RESEARCH METHODS

Question 1

What is a laboratory experiment?

Answer 1

Takes place under controlled conditions

Question 2

What is a field experiment?

Answer 2

Takes place where the behaviour would normally occur

Question 3

What is a natural experiment?

Answer 3

Exploit an already existing independent variable

Question 4

Why are experiments powerful?

Answer 4

Identify cause and effect: this makes them useful when proving/disproving theories
Experiments can control extraneous variables

Question 5

What are extraneous variables

Answer 5

Variables that interfere with the effect of the IV on the DV

Question 6

What is a difference study?

Answer 6

Looks at whether or not one set of scores differs from another

Question 7

What is a correlational study?

Answer 7

Whether or not there is a correlation between 2 sets of data

Question 8

Explain independent groups as an experimental design

Answer 8

Different participants in each condition

Question 9

Explain repeated measures as an experimental design

Answer 9

Same participants in each condition

Question 10

Explain matched pairs as an experimental design

Answer 10

Each participant is paired with someone of similar characteristics in the other condition
e.g. gender or age

Question 11

What is an issue with independent groups design?

Answer 11

Individual differences between participants

Question 12

A solution to try and prevent individual differences when using independent groups design

Answer 12

Random allocation of participants to conditions to try and remove the chance of a bias sample

Question 13

What is an issue with repeated measures as an experimental design?

Answer 13

Order effects such as fatigue and boredom

Question 14

How can you try and eliminate order effects?

Answer 14

Counterbalancing

Participants go through both conditions but half do condition 1 first and the other half do condition 2 first

Question 15

What is a research hypothesis?

Answer 15

Proposed at the beginning of research and often generated from a theory

Question 16

What is a null hypothesis?

Answer 16

What you assume true during the study.
Data collected will either support or disprove this hypothesis.
If data doesn’t support the null hypothesis it is rejected and the researcher will go with the alternative hypothesis

Question 17

What is an experimental (alternative) hypothesis?

Answer 17

The hypothesis that the researched will turn to if the data forces them to reject the null hypothesis.
e.g. if null hypothesis was that two variables were linked the experimental (alternative) hypothesis would be that they are linked

Question 18

What is a directional hypothesis?

Answer 18

States which group will do better- a directional hypothesis

Often used when previous research suggests which way the results will go.

Question 19

What is a non-directional hypothesis?

Answer 19

Predicts a difference but wouldn’t say which group will do better.

Question 20

What are the two aspects of reliability

Answer 20

replicability of the method

reliability of measurement

Question 21

What are the two aspects of validity?

Answer 21

Internal validity-how the study is conducted and the variables within the study.
External validity-how results relate to the world outside the research situation

Question 22

What are the 3 factors that increase internal validity?

Answer 22

1) Experimental realism-participant realistically engaged in the task?
2) Measurement and manipulation of variables-successful manipulation of IV/are the measurements of the DV valid by measuring what they are meant to measure?
3) Control of extraneous variables-is the difference in results between conditions really due to the IV?

Question 23

What are 2 types of external validity?

Answer 23

1) Ecological validity-do the results relate to a real world environment?
2) Population validity-do the results generalise to a wider population?

Question 24

What are demand characteristics?

Answer 24

Participants behaviour is altered due to them trying to figure out the study.

Question 25

What are 3 threats to validity

Answer 25

1) Social desirability
2) Hawthorne effect
3) ‘Screw you’ effects

Question 26

What are 2 threats to validity concerning the investigator?

Answer 26

The researcher’s appearance/behaviour could affect participants
The researcher’s expectations may affect how they record/interpret the data

Question 27

What is a double blind procedure?

Answer 27

Both the person collecting the data and the participants do not know which conditions the participants are in/or the hypothesis if possible

Question 28

3 sampling methods

Answer 28

1) Random
2) Opportunity
3) Volunteer

Question 29

What is a pilot study?

Answer 29

A trial before the actual study is carried out.

They are meant to identify and eradicate potential problems in advance

Question 30

What are 3 mains issues concerned with conducting an ethical study?

Answer 30

1) Informed consent-participants should be made aware of anything that may affect their willingness to take part
2) Deception-participants should not be deceived without a strong scientific justification
3) Protection-participants exposed to no less stress than everyday life

Question 31

What is a retrospective study?

Answer 31

Takes place at a single point in time (in the past)

Crucially, participants have to recall events from the past that have already occurred

Question 32

What is a prospective (longitudinal) study?

Answer 32

Follow people over time.
Data is collected at more than one point.
Crucially, data comparisons are made between earlier and later data.

Question 33

What are behavioural categories?

Answer 33

Used to record behaviour
A valid measure of a variable
They should be informed by previous psychological theory
e.g. crying, laughing, smiling

Question 34

What is operationalisation?

Answer 34

Defining categories or scales used in the collection of data.