RESEARCH METHODS Flashcards
Define and Describe:
What happened?
Explain:
Why did that happen?
Predict:
Under what conditions is it likely to happen again?
Control
How can I we apply our
principle to make this
happen again? To make
sure it never happens again?
What is Research?
Research is a careful and detailed study into a specific problem,
concern, or issue using the scientific method
What is the scientific (research) method?
The scientific methods rests upon empirical observation and reason.
Scientific evidence requires the testing of statements that potentially can
be shown to be false (disconfirmed).
What are the 8 research steps?
- A question
- Background literature
3.Hypotheses
4.Method. Participants
5.(sometimes) Conduct a pilot study
6.Collect data - Analyze Data
8.Draw Conclusions
Aims…
Investigate something- (A general statement about the purpose of an investigation).
Hypotheses…
a precise, testable statement of what the
researchers predict will be the outcome of the study.
Null Hypotheses
there is no differences between the
two variables
Alternative Hypotheses
there is a relationship between the
two variables
Non-directional hypothesis=two
tailed hypothesis:
the independent variable will have an effect on the dependent variable, but we don`t know the direction.
Directional hypothesis=one tailed:
the independent variable will have an
effect on the dependent variable and
we now the direction
In an experiment we…
Investigate a cause-and-effect relationship. The
researcher investigates the way one variable effect the other.
IV
In an experiment the researcher will
always alter one variable. This is the independent variable.
This variable manipulates the experiment, standing alone, not depending on
anything.
DV
The dependent variable is the thing the researcher is measuring. The dependent variable depends on the independent variable (the thing that is being manipulated/changed), in order to be valid.
Extraneous variables
variables that are likely to effect the results of an
investigation. They might confuse the results.
Either acts randomly,
affecting DV in all levels of IV or systematically.
Confounding variables
extraneous factors that affect the performance of
the participants
situational variable
a confounding variable caused by the environment
Participant variable
each participant varies from the other and can effect results
Experimenter Variable
unconsciously conveys to participants how they
should behave
To be confident that the IV has caused the DV, the researcher must control
all other aspects of the experiment. This is called…
VALIDITY.
(To what extent the results are valid.)
Operationalisation
Clearly define what is the IV and the DV = so you (or anyone else) can replicate the study.-measurable
Standardisation
Standardisation is when different aspects of an experiment are
controlled so that everyone goes through the same experience.
Standardised procedure
Each participant must be treated in exactly the same way, doing the same tasks, with the same materials,
in exactly the same order.
This reduces the
extraneous variables in the
procedure.
Standardised instructions
Each participant must be given exactly the same instructions, by the same person, and in the same way. Written instructions are best for this.
Independent measures design/independent groups:
Experimental group and the control group.
Each condition of the experiment includes a
different group of participants.
-usig diff participants for each condition of exp.
Repeated measures Design
The same participants take part in each condition of the independent
variable.
Matched pairs design
The study will use different participants in each group but they are matched in pairs on the basis of variables which are related to the study. (age, gender, intelligence, personality).
Independent measures design strengths
no order effects. Participants see only one level of the IV,
reducing the effect of demand characteristics. Random allocation to
levels of the IV reduce the effects of individual differences.
Independent measures design weaknesses
more participants needed, participant variables can
distort results if there are individual differences.
Order Effects are…
When someone goes through one condition and then behave
differently in the second condition because they are starting to guess
the hypothesis.
Practice effect: familiarity or learning a task
Fatigue effect: boredom or tiredness
To overcome order effects we use…
Counterbalancing
Counterbalancing is…
when he sample will be split into two- ABBA
Repeated measures design strengths
each person acts as their own baseline. Counterbalancing
reduces order effects. Need fewer participants.
Repeated measures design weaknesses
order effects could distort the results demand characteristics
Demand Charasteristics
Features of the experimental situation which give away the aims.
Participants may change their behaviour because of that, so it reduces
the validity of the study.
Matched Pairs design strengths
Reduces participant variables. Avoids order effects.
Matched Pairs design Weaknesses.
hard to find matched pairs (time!), hard to match people exactly (unless they are twins), if 1 participant drops out you loose the
other one too.
Psychologists decide on the size of their sample by taking account of
factors such as…
the experimental design and the time available.
* Sampling is where you choose who the people taking part in your
study (participants) will be.
Random Sampling
Every member of the target population has an equal chance of
being selected
Volunteer sampling (self selecting)
Where participants self-select themselves, and choose to take part in
the research.
