Research methods Flashcards
What is an aim
A general statement covering the topic /theory/concept that will be investigated
Hypothesis
A testable statement written as prediction of what the researcher expects to find and states the relationship between the IV and DV
Two types of hypothesis
- Directional hypothesis
- Non directional hypothesis
Directional hypothesis
Directional hypothesis predicts the direction of the difference in conditions.
It states that one condition will out perform the other
Non directional hypothesis
Does not predict the direction of the difference in condition
- Predicts a difference in conditions will be shown. EG: There will be a difference in this and that
Null hypothesis
The researcher assuming there bill be no difference between conditions
What is a variable
Anything that can vary (time to perform task,memory,attention)
What is a true experiment
Must be a control condition and an experimental condition and ppts must be randomly assigned to conditions
Why does a researcher manipulate the IV
To test its effect on the dependent variable
What is an independent variable
Manipulated by the researcher or changes naturally
What is the level of the IV
The number of different versions of the IV there are in the experiment a
What is a dependent variable
Measured by researcher. Any effect on DV should be caused by changes in the IV
How do you test the effect of the IV
- Control condition
- Experimental condition
What is the control condition
It provides a baseline measure of behaviour without experimental treatment
What is the experimental condition
- When theres been researcher manipulation.
- The condition in which the researcher is particularly keen to see if a difference in behaviour has occurred
Operationalising variables
Clearly defining variables so they can be measured
- To operationalise the IV it needs to be broken down into separate conditions)
- To operationalise DV the researcher needs to design a procedure
Extraneous variables
Any variable that affects the DV other than the IV
EG: time, mood, temperature, noise
Confounding variables
A specific type of extraneous variable that influences both the IV and DV in a way that makes it unclear which one is causing the effect
Directional hypothesis (one-tailed)
Researcher makes it clear what sort of difference or relationship that may be seen in 2 conditions
- May use ‘less’ ‘more’ ‘higher’ or ‘lower’
Non directional hypothesis (two-tailed)
Used when there has been no previous research to suggest what direction the research will go in.
- Researcher claims theres a difference/ relationship but outcome isn’t mentioned
Lab experiments
- Highly controlled environment
Not always in a lab - Considered a true experiment
Field experiments
- IV is manipulated in natural setting
- Conducted in a real life setting.
EWT study
Natural experiment
- Researcher has no control over IV and cannot change it, would’ve still been happening whether research done or not
- IV is natural, not the setting
Quasi experiment
- IV is based on existing differences between ppl (age,gender,mental disorder) and can’t be changed
- NOT A TRUE EXPERIMENT.
Demand characteristics
Cues in the environment that might reveal purpose of study to ppts which cause them to change their behaviour
- screw u or please u effect
Investigator effect
When the researcher unintentionally influences the outcome of the study by interactions w ppts
Ways of minimising extraneous/confounding variables
- Randomisation
- Standardisation
- Single & double blind
What is randomisation
The use of chance in order to control bias the researcher might have.
Randomly generating names from a hat
What is standardisation
Using exactly the same procedures for all ppts, such as the same environment, instructions and experiments
Makes results more reliable and valid
Single blind procedure
When the ppt is unaware of details of the experiment. Eg: aim or conditions
Controls demand characteristics
Double blind procedure
Nether the participant nor the researcher are aware of the aims of the investigation
Controls demand characteristics & investigator effect
What is validity
How accurate and representative the results are.
- There’s internal and external validity
Internal validity
Whether the results are due to manipulation of the IV and not affected by the confounding variables
External validity
The extent to which the results can be generalised to other settings
- temporal & ecological validity
Temporal validity
Refers to how well we can generalise the results across different periods of time
Ecological validity
Whether the experimental results can be generalised to their settings from artificial settings to real life environments.
Reliability
Refer to how consistent the results are . If the result is repeated and has similar results the its reliable
Internal reliability
The extent to which a test is consistent within itself .
- eg: if someone was doing questionnaire on obedience they should have the same score on each question for it to be considered to have internal reliability
External validity
The extent to which a test is consistent overtime.
- eg: if someone achieved 120 on IQ test nd they were testes again in 8 months, we would expect them to achieve the same results.
Experimental design
How the ppts in an experiment will be used
Matched pairs design
Where ppts are first matched based on similar participant variable (eg: IQ), then one member is assigned to condition A and the other assigned to condition B
Limitations of matched pairs design
- its time consuming
- its impossible to match ppl on every exact characteristic
strengths of matched pairs design
- order effects are avoided
- demand characteristics are less likely
- ppt variables are reduced increasing internal validity
independent groups design
When the researcher allocates different ppts to each group but doesn’t match them for any variable
How does researcher control participant variables that could occur
random allocation
Strengths of independent groups design
- no order effects
- no demand characteristics as ppts only take part once
Limitations of independent groups design
- participant variables may affect results
- large amount of ppts are needed
Repeated measures design
When all the ppts take part in both conditions
What is the order effects
when the order of the experimental conditions influence the result of the study.
Limitation of a repeated measures design
- there are order effects (ppts may figure out aim cause task is done twice or become bored )
- demand characteristics are likely as ppts know the aim of study
How do you deal with order effects
COUNTERBALANCING
What is counterbalancing
- When half the ppts take part in condition A then B, then the other half take part in condition B then A (ABBA)
Pilot study
A small scale trial run of the actual investigation
- to check the procedures, materials work and instructions are clear
Benefits of pilot study
- cost effective
- identifying flaws in study
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