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Psychology A2 > Research methods > Flashcards

Research methods Flashcards

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1
Q

Define Nominal data

A

Data collected in categories rather than given a numerical score

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2
Q

Define Ordinal data

A

Data that is put into a order (ratings/ranked)

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3
Q

Define Ratio data

A

Interval data with an absolute zero (no negative scores)

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4
Q

Example of Nominal data

A

Category- occupation, location, hair colour

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5
Q

Example of Ordinal data

A

Interval data- ratings of attractiveness or aggression

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6
Q

Example of Ratio data

A

Number of words recalled or height

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7
Q

Name all the statistical tests

A

Chi-squared
Mann-U Whitney
Spearman’s
Wilcoxon T test

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8
Q

Chi-squared test

A
  • Independent measures design
  • Association
  • Nominal
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9
Q

Mann-U Whitney test

A
  • Independent measures design

- Difference

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10
Q

Spearman’s test

A
  • Relationship

- Correlation

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11
Q

Wilcoxon test

A
  • Repeated measures design

- Difference

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12
Q

Define Objectivity

A

An objective account is impartial and could be ideally accepted by any subject because it does not draw on any assumptions, prejudices or values of particular subjects.

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13
Q

What problems are there in regard to objectivity?

A

Biases

Interpretation

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14
Q

What are the two senses of the term replicability?

A

The replicability of a procedure

The replicability of results

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15
Q

Define replicability in terms of procedure

A

A study can be repeated in the same way

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16
Q

How do you make a procedure replicable?

A

Methods section:

Standardised instructions, controls, materials, sample details and timings e.t.c

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17
Q

Define replicability in terms of results

A

If the study is repeated results will be the same

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18
Q

What does it mean if the results are not replicable?

A

The empirical claim of the research is questionable (a certain phenomena occurs)
Support for theory is undermined

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19
Q

Example of a study that has high replicability

A

Milgram’s study

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20
Q

What is a theory?

A

A theory is an explanation of why things happen the way they do

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21
Q

What is a hypothesis?

A

A hypothesis is a testable prediction

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22
Q

How is a hypothesis tested?

A

Using empirical methods like observing and measuring phenomenon using systematic technique for collecting data

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23
Q

Define triangulation

A

More than one source of data of different types- improves likelihood that findings are genuine and provide better support for a theory

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24
Q

What do reviews help identify?

A

Reviews allow researchers identify overall trends in findings

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25
Q

Disadvantage of Reviews

A

Often invalidated by cherry picking- only including studies that support authors viewpoint, harder to trust results

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26
Q

How to overcome cherry picking?

A

Do a meta analysis

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27
Q

Advantages of meta analysis’

A

More sophisticated form of a review
Less likely to involve cherry picking findings
Methodological criteria used which enables others to replicate the study, check results and update the study

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28
Q

Identify a study where there is triangulation of findings

A

MSM

Milgram

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29
Q

Identify one study where cross cultural research has been extensively conducted

A

Strange situation

Milgram

30
Q

Identify possible methodological criteria that could be applied for inclusion of a study in a meta analysis

A

Minimum sample size
Well controlled variables
Random allocation, blind trial

31
Q

Steps of Peer review

A

Research submitted to a journal in a standard format (abstract, introduction, method, results and discussion)

The reviewer should be experts in their field and be competent to judge the merits of the paper

Blind reviewing processes is ideal so identity of research is anonymous and they would review the methodology without looking at results

Research accepted or rejected for publication on accepted on certain conditions like modifications or extensions are made.

32
Q

Evaluation of Peer review:

A

+Anonymity used to remove bias

  • Not always possible to find expert in the field
  • Publication bias (prefer to publish positive results)
  • If fault found later can’t be removed
33
Q

Point of peer review

A

Peer review process is designed to ensure that good quality research that increases the knowledge base of psychology is published.

34
Q

What are hypotheses?

A

Specific, testable statements of prediction, it states what the research expects to find out

To operationalise the hypotheses you need to early state how the IV will be manipulated and how the DV will be measured.

IV- Independent Variable (what you change)
DV- Dependent Variable

35
Q

What is a Null hypothesis

A

Statement of no difference

36
Q

Directional Hypothesis

A

1-tailed test

States the direction of the predicted difference

37
Q

Non-directional hypothesis

A

2-tailed hypothesis

States there will be a difference but we don’t know what direction that difference will be

38
Q

Significance

A

P

39
Q

Type 1 errors

A

Rejecting Null hypothesis that is true

40
Q

Type 2 errors

A

Accepting Null hypothesis that is fake

Likely to occur if the probability is too stringent

41
Q

Content analysis

A

Changing qualitative data into quantitive data so it can be statistically analysed

+Inter-rater reliability can be easily tested
+Unobtrusive

  • Highly subjective
  • Time Consuming
  • Reductionist
42
Q

Steps of psychological report

A 
Title
Abstract
Introduction
Hypotheses
Method
Results
Discussion
References
Appendices
43
Q

Lab study

A

+ Internal Validity = controlled variables
+ Control Increases replicability and if consistent results are achieved reliability

  • Demand characteristics due to set out
  • May have reduced external validity as experiments aren’t generalisable to real life
44
Q

Field Study

A

+ Experimenter effects/demand characteristics reduced
+ Higher ecological validity as it’s a natural setting

  • Less control over extraneous variables
  • Demand characteristics may be present if ppts know they’re being studied
45
Q

Natural experiment

A

+Effects of privation
+ No Demand characteristics

  • Validity may be reduced, no random allocation
  • Low replicability
46
Q

Correlation

A

+ Shows relationships
+ Can be conducted on a lot of data
+ Easily replicated

  • No cause/effect can be established
  • May lack internal/external validity
47
Q

Observation

A

+ Rich data as natural behaviour is observed

  • Demand characteristics in overt observations
  • Observer bias
  • Inter-rater reliability should be used to test
48
Q

Self report techniques

A

+Large samples fairly quickly
+ Open questions used for quantitative data easily analysed
+Closed questions for qualitative

  • Social desirability bias
  • Leading questions could reduce validity
  • Close questions can reduce validity as it may not allow full response
49
Q

Opportunity sample method

A

A sample of participants produced by selecting people who are most easily available at the time of the study.

+ Easy to conduct
+ Easy to get large samples

  • Biased (selection bias by researcher, non verbal clues)
  • Only allows a small sample of target population
  • May not be representative
50
Q

Volunteer Sampling

A

A sampling technique that relies solely on volunteers to make up the sample.

+Quick
+reach a wide variety of people

  • Those who volunteer may not be representative of the target population as they may be more motivated/outgoing
51
Q

Random sampling

A

A group of participants selected using a random technique so that every member of the target population has an equal chance.

+ Less biased

-Still same bias as some people may refuse to take part

52
Q

List of ethical issues

A

Informed consent

Confidentiality and anonymity

Right to withdraw at any time

Protection from harm

Deception

Debriefing

53
Q

How to test internal reliability?

A

Split-half method where test is split in two and you need a strong correlation between both halves

Counterbalancing

54
Q

How to test external reliability?

A

Tested using test-retest method on same participants however this requires a gap between 1st and 2nd test.

55
Q

What is internal validity?

A

How well the method being used measures what you set out to measure

56
Q

What is external validity?

A

How well the research can be applied to the real world

57
Q

Empirical methods

A

A method of gaining knowledge which relies on direct observation or testing.

58
Q

Independent variable

A

A variable that is directly manipulated by the experimenter.

59
Q

Dependent variable

A

A measurable outcome of the action of the independent variable in an experiment.

60
Q

Replicability

A

If findings from a study are true it is possible to obtain the same findings if the study is repeated.

61
Q

Falsification

A

The attempt to prove something wrong.

62
Q

Peer review

A

the practice used by academic journals and research assessments of using experts to assess other experts.

63
Q

Reliability

A

A measure of consistency within a set of scores or items and also over time to obtain the same results on subsequent occasions.

64
Q

Internal reliability

A

A measure of the extent to which something is consistent with itself.

65
Q

External reliability

A

A calculation of the extent to which a measure varies from another measure of the same thing over time.

66
Q

Validity

A

Refers to legitimacy of a study, the extent to which the findings can be applied beyond the research setting.

67
Q

Qualitative data

A

Data that expresses the ‘quality’ of things. Cannot be counted or quantified.

68
Q

Quantitative data

A

Quantitative data Data that represents a number of something.

69
Q

Independent groups design

A

Each ppts only assigned to one condition of the independent variable

70
Q

Repeated measures design

A

Each ppts is assigned to more than one condition of the independent variable
Experimental groups consist of exactly the same ppts repeating the same task but under a different condition

71
Q

Matched pairs design

A

2 equal groups of participants and each ppts is matched with a similar ppts in the other group

Both groups take part in different conditions of the independent variable as with independent groups.

Psychology A2 (6 decks)

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