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Research Methods Flashcards

1
Q

What is the key feature of a laboratory experiment in terms of setting and control?

A

It is conducted in a controlled, artificial setting to minimise extraneous variables and isolate the effects of the independent variable.

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2
Q

Why must the IV and DV be operationalised in a laboratory experiment?

A

To ensure they are measurable and testable, such as defining aggression by counting physical or verbal acts within a set time.

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3
Q

What are extraneous variables and why must they be controlled?

A

They are variables other than the IV that may affect the DV. Controlling them helps to increase the experiment’s internal validity.

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4
Q

What is a confounding variable?

A

A variable that actually interferes with the measurement of the dependent variable, potentially distorting the results.

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5
Q

What is a key strength of laboratory experiments?

A

High control over variables allows for replication and confidence in causal conclusions.

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6
Q

What are two weaknesses of laboratory experiments?

A

They lack ecological validity and are susceptible to demand characteristics.

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7
Q

What distinguishes a field experiment from a laboratory experiment?

A

Field experiments are conducted in natural environments, though the IV is still manipulated.

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8
Q

What is a major strength of field experiments?

A

They have higher ecological validity and reduced demand characteristics when participants are unaware of the study.

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9
Q

What is a drawback of field experiments?

A

It’s harder to control extraneous variables and ensure sample control.

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10
Q

How does a natural experiment differ from a field or lab experiment?

A

In a natural experiment, the IV is naturally occurring and not manipulated by the researcher.

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11
Q

What is a key strength of natural experiments?

A

They allow for the study of variables that are unethical or impractical to manipulate, with high ecological validity.

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12
Q

What is a major limitation of natural experiments?

A

Lack of random allocation and difficulty controlling extraneous variables makes causal conclusions challenging.

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13
Q

What defines a quasi-experiment?

A

It’s similar to a natural experiment, but usually conducted in a controlled setting like a lab.

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14
Q

What are the strengths of quasi-experiments?

A

High control, easier replication, and minimized extraneous variables.

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15
Q

What are the weaknesses of quasi-experiments?

A

Artificial setting leads to low ecological validity and potential for demand characteristics.

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16
Q

What is randomisation in research design?

A

Using chance to control for bias in assigning conditions or ordering materials.

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17
Q

What is standardisation and why is it important?

A

It means using the same procedures and instructions for all participants to ensure reliability.

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18
Q

What are participant variables and how do they affect an experiment?

A

Individual differences (like age or personality) that may influence the DV, acting as extraneous variables.

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19
Q

What is the main strength of an independent groups design?

A

It avoids order effects and reduces demand characteristics.

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20
Q

What is a key disadvantage of a repeated measures design?

A

It risks order effects like fatigue or practice, which can skew results.

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21
Q

What is one advantage of a repeated measures design over an independent groups design?

A

It controls for participant variables, since the same individuals take part in all conditions.

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22
Q

What is a matched pairs design in experiments?

A

It involves different participants in each condition who are matched on key variables like age, sex, or IQ.

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23
Q

What is one key strength of a matched pairs design?

A

It avoids order effects and reduces the impact of participant variables.

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24
Q

What is one major limitation of the matched pairs design?

A

It is time-consuming and requires finding participants who match closely on important variables.

