Research Methods Flashcards
Ethical issues
Protection from harm Informed consent Right to withdraw Debriefing Deception Confidentiality
Experimental design
Lab
Field
Natural
Quasi
Experimental design
Independent groups
Matched pairs
Random
Hypothesis
A clear, precise, testable statement that states the relationship between the variables to be investigated.
Directional Hypothesis
States the direction of the difference or relationship.
Non-directional hypothesis
Doesn’t state the direction.
Variables
Any ‘thing’ that can vary or change within an investigation. Variables are generally used in experiments to determine if changes in one thing result in changes to another.
Independant variable (IV)
Some aspect of the experimental situation that is manipulated by the researcher or changes naturally, so the effect on the DV can be measured.
Pilot studies
A small scale version of an investigation that takes place before the real investigation is conducted.
It checks that procedures, materials, measuring scales etc. work and to allow the researcher to make necessary changes or modifications.
Single-blind procedure
The participants don’t know the aim of the research at the beginning of the study, or which condition they are in.
Double-blind procedure
Neither the participants nor the person conducting the study is aware of the aim of the investigation.
Often used in drug trials.
Control groups and conditions
In the example of drug trials, the group that receives the REAL DRUG is the EXPERIMENTAL GROUP/CONDITION and the group that receives the PLACEBO is called the CONTROL GROUP/CONDITION.
Control is used in many experimental studies for the purpose of comparison.
Random sampling
All members of the target population have an equal chance of being selected.
Complete a list of all the members of the target population is obtained and each name gets given a number, then they’re generated through a computer-based randomiser or picking numbers from a hat.
Free from researcher bias - the researcher has no influence over who is selected and this prevents them from choosing people who they think will support their hypothesis.
Difficult and time consuming - A complete list of the target population may be difficult to obtain. May end up with a sample that is unrepresentative.
Systematic sampling
Every nth member of the target population is selected e.g every 5th pupil on a school register.
Avoids researcher bias - once the system for selection has been established the researcher has no influence over who is chosen.
Fairly representative e.g. it would be highly unlikely to get an all male sample.
Stratified sampling
A sophisticated way of sampling in which the composition of the sample reflects the proportions of people in certain sub-groups (strata) within the target population or the wider population.
Avoids researcher bias - once the target population has been sub-divided into strata, the participants that make up the numbers are randomly selected and beyond the influence of the researcher.
Produces a representative sample - designed to accurately reflect the composition of the population. This means you can generalise findings.
Opportunity sampling
When you select anyone who is willing and available to take part. The researcher asks anyone near them if they want to be part of the experiment.
Convenient - saves the researcher time and effort and its much less costly in terms of time and money more than random sampling for example.
Unrepresentative of the target population - drawn from a very specific area so findings can’t be generalised.
Researcher bias - The researcher has complete control over the selection of participants and may avoid the people they don’t like the look of.
Volunteer sampling
Participants select themselves to be part of the sample, also referred to as self-selection.
The researcher may place an advertisement in the newspaper or on a common room notice board.
Easy - requires minimal input from the researcher (“they come to you”) and so is less time consuming than other forms of sampling.
Volunteer bias - Asking for volunteers may attract a certain ‘profile’ of person, which may mean their findings can’t be generalised.
Lab experiment
Strengths
-Can control extraneous variables - the effect on the DV is definitely caused by the IV.
-Can be more certain about demonstrating cause and effect (High external validity)
Limitations
- Lacks generalisability - artificial, not like every day life. (Low external validity)
- Demand characteristics
- Low mundane realism
Field experiment
Strengths
Higher mundane realism than lab as its more natural. May produce behaviour that is more valid. (High external validity)
Limitations
-Loss of control of extraneous variables. Cause and effect between IV and DV in field studies.
-Ethical issues - Can’t consent, invasion of privacy.
Natural experiment
Strengths
- Provide opportunities for research that may not otherwise be undertaken for practical or ethical reasons.
-High external validity - involves the study of real-life issues and problems as they happen.
Limitations
-Naturally occurring thing might not happen regularly, reducing the opportunities for research. This may also limit the scope for generalising findings to similar situations.
-Can’t randomly allocate participants to conditions and therefore there may be confounding variables.
Quasi experiment
Strengths
-Often carried out under controlled conditions and therefore share the strengths of a lab experiment.
- Can control extraneous variables - the effect on the DV is definitely caused by the IV.
- Can be more certain about demonstrating cause and effect (High external validity)
Limitations
-Can’t randomly allocate participants to conditions and therefore there may be confounding variables.
