Research Methods Flashcards
Bar chart
Used to represent data which is divided into categories
Mean median mode
Histogram
Number of scores in each category are represented in vertical bars
Continuous data
No spaces between bars
Strength and limitation of the mean
+ Uses all values making it more representative of data as a whole
- easily distorted by extreme scores
Strength and limitation of the mean
+ not affected by extreme scores. Easy to calculate
- less sensitive as you don’t include all values
Strength and limitation of mode
+ easy go calculate
- ignores most scores as you’re only interested in the most frequently occurring
Range
+ easy to calculate
- ignores most values as you’re only interested in 2 extreme scores
Standard deviation
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
Positive skew
Mean is greater than the median
Long tail is on the right side of the peak
Negative skew
Median is greater than the mean
Long tail on left side of the peak
How to draw a distribution
Mean is smallest line
Median is middle length line
Mode is the longest line
Sections of a psychological report
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Method
- Results
- Discussion
- References
What is the abstract
Approx 150 words
Short summary of the study including aim/hypothesis/method/results/conclusions
Written last usually in italics
What is in the introduction of a psychological report
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
What is in the method of a psychological report
- 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
Results of the psychological report
- summarise key findings
- descriptive statistics eg dispersion
- inferential statistics eg sign test
- raw data in appendices
What is in the discussion of the psychological report
- summarise findings
- written descriptive form
- material from intro should be brought in
- do results support/contradict existing research
- evaluation
- possible alterations in future
References in psychological report
- 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
Case study
In depth investigation, description or analysis of a single individual, group, institution or event
Longitudinal
Strength of a case study
- 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
Limitations of a case study
- 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
Content analysis
A research technique that allows an indirect study of behaviour by examining the communications that people produce
Eg a transcript of conversation, emails
Quantitative content analysis
Analyse qualitative material and transform it into quantitative data
Count how many times the behaviour is used and create a tally
How to conduct a content analysis
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
Thematic analysis and qualitative data
- analyse qualitative material and the analysis stays in descriptive form
- look for themes/ideas
How would you use a thematic analysis
- select a topic you’re interested in analysing
- gather relevant articles
- read through articles
- look for emerging themes
- give examples
Strengths of content analysis
- no ethical issues. Materials are already in public domain
- quantitative and qualitative data gathered - both types are useful
Limitations of content analysis
- 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
Reliability
How consistent the findings are from an investigation
All RM have different levels of reliability. This is due to:
- the way the method is carried out - can it be replicated
- type of results they produce
Ways to assess reliability
Test re test
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
Ways to assess reliability
Inter rater reliability
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
Ways to improve reliability in questionnaires
Remove or rewrite a Q if Ps don’t understand
Replace open with closed Qs to collect quantitative data
Ways to improve reliability in interviews
Use the same interview
Don’t ask leading Qs
Use structured interviews
Ways to improve reliability in experiments
Use standardised procedures
Lab + quasi are most reliable
Ways to improve reliability in observations
Use behavioural categories- need to be specific
Levels of reliability
Experiments / correlation - high
Questionnaire/interview/observations/content analysis - variable
Case studies - low
