
  • small scale practice investigations to see if there are any problems with the design
55
Q

What are independent group design

A

use different p’s in each of the experimental conditions

56
Q

What are repeated measures design

A

each p gets tested in all conditions of an experiment

57
Q

What are matched pairs design

A

experimental design where p’s are in similar pairs with one of each pair performing in each condition

58
Q

What are some of the code of ethics

A
  • informed consent
  • avoidance of deception
  • adequate briefing/debriefing
  • protection of participants
  • right to withdraw
  • confidentiality
  • observational research
  • incentives to take part
59
Q

What is quantitative data

A

data occurring in numerical form

60
Q

What is qualitative data

A

non - numerical data expressing meanings, feelings and descriptions

61
Q

What is primary data

A

data collected specifically towards a research aim, which has not been published before

62
Q

What is secondary data

A

data originally collected towards another research aim, which has been published before

63
Q

What is meta analysis

A

a statistical technique for combining the findings of several studies of a certain research area

Psychology (7 decks)

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