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Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a research hypothesis?

A
  • clear statement
  • predicting how changes in IV will affect DV
  • clearly states population researcher intends to draw conclusions
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2
Q

What is the Independent Variable?

A
  • deliberately manipulated or varied by experimenter.

- The IV is the factor controlled by the research.

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3
Q

What is the dependent variable?

A
  • factor that is measured by the research.

- The DV is affected by the IV.

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4
Q

What are Extraneous Variables?

A
  • uncontrolled factors that can affect the DV.
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5
Q

What are Confounding Variables?

A
  • variables other than the IV that has a systematic effect on the value of the DV.
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6
Q

What is a population?

A
  • the group of people we wish to draw conclusions about.
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7
Q

What is a sample?

A
  • small number of individuals from the population

- representative of the population.

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8
Q

What is Representative samples: Random sampling

A
  • A sample procedure

- every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected.

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9
Q

What is representative sampling: Stratified sampling?

A
  • dividing the population into subgroups
  • then selecting a sample from the subgroup
  • to be truly representative of the population.
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10
Q

What is a Null hypothesis?

A
  • A statement that the IV will have no effect on the DV.

- Researcher aims to reject this.

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11
Q

What is the Experimental group?

A
  • the group of participants which is exposed to the independent variable.
  • results are compared with the C group
  • so the effects of the IV can be determined.
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12
Q

What is the control group?

A
  • the group in research not presented with the IV.

- C group used as a basis for the comparison with the E group.

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13
Q

What is the experimental design, Repeated measures?

A

Where all participants are apart of both the experiment and control group.

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14
Q

What are advantages and disadvantages of Repeated measures experimental design?

A

Adv.

  • participant variables are controlled
  • by having less participants than other designs it is more economical.

Dis.
- articulated may perform better the second time because of practice or do worse because of fatigue or boredom
-

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15
Q

Operationalization

A
  • Stated how the variable is measured

- eg. Age: age in total months

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16
Q

Controlled variable

A

-potential effects of an extraneous variable are removed from experiment

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17
Q

Convenience sample

A
  • using any person ‘conveniently’ available as part of the sample
  • biased and findings unreliable
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18
Q

Representative samples

A
  • samples represent the population
  • conclusions from research on samples can be generalized to wider population
  • two procedures: random sampling and stratified random sampling
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19
Q

Participant allocation- Random allocation

A
  • all participants who have been selected for experiment must have equal chance of being in E-group or C-group
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20
Q

Experimental design - Matched participants

A
  • subject selection procedure
  • attempts to eliminate confounding variable by matching on key characteristics each individual in the e-group with an individual from the control group
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21
Q

Strengths and weaknesses of stratified random sampling

A

Strengths: eliminates effect of the variable on which the sample is stratified/arranged

Weaknesses: time consuming and expensive

22
Q

Strengths and weaknesses of convenience sampling

A

Strength: quick, easy, cheap- most common method used

Weaknesses: bias in sample

23
Q

Advantages and disadvantages of matched participants: experimental design

A

Advantages: variable participants are ‘matched’ will not influence result as effects will be the same in the E and C group.

Disadvantage:

  • time consuming
  • expensive
  • if one participant drops out two participants data are lost, as they are paired
24
Q

Advantages and disadvantages of experimental design: independent groups

A

Advantages:

  • can be done all at once
  • dropouts unlikely

Disadvantages

  • unable to control participants characteristics
  • large number of participants needed to reflect population
25
Q

Experimental design: independent groups

A

An equal chance of participants being allocated at random into E or C group

26
Q

Order effects

A
  • Changes in results
  • caused by the sequence of performing tasks in a test
  • often due to practice or boredom effects
27
Q

Counterbalancing

A
  • Process in repeated measures design
  • designed to eliminate order effects
  • conditions A,B and C would be presented in a different sequence to different groups of participants
28
Q

Placebo effects

A
  • participants behaviour being influenced by their expectations on how they should behave
  • caused by belief that they have received some treatment
  • expectation of participants or/and IV may effect DV results, causing invalid results
29
Q

Placebo

A

An object or procedure that is expected to have no effect on the DV

30
Q

Experimenter effect

A

The outcome of an experiment being unintentionally (or intentionally) influenced by experimenter

