Research methods Flashcards
Survey
A method used for collecting information from a large number of people by asking them questions, either by questionnaire or an interview
Closed question
A question where the possible responses are fixed often “yes” or “no” options
Open question
A question where the person answering can give any response they like
Unambiguous
Something that only has one meaning
Ecological validity
The results of the investigation can be said to apply to real-life behaviour.
They are an accurate account of behaviour in the real world
Interview
A method in which a researcher collects data by asking questions directly
Interviewee
The person/respondent who answers the questions in an interview
Structured interview
An interview where all the questions are pre-set, given in a fixed order and every interviewee is asked the same questions
Unstructured interview
An interview where only the first question is set and all other questions are determined by the answers of the interviewee
Natural observation
Watching the behaviour of people who are in their usual environment
Observational study
A method of collecting information about behaviour by watching and recording people’s actions
Categories of behaviour
The separate actions that are recorded as examples of the target behaviour
Inter-observer reliability
When this is high, the records made by more than one observer in a study are considered to be accurate because they match or are very similar to each other
Case study
An in-depth investigation of an individual, unique group or organisation
Relationship
A connection between two or more variables
Variable
A factor or thing that can change - it varies
Correlation
A technique used by researchers to establish the strength of a relationship between two variables
Scatter graph
A graph representing correlations
Positive correlation
A relationship between two variables in which, as the value of one variable increases, the value of the other variable also increases
Negative correlation
A relationship between two variables in which, as the value of the other variable decreases
No correlation
There is no relationship between two variables
Prediction
A statement about what will happen, made before the event occurs
Questionnaire
A set of standard questions about a topic that’s given to all the participants in a survey
