Research Methods

Question 1

Explain the difference between an aim and a hypothesis

Answer 1

An aim is what a study is trying to achieve, while a hypothesis is a specific prediction of what it will find.

Question 2

Write an aim for a novel experiment

Question 3

Explain what is meant by a directional (one tailed) hypothesis

Question 4

When should a directional hypothesis be used?

Question 5

Explain what is meant by a null hypothesis and its purpose

Question 6

Explain what is meant by an independent variable

Question 7

Explain what is meant by a dependent variable

Question 8

Explain what is meant by an extraneous variable

Question 9

Explain what is meant by a confounding variable

Question 10

Explain the importance of controlling extraneous variables

Question 11

Explain how extraneous variables can influence the results of an experiment

Question 12

Explain how confounding variables can influence the results of an experiment

Question 13

Describe the key features of a lab experiment

Question 14

Describe the key features of a field experiment

Question 15

Describe the key features of a natural experiment

Question 16

Describe the key features of a quasi experiment

Question 17

Discuss the strengths and limitations of a lab experiment

Question 18

Discuss the strengths and limitations of a field experiment

Question 19

Discuss the strengths and limitations of a natural experiment

Question 20

Discuss the strengths and limitations of a quasi experiment

Question 21

Explain the difference between population and sample

Question 22

Explain how random sampling is conducted

Question 23

Explain how opportunity sampling is conducted

Question 24

Explain how stratified sampling is conducted

Question 25

Explain how systematic sampling is conducted

Question 26

Explain how volunteer sampling is conducted

Question 27

Discuss the strengths and limitations of random sampling

Question 28

Discuss the strengths and limitations of opportunity sampling

Question 29

Discuss the strengths and limitations of stratified sampling

Question 30

Discuss the strengths and limitations of systematic sampling

Question 31

Discuss the strengths and limitations of volunteer sampling

Question 32

Discuss the implications of random sampling including issues of bias and generalisation

Question 33

Discuss the implications of opportunity sampling including issues of bias and generalisation

Question 34

Discuss the implications of stratified sampling includng issues of bias and generalisation

Question 35

Discuss the implications of systematic sampling including issues of bias and generalisation

Question 36

Discuss the implications of volunteer sampling including issues of bias and generalisation

Question 37

Explain what is meant by experimental design

Question 38

Outline how participants are allocated in repeated measures design

Question 39

Outline how participants are allocated in independent groups design

Question 40

Outline how participants are allocated in matched pairs design

Question 41

Discuss strengths and weaknesses of the repeated measures design

Question 42

Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the independent groups design

Question 43

Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the matched pairs design

Question 44

Explain the importance of control in experimental conditions

Question 45

Explain what is meant by random allocation

Question 46

Explain what is meant by counterbalancing

Question 47

Explain what is meant by randomisation

Question 48

Explain what is meant by standardisation

Question 49

Explain how to obtain a random sample

Question 50

Explain how counterbalancing is done