Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Psychology > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Psychology flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards Psychology 101 flashcards
0
Q

What is test retest reliability?

A

The measure is administrated to the same group of people twice, if the results on the two tests are similar we can assume it’s reliable.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
1
Q

How can we measure reliability?

A
  1. Test retest reliability
  2. Split half reliability
  3. (Most common) inter-rater reliability
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Split half reliability?

A

Splitting a test into two halves and comparing the scores in both halves. If the results are similar we can assume reliability.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Internal validity?

A

Refers to things that happen inside the study. Whether we can be certain it was the IV that effected the DV.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Population validity?

A

The extent to which the sample represents the population

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Generalisability issues(validity issues)?

A

If lacking in realism we are unable to generalise as it doesn’t effect real life.
However even if it does have realism if it has low population validity we can’t generalise.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

External validity?

A

How well results can be generalise beyond the experimental setting

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

RIGHT TO WITHDRAW

A

Should have the right to withdraw at any point. After participants have taken part in a study, or after debriefing (for instance, in observational studies), participants have the right to retrospectively withdraw any consent they have given and to request that any data relating to them is destroyed.
After participants have taken part in a study, or after debriefing (for instance, in observational studies), participants have the right to retrospectively withdraw any consent they have given and to request that any data relating to them is destroyed.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Mundane realism(validity)?

A

Refers to how well the task in an experiment reflects real life. If an experiment has this it is high in ecological validity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Ecological validity?

A

Refers to how well the experimental situation represents real life.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Participant variables(anything to do with differences in the participants eg age/gender/intelligence/skill/experience etc) how to overcome?

A

Use repeated measures and independent design aka repeat the experience using the same people in each different condition.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is validity?

A

Validity refer to the extent to which a test measures what it claims to measure.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Content validity?

A

(Used with questionnaires and interviews) Examines the content of a text. Whether the method used measures what it claims to measure e.g IQ test actually measuring intelligence not just ability to solve puzzles.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Concurrent validity?

A

How well the measure used agrees with the existing measure.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How to ensure concurrent validity?

A

Testing participant with both new text and the established test. If the test has high agreement with the two it is said to have concurrent validity.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Construct validity?

A

Whether the method actually measures all parts it was aiming to e.g using a maths test to test intelligence doesn’t account for linguistic ability or spatial awareness.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

How to ensure construct validity?

A

Define what it is that it is aiming to measure and ensure that all parts of the definition is being measured.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

How to ensure ecological validity?

A

Take place in participants natural environment.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

How to ensure mundane realism?

A

Make sure the tasks are realistic to life.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Weaknesses of laboratory study?

A
  1. Leading questions could be asked
  2. Low in mundane realism and therefore low in ecological validity.
  3. Often low in population validity
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

How to ensure population validity?

A

Use of sample of many races ages genders etc.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Investigator effects/experimenter bias(the behaviour and language of the experimenter. Eg the way they ask a question may act as a cue for the p) overcome?

A

Don’t use a researchers who designed the study to give questions. Use someone who doesn’t know the aims.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Demand characteristics (p’s search or cues as to how to behave. Often something can communicate to them and they guess the aims or act how they believe is demanded of them) overcome?

A

Using independent measure or mislead them on the aim of the study.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Strengths of field experiments?

A
  1. Higher mundane realism. Leading to higher ecological validity.
  2. Reduced demand characteristics aims are less apparent
  3. Reduced chance of participant effects.
  4. The experimenter can control the IV
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Strengths of a laboratory study?

A
  1. quantitative data is collected and this is objective.
  2. Standardised procedure means they’re easily replicable.
  3. Lots of control over extraneous variables
  4. Cause and effect relationship can be established.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Weaknesses of field experiment?

A
  1. Harder to control extraneous variables which may reduce internal validity.
  2. Still a risk of demand characteristics.
  3. Ethical as they may be deceived and not give fully informed consent.
  4. Harder to replicate leading to issues of reliability.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Repeated measures (same p’s in each condition of experiment) strengths?

A
  1. Participant variables are accounted for and and stopped from becoming extraneous variables.
  2. Fewer participants required
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Strengths of obversations?

