Research Methods Flashcards
Alternative hypothesis
Predicts relationship between variables
Null hypothesis
No relationship between variables predicted
Extraneous variables
Unwanted variables that could affect the dv
Research procedures
Instruction to participants - must be given the same info
Standardised procedures - exact same methods. To try control EV
Randomisation - using chance when designing a study to rule out bias
Target population
Group being studied
Random sampling
Each person has the same chance of being selected
Name out of a hat
+ - of random sampling
+ no bias
- sample may not represent target population
Opportunity sampling
Taking the people who happen to be there
+ - of opportunities sampling
+ quick and cheap
- only represents the population drawn
Systematic sampling
Selecting every nth person from a list of the target population
+ - of systematic sampling
+ Avoids researcher bias
- may end with an unrepresentative sample
Stratified sampling
Selecting participants in the proportion to frequency in the target population
+- of stratified sampling
+ most representative
- very time consuming to sort sub groups
Informed consent
Participants should be told the purpose of the research and that they can leave at any time
Deception
Participants should not be misled about the aim, mild deception can be justified
Privacy
Participants should have the right to control information about themselves
Confidentiality
Personal data must be protected and respected
Dealing with ethical issues
BPS guidelines
Bps guidelines
All pro psychologists must follow
Dealing with informed consent
Make participants sign a form
Dealing with deception.
Debrief and allow councillors
Dealing with privacy and confidentiality
Participants should remain anonymous
Reliability
Measures consistency
Quantitative methods
Most reliable
Lab experiments
Controlled and easy to replicate
Interviews and questionnaires
Same person should newer the questions in the same way, closed questions are better for this
Observation
One observer should produce same observation if another were to observe. Inter observer reliability
Qualitative methods
Less reliable
Case studies and unstructured interviews- difficult to repeat in the same way
Sampling methods
May not represent target population
ED. repeated measure
Order effects challenge validity
Lab
High control
In a lab
Control ev
Field
Natural setting, Iv manipulated by experimenter
Independent groups
2 groups, different participants in each condition
Repeated measure
1 group who do both conditions
