Research Methods

Question 1

What is the definition of counterbalancing?

💡define
💡how?

Answer 1

This is referred to as the best method of preventing order effects from disrupting the findings of an experiment.

It involves ensuring that each condition is equally likely to be used first and second by the participants

Question 2

What are the types of data used in psychology?

💡Two main
💡Other types of

Answer 2

• Quantitative: this is numerical and can be statistically analyzed. It’s more objective, quicker to gather and analyze. However data can be superficial, lacking depth and detail
• Qualitative data: written, descriptive and detailed. However it can be time consuming, costly to collect and difficult to analyze and also suffers from subjectivity

Data can also be:

• Primary: directly collected by psychologist
• Secondary: data collected by others
• Meta-analysis: collecting findings from many research studies into 1 overall conclusion

Question 3

What is reliability ?

💡definition
💡types+define

Answer 3

This refer to consistency in results and there are two key types:
- Internal reliability: consistency within the study (i.e if a questionnaire measure the same thing each time)
- External reliability: consistency over time (i.e if the same experiment give the same results when repeated)

Question 4

How can you improve reliability in?

💡Experiment
💡Observation
💡Questionnaire
💡Interviews

Answer 4

Way to improve reliability include:

Experiment: standardization, controlling extraneous variables

Observation: operationalized behavioral categories, calculate inter observer reliability, use multiple observers

Questionnaire: use test-retest method, ensure clear questions

Interviews: used structured interview, train the interviews

Question 5

What is validity?

💡define
💡types+define

Answer 5

• This refers to the accuracy of an experiment
  There are two key types
  Internal validity: whether the study test what it aims to
  External validity: whether the findings apply to real life (ecological or population validity)

Question 6

How can you improve the validity of an experiment?

💡Experiment
💡Observation
💡Self report
💡Experiment & case studies

Answer 6

Ways to improve validity include:
Experiment: use single blind/double blind technique, counterbalancing

Observation: use covert observation, inter oberver reliability, operationalized categories

Self report: ensure anonymity, use lie scales, indirect questions

Experiment & case studies: conduct field experiment, make tasks more realistic.

Question 7

What is the definition of an hypothesis and what are the types?

💡Experimental
💡Null
💡Directional
💡non directional

Answer 7

An hypothesis is a testable statement that reduces the relationship between variables. They are either:

• Experimental hypothesis: predicts the effect of the IV on the DV
• Null hypothesis: predicts no difference or no relationship between the variables
• Directional: uses a one tailed test when there is previous research (secondary data) and predicts a direction of relationship
• Non-directional: uses a two tailed test we there is no previous research and does not show direction of effect

Question 8

What are the strength of the following?

💡Mean
💡Range
💡Standard deviation

Answer 8

Mean: uses all data and is the most accurate
Range: easy to calculate
Standard deviation: more accurate and considers all data

Question 9

What does it mean when the standard deviation suggest about the mean?

💡high
💡low

Answer 9

Low: this means that the scores are more spread out around the mean (more variability
High: This means that the mean scores are close to the standard deviation and therefore have consistent results

Question 10

What does a type 1 and 2 error refer to?

Answer 10

A type 1 error is a false positive in which the null hypothesis is wrongly rejected

A type 2 error is a false negative in which the null hypothesis is wrongly accepted