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Psychology A2 > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

What can be established by an experimental method?

What does this involve?

A

The precise cause and effect relationship between two variables
Manipulating 1 variable to see how it affects the other

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2
Q

What can be established by a correlational method?

Why is this easier than using an experimental method?

A

Whether there is an association between two variables

It does not involve identifying the independent or dependent variable

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3
Q

How do psychologists control Extraneous Variable?

A

By testing all participants under the same environmental conditions

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4
Q

What are situational variables and how are they controlled?

A

Variables such as temperature, instructions, time of day and lighting.

Controlled through standardisation

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5
Q

What are participant variables and how are they controlled?

A

Variables connected to the participant such as intelligence, age and personality

Controlled through experimental design

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6
Q

What does ‘operationalisation of variables’ mean?

A

The process of making a large concept precise and measureable

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7
Q

What is the difference between a directional (1 tail) and a non-directional (2 tail) hypothesis?

A

A directional hypothesis states that there will be a change in the DV and what it will be.
A non-directional hypothesis states that there will be a change in the DV but not what it will be.

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8
Q

What is a Laboratory Experiment?

A

Where research is carried out in an artificial environment specifically designed for the study. The IV is directly manipulated, EVs are controlled and Ps are randomly allocated to conditions

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9
Q

What are the advantages of Laboratory Experiments?

A

High reliability as they are easy to replicate

IV and EVs are highly controlled

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10
Q

What are the disadvantages of Laboratory Experiments?

A

Artificial - Lack mundane realism
High chance of investigator and participant effects
Lacks ecological validiy

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11
Q

What is a field experiment?

A

An experiment that takes place in a real life setting but the IV is directly manipulated by the experimenter. EVs are not all controlled

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12
Q

What are the advantages of field experiments?

A

Reduction in participants effects (demand characteristics) as they might not know they are involved in a study
High levels of ecological validity

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13
Q

What are the disadvantages of field experiments?

A

Less control of EVs

Random allocation is difficult

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14
Q

What is a natural experiment?

A

Where the IV is naturally occurring so the researcher does not have to manipulate it

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15
Q

What are the advantages of natural experiments?

A

Useful when it is not possible/ethical to manipulate the IV

High levels of ecological validity

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16
Q

What are the disadvantages of natural experiments?

A

No random allocation of Ps to the conditions
Time consuming
Lacks internal validity- EVs are not controlled and cannot conclude cause and effect

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17
Q

What are the three types of experimental design?

A

Repeated measures, independent groups and matched pairs

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18
Q

What is a Repeated Measures Design?

A

Where Ps do both conditions while experimenter measure the DV. Experimenter then compares the results for both conditions

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19
Q

What is the advantage of Repeated Measures Design?

A

No participant variables

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20
Q

What are the disadvantages of Repeated Measures Design?

A

May have order effects as Ps have already taken part in the experiment once - may get better due to practise or worse due to lack of concentration
May learn aims
High chance of demand characteristics

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21
Q

What is an Independent Groups design?

A

Where there are two group of Ps who each take part in only one condition. The experimenter will measure the DV for each group and then compares the results.

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22
Q

What are the advantages of Independent Groups design?

A

Quick and easy

No order effects

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23
Q

What is the disadvantage of Independent Groups design?

What can be done to reduce this?

A

Participant variables

Increase the sample size

24
Q

What is a Matched Pairs design?

A

Where there are two groups of Ps with similar characteristics who each take place in one condition. The experimenter measure the DV for each group and then compares the results.

25
Q

What are the advantages of Matched Pairs design?

A

No order effects

No P variables

26
Q

What are the disadvantages of Matched Pairs design?

A

Time consuming and difficult to match people

Unknown variables

27
Q

What is Counter Balancing and when is it used?

A

Where half the Ps do condition A then condition B and the other half do the opposite. - ABBA
It is used during Repeated measures to reduce carry over effects

28
Q

What does reliability mean?

A

How consistent a study or measuring device is

29
Q

What does Internal Reliability mean?

A

The extent to which something is consistent within itself

30
Q

What does External Reliability mean?

A

How consistent something is over several occasions

31
Q

How do we assess internal reliability?

A

Inter-Rater Reliability

Split Half Method

32
Q

What does Inter-Rater Reliability mean?

What is it used for?

A

Whether two interviewers produce the same outcome

Observations and Interviews

33
Q

What is a Split Half Method?

What is it used for?

A

It compares a P’s performance on two halves of a questionnaire or test. It is reliable if there is a close correlation in scores from both halves.
Questionnaires and Tests

34
Q

How do we assess external reliability?

A

Test-Retest and Replication

35
Q

What is Test-Retest Reliability?

A

When 1 P is given a test and then given the same test again after a period of time (week/month)

36
Q

What is Replication?

A

Repeating a study

37
Q

How can we improve reliability? (5 things)

A
  1. Standardisation of data
  2. Using well trained observers
  3. Using more than one measure and finding an average
  4. Using pilot studies
  5. Checking data recording and interpretation
38
Q

What does validity mean?

A

Whether a study measures/ tests what it claims to

39
Q

What is internal validity?

A

Whether the changes in the DV are caused by the IV rather than EVs

40
Q

What is external validity? (Ecological validity)

A

The extent to which the results can be generalised to other situations and people

41
Q

How do we assess internal validity?

A

Face Validity and Concurrent Validity

42
Q

What is Face Validity?

A

Whether the test looks like it measures what it is supposed to.

43
Q

What is Concurrent Validity?

A

Comparing performance on a new test/questionnaire with a previously established test on the same topic
High correlation means high internal validty

44
Q

How doe we assess external validity?

A

Replication and Meta-Analysis

45
Q

What is replication?

A

Repeating a study to see if the results are the same

46
Q

What is Meta-Analysis?

A

A study of studies which tests whether findings from one study are similar to others

47
Q

How do we improve validity? (2 things)

A

Use standardised instructions and procedures so that conditions are the same for all Ps
Reduce Demand Characteristics

48
Q

How do we improve internal reliability/ remove demand characteristics?

A

Single Blind procedure- Ps don’t know their condition

Double Blind procedure - Ps AND experimenters don’t know the aims or conditions

49
Q

What are the three Sampling techniques?

A

Opportunity, Volunteer and Random

50
Q

What is an Opportunity Sample?
Advantages?
Disadvantages?

A

Using whoever is immediately available
+Quick and easy
- Not representative

51
Q

What is a Volunteer Sample?
Advantages?
Disadvantages?

A

Using volunteers
+Quick and easy
-People who volunteer may have different characteristics to those who don’t

52
Q

What is a Random Sample?
Advantages?
Disadvantages?

A

Where every member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected
+More likely to be representative
+Likely to be unbiased
-Time consuming

53
Q

What is an observational study?

What are the 2 types?

A

Where Ps are observed engaging in whatever behaviour is being studied and observations are recorded
Naturalistic and Controlled

54
Q

What is a Naturalistic observation?

A

Where behaviour is studied in a natural situation so no variables are manipulated

55
Q

What is a Controlled observation?

A

Where some of the variables are controlled by the researcher.

Psychology A2 (4 decks)

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