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Psychology > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

Dependant variable

A

Measured

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2
Q

Independent variable

A

Manipulated

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3
Q

Extraneous variable

A

Might interfere with DV

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4
Q

Confounding variable

A

Has definitely interfered with DV. Can be participant or situational.

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5
Q

Situational variable (confounding)

A

Stem from environment where experiment is conducted (eg. Light, noise). Can have a distorting effect on data so needs to be controlled as much as possible.

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6
Q

Participant variable (confounding)

A

Stem from the way participants vary (eg. IQ, age). Can have a distorting effect in data so need to be controlled as much as possible.

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7
Q

Demand characteristics

A

Cues in the environment which help the participants figure out what the research hypothesis is.

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8
Q

Single blind technique

A

Participants don’t know the hypothesis or which condition they are in. Reduces chance of demand characteristics.

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9
Q

Investigator effects

A

Researcher may unconsciously behave in a way to bring out their prediction.

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10
Q

Double blind technique

A

Neither participant or research assistant know the hypothesis or which condition the participants are in. Helps reduce chance of investigator effects.

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11
Q

Operationalisation

A

Clearly defining variables

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12
Q

Objective

A

Specific, measurable, replicable, not subject to personal opinion.

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13
Q

Subjective

A

Results can be impaired by personal interpretation/opinions.

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14
Q

Internal validity

A

Lower chance of confounding variables = higher internal validity of the study. If only the IV is being tested and all variables have been controlled.

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15
Q

Ecological validity

A

How well the findings of a study can be generalised to real life settings.

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16
Q

Reliability

A

2 or more measurements or observations of the same psychological study are consistent with each other.

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17
Q

Validity

A

If you are actually measuring what you claim to be.

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18
Q

Meta analysis

A

When a large number of studies,which have involved the same research question and methods of research, are combined.

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19
Q

Quantitative data

A

Numerical (eg. Counting). Can be put into tables and graphs.

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20
Q

Qualitative data

A

Non numerical (eg. Describing emotions). Provides insight into feelings and thoughts - much more detailed than quantitative data.

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21
Q

Null hypothesis

A

IV will not impact DV. There will be no change.

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22
Q

Aim

A

A precise statement of why a study is taking place/what is being studied.

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23
Q

Hypothesis

A

A precise, testable prediction of what is expected to happen. (Experimental/alternative/null)

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24
Q

Experimental(looking for difference)/Alternative(looking for association) hypothesis.

A

Differences of DV re due to manipulation of the IV, and not chance factors. Can be 1 or 2 tailed.

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25
Q

Directional ‘1 tailed’ hypothesis

A

Predicts the direction of the results.

26
Q

Non directional ‘2 tailed’ hypothesis

A

Predicts there will be a difference, but doesn’t state the direction of the results.

27
Q

Ethical issues

A

The rules governing the conduct of researchers in investigations

28
Q

Code of ethics

A

Informed consent
Deception
Withdrawal (right to)
Protection from harm (physical and psychological)
Confidentiality ( participants data not disclosed to anyone)
Privacy

29
Q

Presumptive consent

A

Gained from people from similar backgrounds to the participants. It is deemed that if they would consent then so would the participants.

30
Q

Prior general consent

A

Participants agree to being deceived but don’t know how they will be deceived. (Could cause participants to act differently to normal)

31
Q

Retrospective consent

A

Asked for consent after the study. However they may not consent and will have already taken part.

32
Q

Variable

A

A thing which varies

33
Q

Social desirability bias

A

Behaving in a way you think people want you to.

34
Q

Random sampling

A

Every member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected (eg picking names from a hat)

35
Q

Random sampling Advantage

A 
Most representative form of sampling.
High validity (represents the whole target population)
36
Q

Random sampling Disadvantage

A

Expensive

Time consuming

37
Q

Opportunity sampling

A

Choosing the people for the sample from those available at the time.

38
Q

Opportunity sampling Advantage

A

Quick and easy

39
Q

Opportunity sampling Disadvantage

A

Not as representative because not all of the target population has a chance of being chosen.

40
Q

Volunteer sampling

A

Participants consciously or unconsciously determine their own involvement. Eg reply to an advert (conscious) or a passer by in an observational study (unconscious).

41
Q

Volunteer sampling Advantage

A

Quick and easy

42
Q

Volunteer sampling Disadvantage

A

Doesn’t produce a representative sample. High chance of bias. Only a certain type of people will choose to respond to the adverts.

43
Q

Stratified sampling

A

A small scale reproduction of a population. Population is divided into characteristics important for the experiment like age. Then the population is randomly selected from each stratum.

44
Q

Stratified sampling Advantage

A 
Representative 
Unbiased (random sampling element)
45
Q

Stratified sampling Disadvantage

A

Knowledge of population characteristics required. Time consuming.

46
Q

Systematic sampling

A

Take every nth person from a list to create a sample. It involves calculating the size of the population to assess what size the sample needs to be.

47
Q

Systematic sampling Advantage

A

Unbiased
People picked at random
Representative

48
Q

Systematic sampling Disadvantage

A

Unbiased selection doesn’t garuntee an unbiased sample.

Certain characteristics could reoccur every nth person, making the sample unrepresentative.

49
Q

Laboratory experiment

A

Carried out in a controlled setting.
Most commonly used method because it is objective and systematic.
People may act differently to normal because they are in an unusual environment.

50
Q

Field experiment

A

Controlled but outside a lab.
Participants are usually unaware that they are involved.
No social desirability bias because they don’t know they’re involved.
Hard to control.

51
Q

Natural experiment

A

The IV can’t be manipulated but where it naturally varies its effects are observed.
The effect of an IV can be studied where it would usually be unethical.

52
Q

Quasi experiment

A

The IV is naturally occurring but there is more control over it than in natural experiments.
Participants can’t be randomly allocated to conditions so there may be confounding variables.
Often carried out under controlled conditions so share the strengths of lab experiments.

53
Q

Naturalistic observation

A

Take place in the setting where the target behaviour would naturally occur.

54
Q

Controlled observation

A

Watching and recording behaviours in a structured and controlled environment. Some variables are controlled. Variables can be manipulated to observe effects.

55
Q

Covert observation

A

Participant isn’t aware they are being observed and hasn’t given consent

56
Q

Overt observation

A

Behaviour watched and recorded with participants knowledge and consent.

57
Q

Participant observation

A

Researcher becomes a member of the group they are observing.

58
Q

Non-participant observation

A

Researcher remains separate from the group they are observing.

59
Q

Independent measures design

A

Participants are randomly allocated to either one or the other condition.

60
Q

Repeated measures design

A

Same participants used in each condition.

61
Q

Matched pairs design

A

Participants are matched as close as possible with another participant. The pairs are then randomly allocated to a condition.
Monozygotic twins provide researchers with a very close match for participant variables.

Psychology (11 decks)

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