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A2 Psychology Research Methods > Research methods > Flashcards

Research methods Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the mean

A

average, calculated by adding up all the numbers and dividing by the total of numbers.

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2
Q

what is the median

A

the middle value in an ordered list

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3
Q

what is the mode

A

most common value

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4
Q

What are the levels of measurement used?

A

nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio

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5
Q

What is nominal level of measurement

A

putting into categories, usually when they are word labelled.
It provides less information than the others.

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6
Q

What is ordinal level of measurement

A

positions or ranks within a group, not with equal distance between units.

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7
Q

what is interval level of measurement

A

interval data in equal agreed units.

It provides the most information.

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8
Q

What is ratio level of measurement

A

measuments where there is equal distance between units and a true 0 point.

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9
Q

what are the measures of central tendency

A

Mean , Median , Mode

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10
Q

what are the measures of dispersion

A

Range and Standard deviation

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11
Q

what is the range

A

difference between the highest and lowest

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12
Q

what is standard deviation

A

calculates the average distance from the mean of all scores. it considers and the scores.

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13
Q

what is a correlation

A

a relationship between two variables or -1 to 1 with 0 being no correlation, -1 being a negative correlation and 1 a positive correlation

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14
Q

what is a positive correlation

A

as one variable rises so does the other

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15
Q

what is a negative correlation

A

as one variable rises the other falls

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16
Q

what letter stands for the correlational coefficient

A

r

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17
Q

what is a correlational coefficient

A

a number ranging from -1 to 1 showing the strength of a relationship. e.g. 0.76

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18
Q

lab experiment

A

a set up experiment in a labratory.
>controlled, scientific
+-tight control over variables and is replicable. high internal and external validity
- - artificial so lacks ecological validity and low mundane realism and demand charcteristics
- ethics
Iv/DV are operationalised so dosent represent reality

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19
Q

Field Experiment

A

exploitation of environment in a pubic domain.
> natural environment outside Lab
+- High Ecological Validity, high mundane realism and low demand characteristics
– low control on variables and ethical? deception
-low internal validity

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20
Q

Natural Experiment

A

capitalising a naturally occuring event which can never be replicated
+ ethical as would be unethical to set up anyway
+ high eco val. and high mundane realism
+ theory development
- cannot generalise
- rare events
- no control

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21
Q

Quantitative Data

A

numbers etc.

+- easy , neat, ecomomic, objective, can be translated into graphs etc

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22
Q

Qualitative Data

A

word etc.

–subjective, open to interpretation, partial, bias, too much data, uneconomic.

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23
Q

What is content analysis and how do you do it

A

turning qualitative data into quantitative.

1) sorting by theme. e.g. count or measure
2) coding system = frequency data

24
Q

what is wrong with self report techniques

A

> self desirability bias

>demand characteristics

25
Q

what is an closed question

A

a questions where there is a choice of answers

26
Q

what is an open question

A

a question where detail and elaboration is needed.

27
Q

Evaluate correlational research

A

ADV: correlational analysis shows the direction and strength of relationships so the findings can be used to generate ideas for future research

DISADV: correlational research only explains the two variables that are being studied, but other factors may be involved that were not known of, or accounted for.

28
Q

natural observation

A 
> observe not interfere
\+  high eco. val.
\+ no demand characteristics
\+ theory development
- extraneous variables
- observer bias
29
Q

content analysis

A

converting Qualitative to quantitative
> coding units used
> statistical analysis the carried out

30
Q

what are pilot studies

A

small scale study before actual to foresee problems

31
Q

how to control variables

A
  • Counterbalancing- mixing up order of tasks to solve order effect
  • Random allocation- to create equal balance in the group
  • Extraneous variables- all variable are kept constant for all participants; same place, same time, same conditions
  • Standardizing instructions- keep everything as similar as possible from context to instructions.
32
Q

independent groups design

A

• Different participants (one with audience and one without) in each group
+ Avoids order effect, learning effect and fatigue effect
- Participants effect; one group may be better
- Twice as many needed

