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Psychology Year 2 > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

Bar chart

A

Used to represent data which is divided into categories
Mean median mode

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2
Q

Histogram

A

Number of scores in each category are represented in vertical bars
Continuous data
No spaces between bars

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3
Q

Strength and limitation of the mean

A

+ Uses all values making it more representative of data as a whole
- easily distorted by extreme scores

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4
Q

Strength and limitation of the mean

A

+ not affected by extreme scores. Easy to calculate
- less sensitive as you don’t include all values

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5
Q

Strength and limitation of mode

A

+ easy go calculate
- ignores most scores as you’re only interested in the most frequently occurring

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6
Q

Range

A

+ easy to calculate
- ignores most values as you’re only interested in 2 extreme scores

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7
Q

Standard deviation

A

How far the scores deviated from the mean
The larger the deviation the greater spread of scores
Causes of a larger SD - IV may not have affected Ps in same way. Anomalous results

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8
Q

Positive skew

A

Mean is greater than the median
Long tail is on the right side of the peak

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9
Q

Negative skew

A

Median is greater than the mean
Long tail on left side of the peak

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10
Q

How to draw a distribution

A

Mean is smallest line
Median is middle length line
Mode is the longest line

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11
Q

Sections of a psychological report

A
  1. Abstract
  2. Introduction
  3. Method
  4. Results
  5. Discussion
  6. References
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12
Q

What is the abstract

A

Approx 150 words
Short summary of the study including aim/hypothesis/method/results/conclusions
Written last usually in italics

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13
Q

What is in the introduction of a psychological report

A

Forms a literature review - looks at past research into the area you’re studying
May include theories/concepts/research studies that are related to study
Trying to get an understanding of what research already exists
Includes aims and hypotheses

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14
Q

What is in the method of a psychological report

A
  • design - what RM was and experimental design. Must include justifications
  • sample - info on Ps + sampling method used
  • materials - details of material used eg questionnaire
  • procedure - everything done in study in chronological order. Inc instructions given, briefing, standardised procedures and debriefing
  • ethics
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15
Q

Results of the psychological report

A
  • summarise key findings
  • descriptive statistics eg dispersion
  • inferential statistics eg sign test
  • raw data in appendices
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16
Q

What is in the discussion of the psychological report

A
  • summarise findings
  • written descriptive form
  • material from intro should be brought in
  • do results support/contradict existing research
  • evaluation
  • possible alterations in future
17
Q

References in psychological report

A
  • full details of source
  • inc sources from book, journal, website
    Journal: authors surname + initial, date published, journal title, journal, volume + edition, page number
    Book: names, date, book, place of publication, name of publisher
18
Q

Case study

A

In depth investigation, description or analysis of a single individual, group, institution or event
Longitudinal

19
Q

Strength of a case study

A
  • useful as it’s in depth and specific about someone as it’s longitudinal
  • real life application so has high ecological validity
  • qualitative and quantitative data and produces loads of data
  • can support or contradict existing theories
20
Q

Limitations of a case study

A
  • only studies 1 person so can’t generalise to others
  • studying abnormal behaviour so doesn’t explain behaviour of others
  • can’t replicate so low reliability
  • researcher bias. Info is subjective
  • lack validity as info collected is prone to inaccuracy
21
Q

Content analysis

A

A research technique that allows an indirect study of behaviour by examining the communications that people produce
Eg a transcript of conversation, emails

22
Q

Quantitative content analysis

A

Analyse qualitative material and transform it into quantitative data
Count how many times the behaviour is used and create a tally

23
Q

How to conduct a content analysis

A

Select a topic ur interested in researching
Then gather relevant articles
Then do coding - researchers agree on what they’re looking for
Agreement is important so there is higher reliability. Has to be 80% similarity

24
Q

Thematic analysis and qualitative data

A
  • analyse qualitative material and the analysis stays in descriptive form
  • look for themes/ideas
25
Q

How would you use a thematic analysis

A
  • select a topic you’re interested in analysing
  • gather relevant articles
  • read through articles
  • look for emerging themes
  • give examples
26
Q

Strengths of content analysis

A
  • no ethical issues. Materials are already in public domain
  • quantitative and qualitative data gathered - both types are useful
27
Q

Limitations of content analysis

A
  • issues with misinterpretation as researcher never directly interacts with Ps they could misunderstand the original intended opinions
  • content analyses that collect descriptive data are less objective - results open to more interpretation
28
Q

Reliability

A

How consistent the findings are from an investigation

29
Q

All RM have different levels of reliability. This is due to:

A
  • the way the method is carried out - can it be replicated
  • type of results they produce
30
Q

Ways to assess reliability
Test re test

A

Used to check RM eg experiment/questionnaire is reliable
Administer same tool to the same people 3-6 months after the first one
If tool is reliable results should be the same each time they are administered

31
Q

Ways to assess reliability
Inter rater reliability

A

Used in observations/content analysis/ interviews eg transcripts
These methods are open to interpretation
More than 1 researcher takes part, they watch the same event but work separately before comparing scores
Reliable if they reach 80% similarity

32
Q

Ways to improve reliability in questionnaires

A

Remove or rewrite a Q if Ps don’t understand
Replace open with closed Qs to collect quantitative data

33
Q

Ways to improve reliability in interviews

A

Use the same interview
Don’t ask leading Qs
Use structured interviews

34
Q

Ways to improve reliability in experiments

A

Use standardised procedures
Lab + quasi are most reliable

35
Q

Ways to improve reliability in observations

A

Use behavioural categories- need to be specific

36
Q

Levels of reliability

A

Experiments / correlation - high
Questionnaire/interview/observations/content analysis - variable
Case studies - low

Psychology Year 2 (6 decks)

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