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Psychology, Research Methods > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

1
Q

Variable

A

Any factor that can vary/change within an investigation

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2
Q

Dependent Variable

A

The variable that is measured

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3
Q

Independent Variable

A

An aspect of the experimental situation that is manipulated (changed), so the effect on the dependent variable can be measured

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4
Q

Alternative hypothesis

A

A clear, precise, and testable statement that states the relationship between variables to be investigated

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5
Q

Null hypothesis

A

Predict there will be no difference or association between variables that you are studying

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6
Q

Directional hypothesis

A

States the difference or relationship between 2 conditions. Say positive/negative if looking for relationship
(Alternative hypothesis)

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7
Q

Non-directional hypothesis

A

There will be a difference between 2 conditions
(Alternative hypothesis)

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8
Q

Extraneous Variable

A

Something that affects all groups in an experiment equally
e.g. anyone in a study could get bored

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9
Q

Cofounding Variable

A

Affects one group more than the other e.g. studying one group in the afternoon and the other in the morning, one group may do better than that other

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10
Q

Demand characteristics

A

Participants find out the experiments intentions. Prevention: Single-blind, Double-blind, Experimental realism, Counterbalancing, Pilot studiesI

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11
Q

Investigator effects

A

Conscious or unconscious clues the investigator may give that leads to demand characteristics. Prevention: Standardised instructions

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12
Q

Single-Blind

A

The participants are unaware of the research aims and which condition they are receiving

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13
Q

Double-Blind

A

Neither the participant or researcher are aware of the aim

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14
Q

Experimental Realism

A

Researcher makes the task sufficiently engaging,, so the participant pays attention to the task and not the observation
Representative of real life situations

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15
Q

Counterbalancing

A

Half the participants in a repeated measures design do A then B and some do B then A
Order effects can be controlled for

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16
Q

Standardised Instructions

A

Written instructions that are read out loud to each participant in exactly the same way (Verbatim)
Must include a check to make sure participants understood

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17
Q

Standardised Procedure

A

Set of procedures written and followed, so each participant experiences the same procedure

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18
Q

Pilot Studies

A

Small-scale study that is conducted before a large-scale study to remove any problems with the design

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19
Q

Lab Experiment

A

In a controlled environment,
Lacks real world application,
Extraneous variables are controlled,
High internal validity/Low external validity

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20
Q

Field Experiments

A

In a natural environment but IV is manipulated b researcher and DV is measured, most participants unaware of being in the study so lacks informed consent,
Less control of extraneous variables than Lab, High ecological validity due to lack of demand characteristics,
Low internal validity/High external validity

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21
Q

Natural Experiment

A

Pre-existing IV in a condition that is unethical to repeat (naturally occurring),
Allows for research into an area where IV cannot be manipulated,
High external validity,
Cannot demonstrate cause and effect because cannot be repeated and often studied on an individual or small group,
Low internal validity/High external validity

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22
Q

Quasi Experiment

A

IV that is natural. A pre-existing difference between people (gender, age…),
Cannot demonstrate cause and effect because IV is not directly manipulated,
Carried out under controlled conditions so shares strengths with Lab,
High internal validity or Low (participant variables)/Low external validity

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23
Q

Validity

A

The accuracy of a theory or study

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24
Q

Internal Validity

A

Whether the study measures what it claims to

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25
Q

External Validity

A

The extent to which a study reflects real life

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26
Q

Ecological Validity

A

The extent to which a study’s setting/task reflects real life

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27
Q

Generalisablility

A

Extent to which the sample of a study reflects the target population

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28
Q

Temporal Validity

A

Extent to which the study reflects today’s society

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29
Q

Mundane Realism

A

If the task can be considered a task someone would normally complete
e.g. helping and old person carry something heavy

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30
Q

Reliability

A

How consistent a study is

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31
Q

Economic Implications

A

The effect that psychological research has on the economy

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32
Q

Repeated Measures

A

Participants take part in all conditions,
Participants may show demand characteristics,
No participant variables/Less participants needed than in an independant

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33
Q

Independent Measures

A

Participants take party in one condition of an experiment,
Avoids order effects,
Cannot control participant variables e.g. abilities of participants

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34
Q

Matched Pairs

A

Participants are put into pairs based on key features (potential extraneous variables) and one takes part in condition A , whilst the other in condition B,
Avoids order effects/Fewer demand characteristics,
Time consuming and difficult to find exact pairs

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35
Q

How to deal with investigator effect

A

Standardised instructions

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36
Q

Random Sampling

A

Every member of the population has an equal chance of being chosen

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37
Q

Random Sampling strengths

A

Free from researcher bias,
More likely to produce a representative sample than opportunity

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38
Q

Random sampling weaknesses

A

Difficult and time consuming
Could produce unrepresentative data

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39
Q

Opportunity Sampling

A

Taking the sample from people who are available and convenient at the time in the study

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40
Q

Opportunity strength

A

Convenient, quick, easy
Less costly than other methods

41
Q

Opportunity weakness

A

Unrepresentative of target population so cannot generalise findings
Reasearcher bias - complete representation of the target population is not possible

42
Q

Volunteer Sampling

A

Participants becoming part of a study because they volunteer when asked or in response to an advert

43
Q

Volunteer strength

A

Simple and easy
Less time consuming

44
Q

Volunteer weakness

A

Volunteer bias - may attract a certain type of profile, this affects the generalisability of the results

45
Q

Systematic Sampling

A

Every nth member of the target population selected

46
Q

Systematic strength

A

Avoids researcher bias - once the system has been chosen there is no influence over participants
Fairly representative

47
Q

Systematic weakness

A

Cannot reflect all the ways that people are different - complete representation of the target population is not possible

