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Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

Qualitative data

A

Data expressed with words
e.g. interviews
+ more depth and detail
- Hard to analyse and summarise

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2
Q

Quantitative data

A

Uses numerical data
Its measurable (countable)
e.g. age in years, number of people
+ Easy to analyse and draw conclusions
- Lacks depth

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3
Q

Primary data

A

first hand data gathered by the researcher themself.
e.g. questionnaire
+ useful as suits aims of researcher
- Time & effort to collect

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4
Q

Secondary data

A

data collected by someone else
e.g. past records, websites
+ Easy and convenient to use
- May not fit with researcher
aims

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5
Q

Random Sampling

A

Each person has equal chance of being selected.
+ no bias
- Takes time

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6
Q

Stratified Sampling

A

selecting participants from sub groups. (e.g. gender)
+ most representative
- Very time consuming

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7
Q

Opportunity Sampling

A

Selecting people available at time e.g. who is present in the shopping
mall.
+ Quick and easy
- Researcher bias
- Less representative

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8
Q

Systematic Sampling

A

Selecting every nth person from
a list of target population.
+ avoids researcher bias
- Sample may be unrepresentative

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9
Q

Independent Variable

A

The variable that the researcher alters or manipulates to look for the effect on another variable. This variable produces the two conditions of the study.

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10
Q

Dependent Variable

A

The variable that the researcher measures to see if the IV is affected

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11
Q

Extraneous Variable

A

Unwanted variable that could affect the DV.

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12
Q

Positive Correlation

A

A relationship between two variables that move in tandem—that is, in the same direction.
A positive correlation exists when one variable decreases as the other variable decreases, or one variable increases while the other increases.

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13
Q

Negative Correlation

A

A negative correlation is a relationship between two variables that move in opposite directions.
In other words, when variable A increases, variable B decreases.

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14
Q

Null Hypothesis

A

A statement predicting no relationship between two
variables

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15
Q

Alternative Hypothesis

A

states there is a statistically significant relationship between two variables

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16
Q

Hypothesis

A

A testable statement about the relationship between two
variables. In an experiment these variables are called the independent
variable (IV) and the dependent variable (DV).

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17
Q

Aim

A

Statement of the research purpose

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18
Q

Variable

A

A factor or thing that can change – it varies

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19
Q

Informed consent

A

Participants should be told of the purpose of the research and that they can leave at anytime

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20
Q

Deception

A

participants should not be lied to or misled about aims.

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21
Q

Privacy

A

Participants have the right to control information about themselves.

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22
Q

Confidentiallity

A

Personal data must be protected and respected

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23
Q

BPS guidelines (Code of Ethics and Conduct)

A

code of conduct all professional psychologists should follow.

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24
Q

Validity

A

relates to whether a result is a true reflection of real world behaviour.

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25
Q

Reliability

A

a measure of consistency

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26
Q

Sample

A

The small group of people who represent the target
population and who are studied

27
Q

Standardised procedures

A

Using the exact same methods and procedures for participants in a study

28
Q

Research procedures

A

these all reduce the chance of extraneous variables and make research more reliable

29
Q

Randomisation

A

Using chance to control effects of bias when designing a study e.g. picking words for a list in a memory study

30
Q

Instructions to participants

A

Giving the same information about the study to all participants.

31
Q

Independent Groups

A

Different groups of participants
for each condition
+ no order effects
- Participant variables
- More participants needed

32
Q

Repeated Measures

A

All participants take part in both
conditions
+ no participant variables
+ fewer participants needed so cheaper
- Order effects present

33
Q

Matched Pairs

A

Participants are tested on
variables relevant to the study
and then matched and one
person from each pair completes
one condition.
+ no order effects
+ Less participants variables
- Time consuming to match participants
- Not all participant variables are controlled

34
Q

Experimental designs

A

the way that we organise the participants into conditions

35
Q

Target Population

A

The large group of people the researcher wishes to study

36
Q

Generalised

A

The results from the sample can be said to apply to the
target population.

37
Q

Representative

A

The sample of participants is made up of people who have the same characteristics and abilities as the target population

38
Q

Laboratory experiments

A

Experiment is high in control
over what happens.

39
Q

Laboratory experiments
Strengths/Weaknesses

A

Strengths
EV’s can be controlled so cause and effect can be established.
Uses standardised procedure.

Weaknessess
Behaviour in a lab less normal difficult to generalise Participants may change behaviour because they’re aware they are being watched.

40
Q

Field Experiments

A

take place in a natural setting
IV manipulated by the experimenter.

41
Q

Field Experiment
Strengths/Weaknesses

A

Strengths
More realistic behaviour than a lab as in natural environment.
Higher ecological validity
Less chance of demand characteristics.

Weaknesses
May lose control of EV’s so difficult to establish cause and effect.
Ethical issues such as deception or consent more likely.

42
Q

Natural Experiment

A

take place in field or lab, IV is not changed by the experimenter it varies naturally.

43
Q

Natural Expermiment
Strengths/Weaknesses

A

Strengths
May have higher validity because real world variables.
Can use standardised procedures so less EVs.

Weaknesses
Few opportunities to carry out as behaviours may be rare –
may also lead to small samples
May be EV’s as cant randomly
allocate participants.

44
Q

Closed questions

A

fixed range of answers
e.g. rating scale or yes/no

45
Q

Open questions

A

tend to produce qualitative data.
More detailed responses

46
Q

Questionnaires

A

prepared list of questions that can be answered in writing, over the phone, internet etc

47
Q

Correlations

A

Show a relationship between two variables. Shows link or association but NOT cause and effec

48
Q

Interviews

A

Face to face, real-time contact. Can also be phone.

49
Q

Structured

A

pre- planned list of questions to ask

50
Q

Semi-structured

A

some questions pre-planned but follow-up can emerge.

51
Q

Un-structured

A

Some questions prepared
before, new questions can be created
depending on interviewee response.

52
Q

Range (largest score subtract smallest)

A

(+) easy to calculate
(-) Can be distorted by extreme
scores

53
Q

Mean (sum of score divide by total number of scores)

A

(+) Uses all of data so most
sensitive measure
(-) distorted by extreme values

54
Q

Median (middle score)

A

(+) Not effected by extreme scores
(-) less sensitive than the mean to
variation in values

55
Q

Mode ( most common score )

A

(+) very easy to calculate
(-) can be unrepresentative

56
Q

overt

A

shown in advance

57
Q

Longitudinal

A

carried out over a long period of time so can see how behaviour changes. Can also be retrospective meaning they look back and collect historic data.

58
Q

behavioural categories

A

Target behaviours are selected and broken down into observable categories e.g. using mobile phone.

59
Q

Inter-observer reliability

A

Two observers record data at same time with same mark sheet, results are compared

60
Q

Scatter diagrams

A

Display correlation one co-variable is place on X axis one is place
on the Y axis. A dot is placed where they meet.

61
Q

Normal distribution

A

Symmetrical spread of data forms a bell shape with mean, median and mode at peak.

62
Q

Frequency table

A

Recording the number of times something occurs allows
systematic way of organising data in column

63
Q

Histogram

A

continuous categories/data, no spaces between bars.

64
Q

Bar chart

A

bars can be in any order data is not continuous e.g. favourite colour

psychology (8 decks)

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