research methods Flashcards
what is the cause and effect?
scientific research provides cause and effect relationships between variables
what is falsifiability?
scientific research allowing for the hypothesis to be refuted (shown to be wrong)
what is hypothesis testing?
scientific research should allow for hypothesis to be generated and tested
what is replicability?
research should be easy to repeat and should provide the same results each time
what is control and standardisation?
research should seek to control extraneous variables, and should use standardised procedures
what is objectivity?
results and conclusions should not be open to subjective interpretation, results should be quantitative
what steps are in a scientific method?
- making observations
- produce a testable hypothesis
- design a well-controlled study to test this hypothesis
- draw conclusions
what two processes can be followed to develop a theory?
induction
deduction
which process, induction or deduction, is more scientific?
induction
what order of steps does induction follow?
- make the observations
- produce a testable hypothesis
- design a well-controlled study to test the hypothesis
- draw conclusions
- propose a theory
what order of steps does deduction follow?
- propose a theory
- produce a testable hypothesis
- design a well-controlled study to test the hypothesis
- make observations
- draw conclusions
compare induction to deduction
induction, starts with an observation and builds a theory based on these observations, whereas, deduction, start with a theory and seeks evidence for the theory
list in order the 4 key stages of the research planning process
- establish a research aim
- decide on research method
- select your participants
- decide on the type of data to be selected
what do research aims show?
they help us to identify the precise area of the study and the reasons it is being carried out.
‘WHAT’ is being studied
what do sampling methods show?
the population, the sample and ‘WHO’ your participants will be
what is a target population?
a group of people that share a set of characteristics, that a researcher wishes
if target populations are too big, what is sampled instead?
a sample of the target population
when psychologists investigate human behaviour they end up making what?
generalisations about people, because they want to know about general trends
why should we be careful when making generalisations?
although we may share some features, we are all unique and unlike anyone else
what is a representative sample?
a part of the target audience which shares all the important characteristics of the population despite its smaller size
explain random sampling
each person in the target population stands an equal chance of being selected for inclusion
how can be random sampling be chosen?
all the names of the people in the total population can be put in a random computer generator, as a result, random results will be selected
advantage of random sampling?
generates the most representative sample, due to it reducing bias, as everyone has an equal chance of being selected
disadvantage of random sampling?
difficult, if not impossible, to obtain data from large population
explain self-selected sampling
involves participants selecting/ volunteering themselves, often in response to an advertisement for participants
advantage of self-selected sampling?
- quite easy to obtain and collect data
- participants are less likely to withdraw if they have volunteered themselves
disadvantage of self-selected sampling?
- prone to bias response
- only certain types of people may volunteer
e.g those with much confidence
e.g those in the same friendship group
explain opportunity sampling
involves the researcher selecting anyone who is available and willing to take part in the research
advantages of opportunity sampling?
- convenient, quite easy to do
- less time consuming than the rest
disadvantages of opportunity sampling?
- produces a restricted and unrepresentative sample
- makes generalisation quite difficult
explain snowball sampling
sampling that is used if your target population is very specific and difficult to recruit.
you would ask someone who fits the requirements and criteria and then ask them to ask their friends, family or acquaintances to get in touch with the researcher themselves
advantages of snowball sampling?
- gives you access to people who fit the criteria who you may not have had access to otherwise
disadvantages of snowball sampling?
- produces a restricted, unrepresentative samples as the participants are more than likely to come from one area
what is internal validity?
generally, refers to whether a measure is accurately measuring what it tends to measure
what is face validity?
at face value, does the test accurately measure what was intended to be measured
what was concurrent validity?
when test scores of a new test, correlate with test scores of an established test
give an example of concurrent validity?
A* at the old GCSE is equivalent to a grade 9 on the new GCSE
what is criterion validity?
a test that will be able to predict a future outcome
give an example of criterion validity
if a class did a self-report to diagnose schizophrenia, and one person fits the criteria needed to successfully diagnose, you could then predict in the future, they will be diagnosed with Sz in years to come
what is construct validity?
does the measure fully measure what it intends to?
give an example of construct validity
a measure of ‘academic ability’ that only used GCSE maths score does not construct a full picture of academic ability
what is external validity? what are the two types?
how valid is the research in the real world?
- ecological
- population
what is ecological validity?
will the measure used enable you to reflect real life behaviour?
give an example of ecological validity
using electric shock machines to show obedience in the real world
- unrealistic
- not really possible
= low ecological validity
what is population validity?
does the sample used reflect the wider target population?
what does reliability refer to?
the consistency of findings or measures
what are the two main types of reliability?
- internal
- external
what does internal reliability mean?
how consistent is the measure(s) within the research?
give an example of internal reliability
does a questionnaire show someone is depressed throughout or only on some questions?
how to test internal reliability?
the split half method
do all parts of the measure contribute equally to what is being measured?
what is external reliability?
the extent to which a measure varies from one use to another
how does test re-test work for external reliability?
measures the stability over time- does the measure give the same reading for the same participant over time?
e.g stepping on scales, measuring, stepping off the scales then stepping back on
how does inter-rater testing work on external reliability?
do the ratings of one observers correlate with those of another observer who are watching the same behaviour at the same time?
what are research ethics?
the way psychologists treat their participants before, during and after the research takes place.
what is critical question surrounding ethics of psychological research?
‘do the ends justify the means’
do psychologists have a right to invade people’s privacy or expose them to stress, even if it is for a greater good?
what is informed consent?
consent should be obtained before the research can begin, for participants under the age of 16, this must obtained from parents or those in loco parientes
what is right to withdraw?
participants have the right to refuse, or withdraw, from the research at any time
what is confidentiality?
participants identity and private information e.g schools must be kept secret and private both throughout the research and once the information is public
what is debriefing?
participants have the right to receive any necessary debriefing at the end of the interview/research
what is protection from harm?
investigators have a responsibility to protect their participants from physical and mental (psychological harm)
what is deception?
the withholding of information or the misleading of participants understanding
what is observational research?
observational research is only acceptable in situations where those observed could expect to be observed strangers