A
  1. Tend to have high ecological validity as they involve natural behaviour. Especially high in covert naturalistic.
  2. More valid as what people say they do is often different to what they actually do
35
Q

Repeated measures (same p’s in each condition of experiment) weaknesses?

A
  1. Order effects such as learning, fatigue and boredom.

2. Demand characteristics

36
Q

Strengths of natural/quasi?

A
  1. Allows research of phenomena that can’t be studied any other way.
  2. Enables psychologists to study real problems.
  3. No direct manipulation of variables so high in mundane realism.
  4. P’s often don’t know they’re in the study so less demand characteristics or participant effects.
37
Q

Independent measures (using different P’s for each condition) strengths?

A
  1. Order effects do not influence

2. Demand characteristics less of a problem

38
Q

Weaknesses of questionnaires?

A
  1. In closed questions p’s may be forced to select answers which don’t represent their real thought.
  2. Open questions harder to analyse due to large numbers.
  3. Social desirability bias means respondents may deliberately answer in a way which is socially acceptable.
  4. Only certain types of people so sample bias
  5. Could be leading questions
  6. Inflexible method of collecting data.
  7. Different questions interpreted differently
  8. Could be too vague
39
Q

Weaknesses of correlation research?

A
  1. No cause and effect relationship. Could be explained by other intervening variables.
  2. Lack internal/external validity
  3. may lack generalisability.
41
Q

Weaknesses of natural/quasi?

A
  1. cannot draw definite cause and effect conclusions.
  2. Many extraneous variables
  3. Limited by conditions (eg volcano)
  4. Participant may be aware (demand characteristics)
  5. Replication can be difficult/impossible.
42
Q

Independent measures (using different P’s for each condition) weaknesses?

A
  1. Participant variables differ which could act as extraneous variables if not controlled.
  2. More participants are required
43
Q

CONFIDENTIALITY

A

Participants, and the data gained from them must be kept anonymous unless they give their full consent. No names must be used in a research report.

44
Q

Matched pairs ( Pairs of participants are matched on appropriate variables relevant to the experiment; the members of each pair are then allocated to each condition) strengths?

A
  1. Participant variables are kept more constant
  2. Order effects do not occur
  3. Demand characters are less of a problem
45
Q

Matched pairs ( Pairs of participants are matched on appropriate variables relevant to the experiment; the members of each pair are then allocated to each condition) weaknesses?

A
  1. Participant variables can never be perfectly matched
  2. Matching is very time consuming
  3. More participants required
46
Q

Strengths of interviews?

A
  1. Unstructured (US) more detailed info obtained
  2. Structures (S) require less interviewing skill can be done by non precessionals.
  3. S easier to analyse as the answers are more predictable
  4. S can easily be repeated because the questions are standardised
  5. US in depth qualitative data collected
  6. Both quantitative can be collected
  7. US info assessed that might not be revealed by predetermine
47
Q

Weaknesses of interviews?

A
  1. US interviewer bias may be particular issue is making up questions
  2. US interviews own options may influence aka interviewer bias
  3. Both reliability may be affected by different behaviours the interviewer may use in different interviews
  4. Both reliability may be affected by different questions interviewers
  5. US difficult to anaylse
  6. Both different questions interpreted in different ways.
  7. S p’s answers restricted by questions
48
Q

Strengths of case studies (one person or small group in great depth) ?

A
  1. In depth insight and highly detailed data collected
  2. My provide insight for further research
  3. High ecological validity of data
  4. May be the only method suitable for studying forms of behaviour
49
Q

Weaknesses of case study?

A
  1. Cause and effect can’t be legitimately established.
  2. Cannot generalise to the wider population due to simple instances ( unrepresentative)
  3. Difficult to replicate
  4. May suffer from subjective interpretations
50
Q

PRIVACY

A

Researchers need to be careful that their methods do not invade the privacy of participants eg observing someone at their home without their knowing

51
Q

PROTECTION FROM HARM

A

After participants have taken part in a study, or after debriefing (for instance, in observational studies), participants have the right to retrospectively withdraw any consent they have given and to request that any data relating to them is destroyed.