33
Q

Repeated measures design

A

• All participants do both tasks (on with audience, one without)
+ Participants variables reduced
+ Fewer participants needed
- Order effect

34
Q

Matched pairs design

A 
•	Different participants in each condition, but they are matched on important variables.
\+	No order effect
\+	Participants variables minimized
-	A lot of participants
-	Time- consuming
35
Q

selecting and using pps

A

> target group is part of population you are interested in

> target group should be representative- if not it is biased

36
Q

random sampling

A

every member has equal chance of being selected.
+ Fair
- Not representative- subgroups may not be selected.

37
Q

opportunity sampling

A

participants are picked if they are available and willing.
+ Quick, easy and practical
- Not representative- can’t generalize.

38
Q

volunteer sampling

A

participants actively volunteer.
+ Willing participants ==> more in-depth analysis.
- Participants are more likely to be more cooperative ==> not representative.

39
Q

participant effect

A
  • If a participant knows they are being observed; they will change their behavior.
  • This will effect validity or reliability
40
Q

social desirability bias

A
  • participants will present themselves in a better way
41
Q

demand characteristics

A

when participants form an idea about the study and try to ‘please’ the researcher.

42
Q

researcher bias

A

• The researchers expectations influence their design and conduction of the study. Their behavior may produce demand characteristics

43
Q

interviewer effect

A

may lead to leading questions, participant’s answers may be adapted to fir expectations, and interviewers behavior can affect the participants.

44
Q

directional hypothesis

A

stating a directional prediction e.g. group A will do better than B

45
Q

non- directional hypothesis

A

states there will be a difference, but does not state what the difference will be e.g. one group will do better than the other

46
Q

null hypothesis

A

what you assume is true before the study; usually there will be no relationship

47
Q

experimental hypothesis

A

if you reject the null hypothesis you must form one; usually there is a relationship

48
Q

evaluate questionaires

A 
\+	Lots of info
\+	Quick, easy, cheap
\+	Low researcher bias
\+	Median and mode can be assessed 
\+	Allows for degrees of opinions
\+	Anonymity
-	Bad questions = bad answers
-	Leading questions
-	Opened or closed questions provide different data and responses
-	Biased samples
-	Self- report ==> social desirability bias
-	Ethics- confidentiality
49
Q

structured interviews

A

comprised of pre-determined questions, little training and easy to analyze.
Behavior is observed as it occurs; high mundane reality, low demand characteristics
+ Rich data
- Self report ==> social desirability bias
- Impractical _. Time consuming
- Ethics- confidentiality

50
Q

unstructured interviews

A 
set of discussion topics, less constrained about the conversation. New questions emerge as you proceed.
\+	Rich data
\+	Pilot study can be used 
-	Cant generalize
-	Interviewer bias ==> to participants and study
-	Recollection unreliable
-	Confidentiality
-	Time consuming
51
Q

case studies

A 
•	Intense description on a single case
\+	Rich data
\+	Unique ==> promote new studies or theories
-	Cant generalize
-	Ethics
-	Causal relationship cannot be assumed
52
Q

ethical issues

A 
CONFIDENTIALITY
PRIVACY
PSYCHOLOGICAL HARM
INFORMED CONSENT
RIGHT TO WITHDRAW
DEBRIEF
DECEPTION
ANIMAL RIGHTS
53
Q

participants observations

A

researcher participates in activity
+ Develops relationship
- Lose objectivity which lead to social desirability bias

54
Q

non- participant observation

A

researcher observes
+ Greater objectivity
- Low sense of group dynamic

55
Q

structured observation

A

pre-defined behavior categories used
Categories must be operationalised and must be objective
+ Relevant data
- Interesting data unrecorded

56
Q

participant effects

A

Participants respond to the info they receive and try harder to give desired answer. Opposite can happen if participants aren’t interested in study

A2 Psychology Research Methods (2 decks)

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