RESEARCH METHODS Flashcards
What is a laboratory experiment?
Takes place under controlled conditions
What is a field experiment?
Takes place where the behaviour would normally occur
What is a natural experiment?
Exploit an already existing independent variable
Why are experiments powerful?
Identify cause and effect: this makes them useful when proving/disproving theories
Experiments can control extraneous variables
What are extraneous variables
Variables that interfere with the effect of the IV on the DV
What is a difference study?
Looks at whether or not one set of scores differs from another
What is a correlational study?
Whether or not there is a correlation between 2 sets of data
Explain independent groups as an experimental design
Different participants in each condition
Explain repeated measures as an experimental design
Same participants in each condition
Explain matched pairs as an experimental design
Each participant is paired with someone of similar characteristics in the other condition
e.g. gender or age
What is an issue with independent groups design?
Individual differences between participants
A solution to try and prevent individual differences when using independent groups design
Random allocation of participants to conditions to try and remove the chance of a bias sample
What is an issue with repeated measures as an experimental design?
Order effects such as fatigue and boredom
How can you try and eliminate order effects?
Counterbalancing
Participants go through both conditions but half do condition 1 first and the other half do condition 2 first
What is a research hypothesis?
Proposed at the beginning of research and often generated from a theory
What is a null hypothesis?
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
What is an experimental (alternative) hypothesis?
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
What is a directional hypothesis?
States which group will do better- a directional hypothesis
Often used when previous research suggests which way the results will go.
What is a non-directional hypothesis?
Predicts a difference but wouldn’t say which group will do better.
What are the two aspects of reliability
replicability of the method
reliability of measurement
What are the two aspects of validity?
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
What are the 3 factors that increase internal validity?
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?
What are 2 types of external validity?
1) Ecological validity-do the results relate to a real world environment?
2) Population validity-do the results generalise to a wider population?
What are demand characteristics?
Participants behaviour is altered due to them trying to figure out the study.
