Research Methods Flashcards
State 4 characteristics of a Lab Environment
- Standardised Procedures
- Experimenter manipulates IV
- Control over Extraneous Variables
- Tightly Controlled Environment
State 3 Characteristics of a Field Experiment
- More Natural Environment
- Experimenter manipulates IV
- Experimenter has some control over Extraneous Variables
State 3 Characteristics of a Natural/Quasi Experiment
- Completely Natural Environment
- Experimenter has no control of IV
- Experimenter has no control over Extraneous Variables
What are two strengths of a Lab Experiment
- Cause and Effect can be Established
- Reliability can be checked
What are 2 weaknesses of using a Lab Experiment
- Low ecological Validity
- Demand Characteristics
What 2 Strengths of using a Field Experiment
- Less Bias from Demand Characteristics
- Ecological Validity
What are 2 Benefits of a Natural/Quasi Experiment
- Ecological Validity
- No Demand Characteristics
What are 2 Weaknesses of using a Natural/Quasi Experiment
- Difficult to establish Cause and Effect
- Most Difficult to check reliability
Define Independent Measures Design
Using different participants for each condition
Define Repeated Measures Design
Where the same participants do both conditions
Define Matched Pairs Design
Participants are matched based on key variables. One is placed into the experimental condition and the other in the controlled condition
What are 2 Strengths of using Independent Measures
- No Order Effects
- Less time consuming
- Control over EV
What are 2 Weaknesses of Independent Measures Design
- A large sample signs is needed to fill both conditions
- Can be Expensive
What are 2 Strengths of Repeated Measures Design
- Results will not be affected by participants variables
- No extra participants are needed
What are 2 Weaknesses of using Repeated Measures Design
- Demand Characteristics
- Order Effect
Define Order Effect
The position of task influencing outcome
What are 2 Benefits of using Matched Pairs Design
- No Order Effects
- Reduces Participant Variables
Define Counterbalancing
- Ppts sample is split in half
- One sample does conditions in one order the other sample does it in reverse order
- This is done to reduce order effects
Define a Structured Observation
The way data is gathered using a pre planned collection grid to record behaviour
Define Unstructured Observation
Data collected has no predetermined plan
What are the benefits of using a Controlled Observation
- High levels of control over extraneous variables
- Easy to replicate
What are drawbacks of using a Controlled Observation
- Demand Characteristics
What are 2 Benefits of a Naturalistic Observation
- High levels of Ecological Validity
- Reduced Demand Characteristics
What are 2 Weaknesses of using a Naturalistic Observation
- No control over Extraneuos Variables
- Ppts don’t know that they are being observed lading to ethical problems
Define Event Based Sampling
This is where the observer record the number of times a certain behaviour is displayed
What is a weakness of Event Sampling
- Observer could get tired because they have to sit through the whole period
- Could cause them to be lazy and miss some behaviours
Define Time Based Sampling
Behaviour is recorded at a prescribed intervals
Define a Type 1 Error
When the experimental hypothesis is accepted when the null hypothesis should have accepted
What can cause a Type 1 Error
When the level of significance is too high
Define Type 2 Error
Accepting the null hypothesis when the experimental hypothesis should have been accepted
What can cause a Type 2 Error
The level of significance is too low
Define Normal Distribution
Where the Mean, Median and Mode are similar or the same
Define Nomial data
Data that is categories
Define Ordinal Data
Data that uses rank order
Define Interval Data
Data has has Fixed Intervals between each unit
What are the 3 Types of Reliability
- External Reliability
- Inter Reliability
- Observer Reliability
Define External Reliability
Producing the same result each time the test is carried out
Define Observer Reliability
When 2 or more observers produce the same record of results
What are the 5 types of Validity
- Internal Validity
- Temporal Validity
- Ecological Validity
- Population Validity
- Concurrent Validity
