Research Methods

Question 1

Name 3 types of Experiments

Answer 1

> Lab experiment
Field experiment
Natural experiment

Question 2

Describe a Lab Experiment

Answer 2

These are experiments carried out in a controlled setting. Lab experiments tend to demonstrate high internal validity and low external validity

Question 3

Name 3 advantages of a Lab Experiment

Answer 3

> It is easily replicable, if the lab experiment is carried out successfully,it can be easily replicated to see if other researchers obtain similar results.
In a Lab setting there is better control over variables. it is easier to control confounding variables than in other experiment settings, so high levels of precision can be achieved.
Cause and effect can be easily established if all variables other than the IV are controlled.

Question 4

Name 2 disadvantages of a Lab Experiment

Answer 4

> There is a loss of validity in lab experiments, due to establishing high levels of control, and narrowly defining IVs and Dvs , an experimental artificial and therefore recognizably different from real-life situations
Demand characteristics occur when participants try to make sense of the research situation they find themselves in and adjust their behaviour accordingly. This leads to less reliable and accurate results.

Question 5

Describe a Field Experiment

Answer 5

Field experiments are investigations carried out in a natural environment of those being studied (e.g. homes, schools, etc.) As with lab experiments, the researcher still manipulates an IV to produce a change in the DV, therefore causal relationships can be demonstrated.

Question 6

Name 2 advantages of a Field Experiment

Answer 6

> Field experiments have improved ecological validity, by carrying out an experiment in a natural, real-life setting, the artificiality of the lab environment is avoided (i.e. reduced reliability and relation to real life)
This type of investigation has a reduction of demand characteristics. Participants may be less conscious that they are taking part in a research study, so the likely influence of demand characteristics may be reduced.

Question 7

Name 2 disadvantages of a Field Experiment

Answer 7

> It is difficult to establish high levels of control in a field experiment, not only control over IVs and in measuring DVs, but also over any potentially confounding variables
Although realism is high in a field experiment, the results cannot be generalized to other real-life situations that differ from the one in which th field experiment took place

Question 8

Describe a Natural Experiment

Answer 8

In a natural experiment, the researcher makes use of naturally occurring differences in the independent variable. This means that the researcher does not have direct control over the IV.

Question 9

Name 2 advantages of Natural Experiments

Answer 9

> In Natural experiments there is a reduction of demand characteristics. Participants may be less conscious that they are taking part in an experiment, and so demand characteristics may be avoided.
The experimenter does not intervene with the situation, al thought it is possible that the mere presence of the researcher may still produce an effect on the ppts behaviour

Question 10

Name 2 disadvantages of Natural Experiments

Answer 10

> Loss of control is a disadvantage, since the investigator does not directly control the IV or assign participants to experimental conditions, the overall degree of control exercised than in a lab or field environment.
The naturally occurring situation the observer is studying, may occur only rarely, thus reducing the available opportunities for research.

Question 11

Describe a Correlational Analysis

Answer 11

Determining the extent of a relationship between two variables

Question 12

Describe the use of Correlational coefficient

Answer 12

A number between -1 and +1 that tells us how closely the co-variables in a correlational analysis are related.

Question 13

Describe a Natural observation

Answer 13

A research method carried out in a naturalistic setting in which the investigator does not interfere in any way, but merely observes the behaviour(s) in question.

Question 14

Describe a Controlled observation

Answer 14

Participants are likley to know that they are under observation - behaviour is measured in a controlled setting. Similar to lab experiment, tight control of all variables (e.g. confounding). Lacks ecoloical validity due to social desirability bias created by being under observation.

Question 15

Describe a Structured Observation

Answer 15

Behaviour category - dividing target behaviour into a subject of behaviours done by behavioural checklist.

Question 16

Describe an Unstructured Observation

Answer 16

Record all relevant behaviours, there is no checklist/system.

Question 17

Describe a Non-Participant Observation

Answer 17

Observational study whereby researcher does not join activity being observed

Question 18

Describe a Participant Observation

Answer 18

Observer is also a participant is activity being studied.

Question 19

Name the two types of Naturalistic Observation

Answer 19

> Overt

> Covert

Question 20

Describe an Overt Naturalistic Observation

Answer 20

Researcher is open about their intentions in the field

Question 21

Describe a Covert Naturalistic Observation

Answer 21

Researcher does not inform members of the group the reasons for their presence. True intentions are kept secret.

Question 22

Name 3 types of Experimental designs

Answer 22

> Independent groups Design
Repeated Measures Design
Matched Pairs Design

Question 23

Describe an Independent Groups Design

Answer 23

An experimental design where participants are allocated to two (or more) groups representing different experimental conditions

Question 24

Name some advantages of an Independent Groups Design

Answer 24

There are no issues with order effects which occur when participants’ performance is positively or negatively affected by taking part in two or more experimental conditions.

Question 25

Name some disadvantages of an Independent Groups Design

Answer 25

There is the potential for error resulting from individual differences between the groups of participants taking part in the different conditions.

Question 26

Describe a Repeated Measures Design

Answer 26

An experimental design which involves exposing every participant to each of the experimental conditions, so in effect participants are used as their own controls.

Question 27

Name some advantages of a Repeated Measures Design

Answer 27

Individual differences between groups of participants are removed as a potential confounding variable. Also fewer participants are required, since data for all conditions collected are from the same group of participants.

Question 28

Name some disadvantages of a Repeated Measures Design

Answer 28

Order effects may result when participants take part in more than one experimental condition. order effects can confound the results in two ways - either negatively through effects of fatigue or boredom, or positively through the effects of learning or practice

Question 29

Describe a Matched Pairs Design

Answer 29

This design involves matching each participant in one of the experimental conditions as closely as possible with another participant in the second condition on all the variables considered to be relevant to performance in the study.

Question 30

Name some advantages of a Matched Pairs Design

Answer 30

A matched pairs design combines the advantages of both an independent groups and repeated measures design.

Question 31

Name some disadvantages of a Matched Pairs Design

Answer 31

Achieving Matched Pairs Design is both time consuming and difficult. Complete matching of participants on all variables can rarely be achieved.

Question 32

Define Null Hypothesis

Answer 32

The Null Hypothesis predicts that the results of an experiment can be explained by chance variation alone rather than by the manipulation of the IV. For example in an experiment investigating the effect of a mnemonic on memory recall, the null hypothesis would predict no difference in the memory scores for the two conditions.

Question 33

Define Directional Hypothesis

Answer 33

A Directional Hypothesis predicts the direction in which results are expected to occur

Question 34

Define Non-Directional Hypothesis

Answer 34

A non-directional hypothesis predicts that there will be a difference between two conditions or two groups of participants, without stating the direction of the difference.

Question 35

Define Random Sampling

Answer 35

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

Question 36

Define Opportunity Sampling

Answer 36

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

Question 37

Define Volunteer Sampling

Answer 37

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