48
Q

Stratified Sampling

A

Classifying the population into sub-groups. Work out the proportions of each sub-group/category. Randomly selecting participants within each strata so there is a similar proportion in each group as the population

49
Q

Startified strength

A

Avoid researcher bias
Representative sample - reflects target population so can generalise the findings

50
Q

Stratified weakness

A

Cannot reflect all the ways that people are different - complete representation of the target population is not possible

51
Q

Ethical Issues

A

When ethical guidelines are broken, so investigators become unethical

52
Q

Informed Consent

A

Participants must be given comprehensive info about and purpose of the study, can make an educated decision if they want to participate

53
Q

Deception

A

Participant not told true aim of the study

54
Q

Protection From Harm

A

During a study the participant should not experience any negative physical/psycological effects

55
Q

Confidentiality

A

Communication of personal information from one person to another

56
Q

Privacy

A

Person has a right to control the flow of info about themselves

57
Q

Right to withdraw

A

Can stop participating and remove their data at any point. Can withdraw before, during, and up to 2 weeks after

58
Q

Debriefing

A

After study, if participants deceived, they have a right to know the true aim of the study

59
Q

Cost-benefit analysis

A

Judge cost of doing research against benefits

60
Q

Consent form

A

For participants to understand the purpose of the research and their involvement, appropriate to target population

61
Q

Consent form (structure)

A

Title,
Thank you,
Introduction to purpose of the study,
Answer to FAQs,
Name and contact details of researcher, and somewhere to sign

62
Q

Debrief form

A

Deals with deception and reminds participants of their ethical rights, given after study

63
Q

Debrief form (structure)

A

Aim of study,
Outline both conditions of study if uses independent measures,
Ask if questions and give who to ask,
Relevant ethical considerations,
Offer someone to talk to if distressed,
A thank you

64
Q

Nominal

A

Data separated into categories
e.g. grouping people according to their favourite football team

65
Q

Ordinal

A

Ordered in a way
e.g. Asking someone to list food in order of their personal preferences

66
Q

Interval

A

Measured using units of equal intervals
e.g. Measuring someone in cm

67
Q

Closed questions

A

Questions with set answers like “Yes” or “No”

68
Q

Open questions

A

Questions with no set answers like “Why” questions

69
Q

Likert questions

A

Questions on a questionnaire to measure opinion/attitude/behaviour

70
Q

Structured interview

A

Pre-determined questions, no deviation

71
Q

Semi structured

A

Has some pre-prepared questions but can deviate from

72
Q

Unstructured

A

No pre-prepared questions

73
Q

Covert

A

Observation where people are unaware they are being studied

74
Q

Covert strength

A

Produces natural behaviours
Reduces chance of investigator effects

75
Q

Covert weakness

A

Unethical as paarticipants cant give informed consent

76
Q

Overt

A

Observation where the participant knows they are beings studied

77
Q

Overt strength

A

Participants gain informed consent so is ethical

78
Q

Overt weakness

A

Particpants may act differently to how they would if they werent being observed

79
Q

Natrualistic

A

Observation carriedd out in a natural environment, investigtor doesnt interfere

80
Q

Naturalistic strength

A

More accurate to how people behave in real life situations, ecological validity

81
Q

Naturalistic weakness

A

Less control over behaviour
Lower internal validity

82
Q

Controlled

A

Observation where behaviour is observed under conditions where certain variables have been organised by the researcher

83
Q

Controlled strength

A

High level of control
Focus on participant aspect of behaviour more precise

84
Q

Controll weakness

A

Observation feeling unnatural;
Participants may be more likely to show demand characteristics

85
Q

Participant

A

Observation made by someone who is participating in the activity being observed

86
Q

Participant strength

A

More in-depth information on your participants behaviour
Data more likely to be valid

87
Q

Participant weakness

A

May have thical issues because covert
Participants show demand characterstics becasuse overt

88
Q

Non Participant

A

Observation where observer is separate from the people being observed

89
Q

Non participant strength

A

Objective, researcher able to see behaviour from outsider perspective

90
Q

Non-Participant weakness

A

Do not get participants insight

91
Q

Content Analysis

A

Systematically analysing various kinds of qualitative data. Can be placed into categories and counted (quantitive), or analysed in themes (qualitiative)

92
Q

How to conduct content analysis

A
  1. Choose sample e.g. magazine
  2. Choose sample method e.g. time sampling or event sampling
    3.watch/read sample and identify potential categories
    4.Two psychologists then compare categories and use the ones they have both agreed on
    5.Give examples of the categories
  3. Carry out the content analysis seperately, rewatch/read the sample and note the number of times something falls into one of the categories
  4. Psychologists then compare answers, look for agreement and use appropraite statistical test to analyse reliability of results
93
Q

Thematic Analysis

A

Qualitative, analysis of themes that appear in the material

94
Q

How to conduct thematic anaylysis

A
  1. Watch/read sample given (clip/diary/etc)
  2. Identify potential implicated or explicit themes/ideas from the data (emergent themes)
  3. Collect new sample of data to test validity of the themes
  4. Write up a final report using direct qoutes from data to illistrate each theme
95
Q

Content analysis strength

A

High ecological validity, because analysis of real life communication
Sources accessable by others, so easily replicated, high reliability

96
Q

Content analysis weakness

A

Observer bias, reduces validity and objectivity
Likely to be culturally bias, interpritation of verbal/written content affected by language of observer and behavioural catergories

97
Q

Inter-rater reliability

A

Observations should be consistent, observers discuss and agree beforehand their interpritation of the behaviours, they watch the same event but record data seperately, data then correlated appropriately with strong positive correlation (+0.8)

98
Q

Inter-rater reliability improvement

A

Make sure behavioural categoriesproperlu operationalised and not broad, categories shouldnt overlap

Psychology, Research Methods (6 decks)

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