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25
What is the purpose of a control group in experimental design?
To provide a comparison group that does not receive the manipulation, helping to isolate the effect of the IV.
26
What is random allocation, and when is it used?
It assigns participants randomly to conditions to control for participant variables in independent group designs.
27
What is counterbalancing and why is it important?
It controls for order effects in repeated measures by varying the sequence of conditions among participants.
28
What does a positive correlation indicate?
As one variable increases, the other also increases.
29
What does a correlation coefficient close to 0 indicate?
There is no or very weak correlation between the variables.
30
Why can’t cause and effect be inferred from correlation studies?
Because variables are not manipulated, and other variables may influence the relationship.
31
What is one strength of correlations in research?
They provide a precise, quantifiable measure of how two variables relate and are useful for preliminary research.
32
What is a weakness of correlation studies?
They do not establish causation and may involve third variables influencing the results.
33
What is a naturalistic observation?
Observing behaviour in a participant’s natural environment without their awareness.
34
What is a major strength of naturalistic observation?
High ecological validity due to natural behaviour being recorded.
35
What is a limitation of controlled observation?
Participants may show demand characteristics because they know they are being observed.
36
In participant observation, what is a potential weakness?
The observer may lose objectivity and become biased.
37
What is inter-observer reliability, and how is it assessed?
It refers to how consistently different observers rate behaviour, often assessed by correlating their ratings.
38
What is time sampling in observations?
Recording behaviour at fixed time intervals during the observation.
39
What is the main ethical issue in undisclosed/covert observation?
Lack of informed consent from participants.
40
What is an open-ended question in a questionnaire?
A question that allows for a detailed, descriptive response, providing qualitative data.
41
What is a closed question in a questionnaire?
A question with limited answer options, often one-word or multiple choice, generating quantitative data.
42
What is a strength of using open questions in questionnaires?
They allow respondents to elaborate, producing rich and detailed qualitative data.
43
What is a weakness of open questions?
The data can be difficult to summarise or analyse due to the wide variety of responses.
44
What is a key strength of closed questions?
They produce quantitative data that is easy to analyse statistically or graphically.
45
What is a limitation of closed questions?
They can lead to response bias and lack the depth of open-ended responses.
46
What is a double-barrelled question and why is it a problem?
It asks about two things at once, which can confuse participants and reduce reliability.
47
Why are filler questions sometimes included in questionnaires?
To mask the true aim of the study and reduce demand characteristics.
48
What type of interview is most like a casual conversation?
An unstructured interview.
49
What is a strength of unstructured interviews?
They make participants feel relaxed and may elicit more honest responses.
50
What is a limitation of unstructured interviews?
Participants may go off topic, and the data can be hard to summarise.
51
What defines a semi-structured interview?
It includes both open and closed questions, combining flexibility with structure.
52
What is a clinical interview?
An interview where questions are based on previous responses to explore feelings in depth.
53
What is social desirability bias in research?
When participants answer in a way that makes them look good rather than telling the truth.
54
What is experimenter bias?
When the researcher, consciously or unconsciously, influences the outcome of the study.
55
What is a single-blind procedure?
A study where participants do not know which group or condition they are in.
56
What is a double-blind procedure?
Neither the participants nor the researcher know who is in which condition, reducing bias.
57
What is the purpose of a pilot study?
To test and refine procedures and materials before the main study is conducted.
58
What should be checked in a pilot study for a questionnaire?
Clarity of questions, appropriateness of closed options, and need for open-ended items.
59
What are behavioural categories in an observation?
Predefined, clear groupings of behaviour used to record data objectively.
60
Why is it important that behavioural categories do not overlap?
To reduce ambiguity and subjectivity, increasing the reliability of the observation.
61
What does it mean for a sample to be representative?
It accurately reflects the characteristics of the target population.
62
What is volunteer bias?
The tendency for volunteers in studies to differ from the general population, often affecting generalisability.
63
What is a key strength of random sampling?
Every member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected, reducing selection bias.
64
What is a weakness of random sampling?
It may still result in an unrepresentative sample due to chance.
65
What is opportunity sampling?
Selecting participants who are conveniently available and willing to take part.
66
What is a strength of opportunity sampling?
It is quick and easy to carry out.
67
What is a limitation of opportunity sampling?
It is unlikely to produce a representative sample, increasing sample bias.
68
What is stratified sampling?
A method where participants are selected according to their proportions in the population, then randomly chosen.
69
Why is stratified sampling considered representative?
Because it includes all subgroups of the population proportionally and uses random selection.
70
What is a limitation of stratified sampling?
It can be time-consuming and complex, especially with large populations.
71
What does the ethical principle of informed consent involve?
Providing participants with all necessary information about the study so they can agree voluntarily.
72
What is the difference between active and passive deception?
Active deception involves lying to participants; passive deception involves withholding information.
73
How should researchers deal with deception ethically?
By fully debriefing participants afterward and allowing them to withdraw their data.
74
What is the principle of confidentiality in research?
Ensuring that personal data and identities of participants are kept private and anonymous.
75
What is a Type I error in statistical testing?
Incorrectly rejecting the null hypothesis when it is actually true (a false positive).
76
What is a Type II error in statistical testing?
Incorrectly accepting the null hypothesis when the experimental hypothesis is actually true (a false negative).
77
What does a significance level of p < 0.05 mean in psychology?
There is less than a 5% probability that the results occurred by chance, indicating statistical significance.
78
What is a strength of qualitative data?
It provides detailed and rich insights into complex human behaviours and experiences.
79
What is a weakness of qualitative data?
It can be difficult to analyse and generalise due to its unstructured nature.
80
What defines interval data?
Ordered data with equal intervals between values, allowing for meaningful comparison and statistical analysis.
81
What is the main advantage of quantitative data?
It is easier to analyse statistically and is generally more objective and reliable.
82
What are measures of central tendency?
Averages (mean, median, and mode) that describe the central point of a data set.
83
What are measures of dispersion?
Statistics like range and standard deviation that describe the spread or variability in a data set.
84
What does a normal distribution look like?
It is symmetrical and bell-shaped, with the mean, median, and mode all at the centre.
85
What is a positive skew in data distribution?
A distribution with a long tail to the right, often due to a floor effect.
86
What is a negative skew in data distribution?
A distribution with a long tail to the left, often due to a ceiling effect.
87
What does content analysis involve?
Categorising and coding qualitative data to identify patterns or themes, which can be quantified.
88
What is a major strength of content analysis?
It has high ecological validity as it analyses real-world communication.
89
What is thematic analysis?
A method for identifying and analysing recurring themes in qualitative data.
90
What is one key weakness of thematic analysis?
It can be subjective, as themes are open to researcher interpretation and bias.
91
What is a case study in psychology?
An in-depth investigation of an individual, group, or event, often using multiple methods.
92
What is a strength of using case studies?
They provide rich, detailed data that can generate new hypotheses and insights.
93
What is a major limitation of case studies?
The findings are difficult to generalise, reducing population validity.
94
What is test-retest reliability?
The consistency of a test over time, assessed by administering the same test twice and correlating results.
95
How can reliability be improved in questionnaires?
By rewording unclear items and removing ambiguous or confusing questions.
96
What is internal validity?
The extent to which results can be attributed to the manipulation of the IV rather than other factors.
97
What is external validity?
The extent to which findings can be generalised beyond the study, including to other settings and populations.
98
What is falsifiability in science?
The principle that scientific theories must be testable and capable of being proven wrong.
99
What is a paradigm shift?
A fundamental change in the dominant theory or set of assumptions within a scientific discipline.
100
What is the purpose of peer review in psychology?
To validate the quality, credibility, and originality of research before it is published.

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