Research methods

Question 1

What is an aim

Answer 1

A general statement covering the topic /theory/concept that will be investigated

Question 2

Hypothesis

Answer 2

A testable statement written as prediction of what the researcher expects to find and states the relationship between the IV and DV

Question 3

Two types of hypothesis

Answer 3

• Directional hypothesis
• Non directional hypothesis

Question 4

Directional hypothesis

Answer 4

Directional hypothesis predicts the direction of the difference in conditions.
It states that one condition will out perform the other

Question 5

Non directional hypothesis

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Null hypothesis

Answer 6

The researcher assuming there bill be no difference between conditions

Question 7

What is a variable

Answer 7

Anything that can vary (time to perform task,memory,attention)

Question 8

What is a true experiment

Answer 8

Must be a control condition and an experimental condition and ppts must be randomly assigned to conditions

Question 9

Why does a researcher manipulate the IV

Answer 9

To test its effect on the dependent variable

Question 10

What is an independent variable

Answer 10

Manipulated by the researcher or changes naturally

Question 11

What is the level of the IV

Answer 11

The number of different versions of the IV there are in the experiment a

Question 12

What is a dependent variable

Answer 12

Measured by researcher. Any effect on DV should be caused by changes in the IV

Question 13

How do you test the effect of the IV

Answer 13

• Control condition
• Experimental condition

Question 14

What is the control condition

Answer 14

It provides a baseline measure of behaviour without experimental treatment

Question 15

What is the experimental condition

Answer 15

• When theres been researcher manipulation.
• The condition in which the researcher is particularly keen to see if a difference in behaviour has occurred

Question 16

Operationalising variables

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Extraneous variables

Answer 17

Any variable that affects the DV other than the IV
EG: time, mood, temperature, noise

Question 18

Confounding variables

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Directional hypothesis (one-tailed)

Answer 19

Researcher makes it clear what sort of difference or relationship that may be seen in 2 conditions
- May use ‘less’ ‘more’ ‘higher’ or ‘lower’

Question 20

Non directional hypothesis (two-tailed)

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Lab experiments

Answer 21

• Highly controlled environment
  Not always in a lab
• Considered a true experiment

Question 22

Field experiments

Answer 22

• IV is manipulated in natural setting
• Conducted in a real life setting.
  EWT study

Question 23

Natural experiment

Answer 23

• 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

Question 24

Quasi experiment

Answer 24

• IV is based on existing differences between ppl (age,gender,mental disorder) and can’t be changed
• NOT A TRUE EXPERIMENT.

Question 25

Demand characteristics

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Investigator effect

Answer 26

When the researcher unintentionally influences the outcome of the study by interactions w ppts

Question 27

Ways of minimising extraneous/confounding variables

Answer 27

- Randomisation - Standardisation - Single & double blind

Question 28

What is randomisation

Answer 28

The use of chance in order to control bias the researcher might have. Randomly generating names from a hat

Question 29

What is standardisation

Answer 29

Using exactly the same procedures for all ppts, such as the same environment, instructions and experiments Makes results more reliable and valid

Question 30

Single blind procedure

Answer 30

When the ppt is unaware of details of the experiment. Eg: aim or conditions Controls demand characteristics

Question 31

Double blind procedure

Answer 31

Nether the participant nor the researcher are aware of the aims of the investigation Controls demand characteristics & investigator effect

Question 32

What is validity

Answer 32

How accurate and representative the results are. - There’s internal and external validity

Question 33

Internal validity

Answer 33

Whether the results are due to manipulation of the IV and not affected by the confounding variables

Question 34

External validity

Answer 34

The extent to which the results can be generalised to other settings - temporal & ecological validity

Question 35

Temporal validity

Answer 35

Refers to how well we can generalise the results across different periods of time

Question 36

Ecological validity

Answer 36

Whether the experimental results can be generalised to their settings from artificial settings to real life environments.

Question 37

Reliability

Answer 37

Refer to how consistent the results are . If the result is repeated and has similar results the its reliable

Question 38

Internal reliability

Answer 38

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

Question 39

External validity

Answer 39

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.

Question 40

Experimental design

Answer 40

How the ppts in an experiment will be used

Question 41

Matched pairs design

Answer 41

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

Question 42

Limitations of matched pairs design

Answer 42

- its time consuming - its impossible to match ppl on every exact characteristic

Question 43

strengths of matched pairs design

Answer 43

- order effects are avoided - demand characteristics are less likely - ppt variables are reduced increasing internal validity

Question 44

independent groups design

Answer 44

When the researcher allocates different ppts to each group but doesn’t match them for any variable

Question 45

How does researcher control participant variables that could occur

Answer 45

random allocation

Question 46

Strengths of independent groups design

Answer 46

- no order effects - no demand characteristics as ppts only take part once

Question 47

Limitations of independent groups design

Answer 47

- participant variables may affect results - large amount of ppts are needed

Question 48

Repeated measures design

Answer 48

When all the ppts take part in both conditions

Question 49

What is the order effects

Answer 49

when the order of the experimental conditions influence the result of the study.

Question 50

Limitation of a repeated measures design

Answer 50

- 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

Question 51

How do you deal with order effects

Answer 51

COUNTERBALANCING

Question 52

What is counterbalancing

Answer 52

- When half the ppts take part in condition A then B, then the other half take part in condition B then A (ABBA)

Question 53

Pilot study

Answer 53

A small scale trial run of the actual investigation - to check the procedures, materials work and instructions are clear

Question 55

Benefits of pilot study

Answer 55

- cost effective - identifying flaws in study

Question 56

Peer