52
Q

ETHICAL ISSUES:

Informed consent

A

A participant may give his/her consent because he/she does not fully understand what the research will involve. Having taken part, he/she is in a better position to give their informed consent and if necessary exercise the right to withdraw.

53
Q

Correlation is? And correlation design is? And example?

A

A relationship between two variables.

A way to test the relationship between these variables eg smoking and life expectancy(negative correlation)

54
Q

Random sampling?

A

Every member of the target population had an equal chance of being chosen eg randomly selecting numbers using software

55
Q

Opportunity sampling?

A

Simply asking whoever is available at the time and fits the criteria eg approaching people in care/street/office

56
Q

Systematic sampling?

A

Selecting every nth person on a list eg every 10th employees in a factory

57
Q

Self-selected sampling?

A

Individuals who have chosen to be involved in a study. They may respond to an advert also known as VOLUNTEER SAMPLING

58
Q

Stratified and quota sampling?

A

The target population is dovided into important subcategories (decided by the researchers) members are selected in the proportion they occur in the demographic eg is population is 60% female then the sample should 60% female

59
Q

Strengths of random sampling?

A

Sample is selected in an unbiased way every member of the target should have an equal chance of being selected

60
Q

Strengths of opportunity sampling?

A

Consistent and quick to carry out

61
Q

Strength of systematic sampling?

A

Unbiased selection as it uses and objective system.

62
Q

Strength of self selected sampling?

A

Relatively convenient and most ethical and participants chose to take part.
May give access to a wide range of participant may be more representative.
L

63
Q

Strength of stratified and quota sampling?

A

Efforts are made to make the sample representative of target population

64
Q

Weakness of random sampling?

A

time consuming to create a list of every individual

Because it’s rand you don’t know if it will be representative

65
Q

Weaknesses of opportunity sampling?

A

Sample may be biased if you go to one spot it select people who seem “approachable” is similar people are chose then the sample is unrepresentative

66
Q

Self-selected sampling weakness?

A

Sample may be biased as a particular type of person volunteers
And unrepresentative as it’s reliant on and advert eg daytime tv ad attracts unemployed people

67
Q

Systematic sampling weakness?

A

Not everyone had an equal chance of being selected so it’s not truly random and may not be representative

68
Q

Stratified and quota sampling weakness?

A

Can be time consuming as subcategories have to be identified and proportions calculated.
As they use random or opportunity to select from each category they have the weaknesses of those techniques

69
Q

Strengths of correlation research?

A
  1. Precise info on the degree of relationship.
  2. Can be used when it’s impractical or unethical to manipulate variables
  3. Can make use of existing data
  4. Often little manipulation is required so high in mundane realism.
72
Q

DECEPTION

A

Many psychological experiments require the use of the single blind technique (where the participant is not aware of the purpose of the investigation) in order to collect unbiased data. This poses ethical problems as they haven’t given fully informed consent which could lead to distress

73
Q

Situation variables (environment of the experiment eg time of day/temp/noise level) how to solve them?

A

Artificial controlled setting with standardised procedures(everything the same)

76
Q

How to ensure content validity?

A

An expert or panel of could be asked to assess the measure for validity.

77
Q

Weaknesses of observations?

A
  1. In controlled observations Eco validity is lowered
  2. Overt can lead to artificial behaviour from p’s
  3. Sample bias meaning it’s not representative so maybe not generalisable.
  4. Coding systems: some behaviour not recorded
  5. Observer bias records data that fits their theory
  6. Little or no control of extraneous variables
78
Q

Strengths of questionnaires and interviews?

A
  1. Closed questions produce quanta tatie data which is easy to anaylse.
  2. Open questions produce qualitative providing unexpected answers in rich detail allowing new insights.
  3. Easy to repeat meaning that data can be collected from a large number.
  4. Respondents feel more able to reveal person rather than face to face.
79
Q

Inter-tater reliability?

A

If the measure depends upon interpretation of behaviour we can compare the results from two or more raters. If there is high agreement between them it’s considered reliable.

92
Q

What is reliability?

A

Refers to the consistency of a measure. Something is considered reliable if we get the same result repeatedly.

Psychology (12 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions