Research Methods Flashcards
Qualitative data
Data expressed with words
e.g. interviews
+ more depth and detail
- Hard to analyse and summarise
Quantitative data
Uses numerical data
Its measurable (countable)
e.g. age in years, number of people
+ Easy to analyse and draw conclusions
- Lacks depth
Primary data
first hand data gathered by the researcher themself.
e.g. questionnaire
+ useful as suits aims of researcher
- Time & effort to collect
Secondary data
data collected by someone else
e.g. past records, websites
+ Easy and convenient to use
- May not fit with researcher
aims
Random Sampling
Each person has equal chance of being selected.
+ no bias
- Takes time
Stratified Sampling
selecting participants from sub groups. (e.g. gender)
+ most representative
- Very time consuming
Opportunity Sampling
Selecting people available at time e.g. who is present in the shopping
mall.
+ Quick and easy
- Researcher bias
- Less representative
Systematic Sampling
Selecting every nth person from
a list of target population.
+ avoids researcher bias
- Sample may be unrepresentative
Independent Variable
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.
Dependent Variable
The variable that the researcher measures to see if the IV is affected
Extraneous Variable
Unwanted variable that could affect the DV.
Positive Correlation
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.
Negative Correlation
A negative correlation is a relationship between two variables that move in opposite directions.
In other words, when variable A increases, variable B decreases.
Null Hypothesis
A statement predicting no relationship between two
variables
Alternative Hypothesis
states there is a statistically significant relationship between two variables
Hypothesis
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).
Aim
Statement of the research purpose
Variable
A factor or thing that can change – it varies
Informed consent
Participants should be told of the purpose of the research and that they can leave at anytime
Deception
participants should not be lied to or misled about aims.
Privacy
Participants have the right to control information about themselves.
Confidentiallity
Personal data must be protected and respected
BPS guidelines (Code of Ethics and Conduct)
code of conduct all professional psychologists should follow.
Validity
relates to whether a result is a true reflection of real world behaviour.
Reliability
a measure of consistency
Sample
The small group of people who represent the target
population and who are studied
Standardised procedures
Using the exact same methods and procedures for participants in a study
Research procedures
these all reduce the chance of extraneous variables and make research more reliable
Randomisation
Using chance to control effects of bias when designing a study e.g. picking words for a list in a memory study
Instructions to participants
Giving the same information about the study to all participants.
Independent Groups
Different groups of participants
for each condition
+ no order effects
- Participant variables
- More participants needed
Repeated Measures
All participants take part in both
conditions
+ no participant variables
+ fewer participants needed so cheaper
- Order effects present
Matched Pairs
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
Experimental designs
the way that we organise the participants into conditions
Target Population
The large group of people the researcher wishes to study
Generalised
The results from the sample can be said to apply to the
target population.
Representative
The sample of participants is made up of people who have the same characteristics and abilities as the target population
Laboratory experiments
Experiment is high in control
over what happens.
Laboratory experiments
Strengths/Weaknesses
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.
Field Experiments
take place in a natural setting
IV manipulated by the experimenter.
Field Experiment
Strengths/Weaknesses
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.
Natural Experiment
take place in field or lab, IV is not changed by the experimenter it varies naturally.
Natural Expermiment
Strengths/Weaknesses
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.
Closed questions
fixed range of answers
e.g. rating scale or yes/no
Open questions
tend to produce qualitative data.
More detailed responses
Questionnaires
prepared list of questions that can be answered in writing, over the phone, internet etc
Correlations
Show a relationship between two variables. Shows link or association but NOT cause and effec
Interviews
Face to face, real-time contact. Can also be phone.
Structured
pre- planned list of questions to ask
Semi-structured
some questions pre-planned but follow-up can emerge.
Un-structured
Some questions prepared
before, new questions can be created
depending on interviewee response.
Range (largest score subtract smallest)
(+) easy to calculate
(-) Can be distorted by extreme
scores
Mean (sum of score divide by total number of scores)
(+) Uses all of data so most
sensitive measure
(-) distorted by extreme values
Median (middle score)
(+) Not effected by extreme scores
(-) less sensitive than the mean to
variation in values
Mode ( most common score )
(+) very easy to calculate
(-) can be unrepresentative
overt
shown in advance
Longitudinal
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.
behavioural categories
Target behaviours are selected and broken down into observable categories e.g. using mobile phone.
Inter-observer reliability
Two observers record data at same time with same mark sheet, results are compared
Scatter diagrams
Display correlation one co-variable is place on X axis one is place
on the Y axis. A dot is placed where they meet.
Normal distribution
Symmetrical spread of data forms a bell shape with mean, median and mode at peak.
Frequency table
Recording the number of times something occurs allows
systematic way of organising data in column
Histogram
continuous categories/data, no spaces between bars.
Bar chart
bars can be in any order data is not continuous e.g. favourite colour
paricipant variables
the ways in which participants may differ from each other
