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Psychology > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

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0
Q

Correlation

A

When co-variables are measured for a relationship
Can be done with large sets of data, easily replicable
Extraneous variables, lower external or internal validity

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1
Q

Aims

A

The topic of investigation

Starts with ‘to investigate’

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2
Q

alternative hypothesis

A

Predictive statement, could be directional or non-directional

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3
Q

Random sampling

A

Every participant had an equal chance of being selected
Potentially unbiased because all members of the target population have an equal chance of selection
A researcher may still end up with a biased sample if some decide not to take part for example.

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4
Q

Directional hypothesis

A

Statement that predicts exactly what the outcome will be

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5
Q

Field experiement

A

In a real world setting, IV is manipulated
High ecological validity so generalisable, experimenter effects are reduced as participants are often unaware they’re being studied
Lots of extraneous variables so harder to control, demand characteristics may still be problematic as the way the IV is operationalised may give away the hypothesis

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6
Q

Validity

A

Accuracy

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7
Q

Opportunist sampling

A

When readily available people are used in research
Easy to collect sample
Biased as all the same type of people

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8
Q

Sampling frame

A

Used in random sampling - list of names that the sample is then drawn from

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9
Q

Null hypothesis

A

Statement that predicts there will be no difference

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10
Q

Independent variable

A

The thing that is manipulated

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11
Q

Operationalisation

A

Explaining exactly how the variables could be measured or changed

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12
Q

Quasi experiement

A

Another name for a natural experiment - In a real world setting, IV is naturally occurring
High ecological validity, is the only way to study certain behaviours and characteristics such as privation
Causal conclusions cannot be drawn from a natural experiment, lower internal validity

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13
Q

Stratified sampling

A

When the same proportions from the population are used in the sample
Representative
Time-consuming

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14
Q

Non-directional hypothesis

A

Statement which predicts a difference but not what the difference will be

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15
Q

Volunteer sampling

A

Advertise for participants and people put themselves forward to be in research
Easy to collect a sample, already have their consent as they’re putting themselves forward
Volunteer bias - all have lots of time or are motivated or interested in psychology

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16
Q

Reliability

A

Consistency

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17
Q

Systematic sampling

A

When every nth name is selected
Potentially random
May not be entirely random if the participants in the list are categorised i.e. Alphabetically

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18
Q

Dependent variable

A

The thing that is measured

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19
Q

Hawthorne effect

A

Hawthorne effect (added attention of being studied affects participant behaviour)

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20
Q

Demand characteristics

A

Participants change their behaviour because they think they’ve worked out the aims

21
Q

Social desirability bias

A

Try to look good by answering or behaving in a socially acceptable way

22
Q

Experimenter bias

A

Effects the result as they know the aims, facial expressions, back-channelling, the way they speak

23
Q

Interviewer bias

A

Interviewer affects the responses of the interviewee

24
Q

Green spoon effect

A

Formative noises after certain answers which affects the way the participant responds

25
Q

Order effects

A

Repeated measures design - order of the conditions effects results e.g. Bordem or learning

26
Q

Placebo conditions (Hawthorne effect)

A

Thinks they’re receiving the experimental condition but aren’t to see if their expectations and added attention affect the outcome or if it’s the drug itself

27
Q

Single blind design (demand characteristics)

A

Deception - the participant doesn’t know the aims

28
Q

Double blind design (experimenter bias/green spoon effect)

A

Experimenter and participants don’t know the Aim of the study

29
Q

Standardised instructions (experimenter bias)

A

Written or recorded instructions used

30
Q

Standardised procedures (experimenter bias)

A

Set time limits, order everything is conducted in

31
Q

Random allocation (experimenter bias)

A

Participant names are drawn out of a hat when assigning which group they should go in

32
Q

Counterbalancing (order effects)

A

Half do condition one, half do condition two and then they swap - still repeated measures but done in different orders

33
Q

Independent groups

A

Separate groups for each condition

No order effects
Individual Differences

34
Q

Matched participants

A

Separate groups matched on various traits e.g. Gender
Reduced Individual Differences
Order effects/demand characteristics and still there will be individual Differences

35
Q

Repeated measures

A

Every participants completes all conditions
No individual differences
Order Effects/demand characteristics

36
Q

Pilot study

A

Conducted to test the design and ensure variables are operationalised, a small practice run of the study, tests for reliability, ensure ethical issues are dealt with

37
Q

Questionnaire

A

Written Questions
Could be closed (set categories to respond to) or open (participants can write anything they like in response to Q)
Easily replicable, closed questions are easy to analyse, open questions are very detailed and give insight into a person
Social desirability bias, unexpected open question answers are hard to analyse, honesty is questionable

38
Q

Case study

A

In-depth investigation of a single person, group, event or community
Typically data are gathered from a variety of sources and by using several different methods (e.g. Observations and interviews)
Uses a variety of methods, in-depth analysis of things that are hard to study or are unethical to do so
Not generalisable due to small sample size, lacks validity as you often don’t know if you’re testing what you set out to test

39
Q

Interview

A

Spoken Questions
Could be structured (questions pre-set) or non-structured (questions thought up in the spur of the moment)
Easily replicable if structured, structured interviews are easy to do, lots of data if open questions and qualitative
Social desirability bias, unexpected answers that are hard to analyse

40
Q

Mean

A

Add up all the results and divide by the number of results there are
Affected by extreme values e.g. Average age of people in a classroom, teacher is an extreme value giving an ‘incorrect’ average

41
Q

Mode

A

Most frequent/common
You have to use the mode for qualitative data
Can’t work out if there is only one of the same number for example

42
Q

Median

A

Put the results in order and find the middle number

Not affected by extreme values because you’re just finding the middle

43
Q

Range

A

Biggest number minus the smallest number

Affected by extreme values

44
Q

Standard deviation

A

How far each bit of data is from the average
Not affected by extreme values
Complicated to work it out

45
Q

Correlation co-efficient

A

Number between 0 and 1 e.g. 0.85
Nearer to 1 = stronger correlation
Has a plus or minus sign in front of the number e.g. - 0.85
The sign tells you whether the correlation is positive or negative

46
Q

Content analysis (step-by-step)

A

Transcribe data
Break down into themes (line by line)
Code themes (so that you can collect all the information more easily)
Combine the themes into larger categories
Collect more data to see if the categories fit
Report - describe the categories discovered and back these up with quotes
Conclusions drawn and new theories produced

47
Q

Content Analysis (evaluation)

A

Represents the true complexity of human behaviour, gains access to thoughts and feelings, rich in detail and high in validity

Difficult to detect patterns and draw conclusions, subjective (interpretation of data can be biased), cannot generalise to the population

48
Q

Triangulation

A

We cannot generalise from it but if other studies using different research methods have
Found the same then this adds to the validity and reliability

49
Q

Reflexivity

A

Because the interpretation of the data is subjective, the researcher needs to reflect on their own views and values and how these may have led to bias

50
Q

Inductive

A

Usually there is no hypothesis or theory to test. Instead, data is analysed for themes and a theory emerges from it (bottom-up)

Psychology (4 decks)

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