RESEARCH METHODS Flashcards
1
Q
What are the different experiments ?
A
Lab
Field
Natural
Quasi
2
Q
Lab experiment
A
conducted in a highly controlled environment
IV can be manipulated
3
Q
Evaluation of Lab experiments
A
+ Highly controlled - Less extraneous variables
+ Replication
- Lacks generalisability
4
Q
Field experiment
A
Conducted in a controlled real-life environment and IV is manipulated in natural setting
5
Q
Evaluation of Field experiments
A
+ Natural - Ecological validity
- Loss of control
- Extraneous variables
6
Q
Natural experiment
A
Conducted in natural environment with naturally occurring IV with no control
7
Q
Evaluation of Natural experiment
A
+ High external validity
- No demand characteristics
- Rare/Lack control
8
Q
Quasi experiment
A
IV is based on existing differences between people E.g. having pp autism or not
9
Q
Evaluation of Quasi experiment
A
+ Shares lab evaluation
- Cannot be randomly allocated
10
Q
What is a correlation
A
Direction of a relationship between two or more co-variables (scatter graphs)
11
Q
What are the different types of correlations ?
A
Postive
Negative
Zero
12
Q
What is a positive correlation ?
A
Both variables rise
13
Q
What is a negative correlation ?
A
1 variable rises as 1 variable falls
14
Q
What is a zero correlation ?
A
No relationship
15
Q
Evaluation of Correlation
A
+ Useful, quantifiable measures
- Lack of manipulation
- Quick and economical
16
Q
What are the different observation techniques ?
A
Participant v Non - participant
Covert v Overt
Naturalist v Controlled
17
Q
Observation
A
Observing the behaviours of others
18
Q
Naturalist v Controlled Observation
A
Naturalist: Target behaviour naturally occurs
Controlled: Controlled by the researcher
19
Q
Covert v Overt Observation
A
Covert: Participants are unaware of they’re the focus of the study
Overt: Participants are aware they’re being observed
20
Q
Participant v Non - participant Observation
A
Participant: Researcher is part of the group
Non-Participant: Researcher remains separate
21
Q
Self report Questionnaire
A
Pre-set list of written questions that individuals answer
22
Q
Open Questionnaire
A
No fixed ranger, Free to answer
23
Q
Closed Observation
A
Fixed response
24
Q
Event sampling
A
Event sampling is used to sample behaviour in observational research. It is where an observer records the number of times a certain behaviour occurs.
25
Time sampling
Time sampling is a method of sampling behaviour in an observation study and is where an observer records behaviour at prescribed intervals. For example, every 10 seconds.
26
Evaluation of Self report Questionnaire
+ Cost effective
+ Straight forward data
+ Large sample
- Social desirability bias
- Low response rate
27
What are the different ethics forms
informed consent
Standardised instructions
Debrief
28
Formate for Informed consent form
1. "Dear participants"
2. "In this investigation you will be required to ..."
3. "Following considerations have been made to make this research ethical ..." (Describe 3 ethical issues)
4. Add a place to sign and date
29
Formate for Standardised instructions
1. "Thank you for agreeing to take part in this study"
2. "please do the following ..." (Instruction)
3. "The following ethical procedures have been put in place ..." (Describe 3 ethical issues)
4. "Thank you again"
5. "Please let me know if you have any questions"
30
Formate of a Debrief
1. "Thank you for taking part in the study"
2. "The aim of the study was ..."
3. "We are predicting that ..."
4. "In terms of ethical issues ..." (Describe 3 ethical issues)
5. "Thank you again"
6. "Please let me know if you have any questions"
31
Aim
a general statement of what the researcher is going to investigate
32
Hypothesis
A prediction of the study
33
What is Operationalisation ?
Make hypothesis clear and specific
34
Directional
Has previous research
35
Non-Directional
No previous research
36
Template of Directional Experiment
Participant who (Condition A) will (DV) then participants who (Condition B)
37
Template of Non-directional experiment
There will be a difference in (DV) between participants who (Condition A) and participants who (Condition B)
38
Template of Directional Correlation
As (Co-variable 1) increases (Co-variable 2)
increases/decreases. This will have a positive/negative correlation.
39
Template of Non-directional Correlation
There will be a correlation between (Co-variable 1) and (co-variable 2).
40
What are the different sampling techniques ?
Volunteer
Opportunity
Random
Stratified
Systematic
41
Volunteer sampling
1. Advertise the study.
2. Place adverts in appropriate places
3. Wait for responses.
4. Use the first nth number of people.
42
Evaluation of Volunteer sampling
+ Cheap and easy
- Particular personality, Not representative
43
Opportunity sampling
1. Decide location.
2. Go to location.
3. Ask people to take part in the study.
44
Evaluation of Opportunity sampling
+ Cheap and easy
- Particular personality, not representative
45
Random sampling
1. Name of target population.
2. Assign each person a number.
3. Write the number on piece of paper.
4. Place In a hat.
5. Shake it.
6. Pick out first paper.
7. Repeat till required amount.
46
Evaluation of Random sampling
+ Free from researcher bias
- Non representative
47
Stratified sampling
1. Consider target population and create subgroups from within it.
2. Work out proportions of each subgroup within target population (n - Sub/total pp x100).
3. Apply the proportion % to the sample (%/100 x sample size)
4. Select the amount from each subgroup at random.
48
Evaluation of Stratified sampling
+ Representative, Free from bias
- Long time
49
Systematic sampling
1. List of target population.
2. Decide nth number.
3. Select every nth person.
50
Evaluation of Systematic sampling
+ Free from researcher bias.