* E.g. people who return questionnaires, or have responded to an advertisement in the newspaper.
Opportunity sampling
Anyone who is available and agrees to take part in the research can become a participant.
* E.g. selecting a sample of students from those .coming out of the library
Experiments…
Experiments give wider control over what happens, helping us to test cause and effect, and so make some guesses about why things happen and why people behave the way they do
* Experiments use an independent variable and a dependent variable so
that they can measure cause and effect
* An experiment is an investigation in which a hypothesis is scientifically
tested
Lab controlled experiments…
This type of experiment is conducted in a well-controlled environment and therefore accurate measurements are possible.
- The researcher decides where the experiment will take place, at what time, with which participants, in what circumstances and using a standardized procedure.
Participants are randomly allocated to each independent variable group.
Lab experiments weaknesses
The artificiality of the setting may produce unnatural behaviour that does not reflect real life, i.e. low ecological validity.
This means it would not be possible to generalize the findings to a real
life setting.
Lab experiments strengths
It is easier to replicate a laboratory experiment.
They allow for precise control of extraneous and independent variables. This allows a cause and effect relationship to be established.
Field experiments…
Conducted in the everyday (i.e. natural) environment of the participants but the situations are still artificially set up.
* It is conducted in the normal environment (normal situation) for the
participants.
* The experimenter still manipulates the IV, to be responsible for
changes in the DV.
Field experiments strengths
more likely to reflect real life, higher ecological validity than a lab experiment, less likelihood of demand characteristics
affecting the results.
Field experiments weknesses
Less control over extraneous variables, makes it difficult
for another researcher to replicate the study in exactly the same way.
Reliability is
the consistency of the findings or results of a psychology research study. If findings or results remain the same or similar over multiple attempts, a researcher often considers it reliable.
Validity is
The validity definition in psychology assumes that the test in question measures precisely what it aims to measure, meaning the data collected is accurate and represents some truth compared to others outside of the study. If it does, then the test is valid.
Ecological validity
Contributes to the generalisability of the results.
* The extent to which the findings of research in one situation would
generalise to other situations.
* This is influenced by whether the situation represents the real
world effectively and whether the task is relevant to the real life.
Test retest reliability
Assesses the external consistency of a test.
Using a measure once and using again in the
same situation. If the reliability is high the
results should be the same.
Inter rater reliability
The extent to which two researchers
interpreting qualitative responses will
produce the same records from the same
data (answers can be interpreted in different
ways=low reliability).
Inter-observer reliability
Consistency between two researchers
watching the same event. If a researcher gives
different interpretations of the same
actions=low inter-observer reliability.
Laboratory experiments features:
Controls:
* Standardisation- for each participant the procedure can be kept exactly the same.
➢The findings of the experiment is RELIABLE
* Controlling variables improves VALIDITY
* Keeping the situation the same: any differences in the DV due to the differences between levels of the IV (not because of the extraneous variables).
Field experiment Features:
Harder to control variables and standardise procedures:
➢Reliability and validity may be lower than in a lab
experiment.
* Validity can be improved: familiar environment
➢Better ecological validity than lab experiment.
Non experimental methods involve…
The collection and
analysis of data when a variable is not or cannot be manipulated.
Open question features:
- More in-depth answers
- No pre-set answer options and allow the respondents to put
down exactly what they like in their own words.
Closed question features:
Structure the answer by allowing only answers which fit into categories that have been decided
in advanced by the researcher.
- Fixed set of possible responses.
- The options can be restricted to two or include quite complex lists of
alternatives from which the respondent can choose. - Closed questions can also provide ordinal data with a rating scale.
Closed question strengths:
Economical: large amounts of research data for relatively low costs.
- Large sample size can be obtained =representative of the population
=researcher can then
generalize from. - Questions are standardised=
questionnaire can be
replicated easily to check for reliability.
Closed question weaknesses:
lack of detail
Open question strengths:
Rich qualitative data
Open question weaknesses:
Time consuming to collect the data.
* Time consuming to analyse the data.
* Coding
* Not suitable for less educated respondents.
Questionnaires Strengths:
Relatively cheap, quick and
efficient way of obtaining large amounts of information from a large sample of people.
- Quantitative and Qualitative Data can be collected relatively quickly.
- Closed questions: easier to analyse than interviews:
- Effective
- Measuring the behaviour
- Attitudes
- Preferences
- opinions and intentions