31
Q

Single-blind procedure

A

And experimental design where either the participants or researcher does not who is in the E or C group

32
Q

Double blind procedure

A
  • an experimental design that ensure neither researcher nor participant are aware of which participants are in the C or E group
  • eliminating experimenter and participant expectations as confounding variables variables
33
Q

Types of data: Qualitative data

A
  • refers to the description of the characteristics of what is being studied
  • eg. Task : moderate/easy/difficult
34
Q

Types of data: Quantitative data

A
  • refers to measurements

- numerical information about variables being studied

35
Q

Types of data: Subjective data

A
  • based on an opinion and there is no external yardstick by which they are measured
36
Q

Types of data: Objective data

A
  • measured according to an identifiable exterior criterion
37
Q

Data collections: case studies

A
  • researchers making detailed observations of an individual over a period of time.
  • findings cannot be generalised
38
Q

Strengths and weaknesses of case studies

A

Strengths: collection of a great deal of data of detailed information that can be used to create research hypotheses

Weaknesses: time consuming

39
Q

Data collections: Observational studies : Naturalistic observation

A
  • Naturalistic observation : observation of voluntary behaviours within the subjects natural environment.

Strengths – highly realistic

Weaknesses- lack of ability to control the I V

40
Q

Data collections: Observational studies: controlled observation

A
  • Controlled observation : observation of voluntary behaviours with in a structured environment such as the laboratory

Strengths – control over environment enables more accuracy in observations

Weaknesses – participants behaviour may be changed by environment

41
Q

Data collections: Observational studies: Clinical interview

A

Clinical interview : structured guidelines, but further questioning is used for clarification

Strengths – flexible; High in validity with skilled interviewer

Weaknesses – rely on the objectivity of the interviewer

42
Q

Data collections: Self-reports - Questionaires

A
  • Method of collecting written responses from participants
  • surveys: may be Q/A or repose or likert-type scales (rating scales)

Strengths :

  • easy to replicate
  • easy to score
  • likert scales provide a means of quantifying subjective data

Weaknesses:
-may be biased if participant try’s to appear a particular way.

43
Q

Ethical principle and professional conduct: the role of the experimenter

A
  • researcher must always act in a professional manner

- ensure best interests of the participants and society in general are met

44
Q

Ethical principle and professional conduct: participants’ rights

A
  • researcher must always maintain respect for the participants
  • rights include;
  • confidentiality
  • voluntary participation
  • withdrawal rights
  • informed consent
  • deception in research
  • debriefing
45
Q

Ethical principle and professional conduct: confidentiality

A
  • participants must not be identified in any way, in terms of results, involvement or other confidential data
  • data must be stored and disposed of using secure procedures
  • the means by which confidentiality is to be established/maintained should be described to participants at beginning of study
46
Q

Ethical principle and professional conduct: Voluntary participation

A
  • participants hold right to refuse to take part in study
  • there should not be any pressure to take part
  • they should not be tricked into taking part by deception
47
Q

Ethical principle and professional conduct:

Withdrawal rights

A
  • participants have the right to leave at any stage
  • regardless of effects on the results
  • participants have the rights to withdraw their results after study is completed
  • this must be explained to participant before starting
48
Q

Ethical principle and professional conduct: informed consent

A
  • participants must be given information about study before they decide to join
  • participants too young or intellectually disabled to give consent, guardian must be given information before giving consent on their behalf.
49
Q

Ethical principle and professional conduct: deception in research

A
  • only permitted if research would be confounded if participants had much information before taking part
  • researcher must ensure participants do not unexpectedly suffer distress
  • study to stop immediately if occurs
  • participants to be debriefed when study is completed
50
Q

Ethical principle and professional conduct: Debriefing

A
  • takes place after completion of study
  • participants told results and conclusions of study
  • any erroneous beliefs about study are corrected, especially if deception is involved
  • participants informed of counselling availability if feel required
51
Q

What are Random Sampling strengths and weaknesses?

A

Strengths: gives representative sample- participant variables spread in same proportion as in population

Weaknesses: difficult to achieve - large the population, the harder to list all individuals

Psychology (14 decks)

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