- non representative
51
What are the different experimental designs ?
Matched pairs
Independent groups
Repeated measures
52
Independent groups design
Different participants are used in each of the conditions. One group does one condition, and the other group does the other one.
53
How to do a Independent groups design ?
- Obtain participants.
- Split them in half.
- Half do condition A and Half do condition B.
54
Evaluation of Independent groups design
+ Used when a repeated measures design is inappropriate.
+ No problems with order effects
- Individual differences
55
Matched pairs design
Uses two separate groups of people who are matched on a one-to-one basis on important variable e.g., age or sex.
56
How to do a Matched pairs design ?
- Identify key variables for matching.
- Give participants a questionnaire = score.
- Match participants with the same score
- Assign each participant to a condition.
57
Evaluation of Matched pairs design
+ Used when a repeated measures design is inappropriate.
- Difficult to match pairs, large group is needed.
- Individual differences.
58
Repeated measures design
The same group of people is used in each two conditions.
59
How to do a Repeated measures design ?
- Obtain participants.
- All do condition A.
- All do condition B afterwards.
60
Evaluation of Repeated measures design
+ It requires few participants.
- Participants can guess the purpose of the study = Demand characteristics.
- Order effects: order completed effects the results
61
How to deal with Order effects
Counterbalancing: A technique used to deal with order effects when using a repeated measures design.
62
How to do Counterbalancing ?
Splitting in half:
1. ½ A then B
2. ½ B then A
63
Investigator effect
When the researcher unintentionally, intentionally or unconsciously influences the outcome of any research they are conducting.
64
Extraneous variables
A general term used for any other variable, other than the IV, that might affect results.
65
Confounding variables
Any variable (that is difficult to control because it changes with the experimental set up) that is not the IV that has caused a change in the DV.
66
Demand characteristics
Cues that reveal the purpose of the investigation.
67
Case studies
In-depth, detailed examination of a particular case within a real-world context.
For example: Little Albert, Little Hans
68
Evaluation of Case studies
+ In depth – valid data
+ Unique case researched.
- Small sample
- Ethical issues
69
Pilot studies
Small, trial versions of proposed studies to test their effectiveness and make improvements before conducting real study.
70
Content Analysis
The analysis of qualitative data (words)
Indirect observation involving coding and tallying.
71
How to do a Content Analysis ?
1. Observe small media.
2. Decide on a behaviour category to code.
3. Watch full media.
4. Tally behaviour observed.
5. Compare and conclude.
72
Evaluation of Content Analysis
+ Creates quantitative data.
+ Test - Retest can be applied.
+ Inter rate reliability.
- Researcher bias
- Behaviour coding system could not be accurate.
73
Meta Analysis
Combines findings of multiple studies to conclude.
74
Evaluation of a Meta Analysis
+ Lots of data, large sample.
- No control over the studies
75
Reliability
Reliability is the measurements of consistency. In general, this means if the measurement can be repeated and gain to same results than it can be described as reliable.
76
Internal reliability
Whether the things within the study are all measuring the same thing
77
External reliability
Checking whether two different measures match when compared.
78
How do you gain Reliability ?
Test-Restest
Inter-Observer reliability
79
Test retest
This involves completing the same investigation/test on the same person on different occasions.
80
Inter-Observer reliability
This is particularly an issue of observation research as the researcher’s interpretations of behaviours can introduce subjectivity, bias and unreliability.
in observations the recommendation is that there are at least two observers.
81
Standardisation
the process in which procedures used in research are kept the same (Fixed Methodology)
82
Randomisation
randomising aspects of an experiment to reduce the effect of extraneous/cofounding variables
83
Validity
Validity refers to whether a psychological test, observation, experiment etc, produces results that are legitimate.
84
Internal validity
This included whether the researcher has managed to measure what they intended to measure.
85
External validity
Also refers to the extent to which findings can be generalised beyond the research settings in which they were found.
86
Types of Internal validity
Extraneous variables
Demand characteristics
87
Ecological validity
is concerned with generalising one setting/stimulus material to another to “everyday life” as that is what psychologists like to study.
88
Ethical issues
Conflicts between what the researcher wants and rights of the participants.
89
How to know if someone can be studied ?
. The BPS ethics code
. Send proposal to ethics committee.
90
What are the types of ethical issues
Right to withdraw
Informed consent
Confidentiality
Protection form harm
Privacy
Deception
91
Right to withdraw
Participants should be allowed to leave if they feel uncomfortable.
This is dealt with by ensuring participants can leave the study.
92
Informed consent
participants have the right to be given information about the experiment.
This is dealt with by gaining fully permission.
93
Confidentiality
personal information is protected.
This is dealt with by no names being used in the experiment.
94
Protection from harm
Participants should not be harmed psychologically or physically.
This can be dealt with by having experiment approved by ethics committee.
95
Privacy
Participants have the right not to be observed in non-public places.
This is dealt with by only observing in public places.
96
Deception
When participants are not told the true aims of the study.
This is dealt with by giving a full debrief.
