Research Methods

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

A general expression of what the researcher intends to investigate

Question 2

Hypothesis

Answer 2

A statement of what the experimenter believes to be true / expects to happen

Question 3

Operationalised

Answer 3

Clearly defined and measurable

Question 4

Directional hypothesis (one tail)

Answer 4

States whether changes are greater or lesser, positive or negative

Question 5

Non-directional hypothesis (two tailed)

Answer 5

Doesn’t state direction just states that there is a difference, correlation, association.

Question 6

Experimental method

Answer 6

A researcher causes the independent variable to vary and records the effect of the IV on the dependent variable
There are different levels of the IV

Question 7

Extraneous variables

Answer 7

‘Nuisance’ variables that do not vary systematically with the IV. A researcher may control some of these.

Question 8

Confounding variables

Answer 8

Change systematically with the IV so we cannot be sure if any observed change in the DV is due to the confounding variable or the IV. CVs must be controlled.

Question 9

Demand characteristics

Answer 9

Refers to any hint from the researcher or research situation that may reveal the aim of the study

Question 10

Investigator effects

Answer 10

Any effect of the investigators behaviour on the outcome of the research (the DV)

Question 11

Randomisation

Answer 11

The use of chance to control bias within investigations

Question 12

Standardisation

Answer 12

Using exactly the same formalised procedures for all participants in a research study

Question 13

Control groups

Answer 13

Control groups are used for the purpose of setting a comparison

Question 14

Single blind

Answer 14

A participant doesn’t know the aims of the study - demand characteristics are reduced

Question 15

Double blind

Answer 15

Both participant and researcher don’t know the aims of the study the reduce demand characteristics and investigator effects

Question 16

Independent groups

Answer 16

One group do condition A and a second group do condition B. Participants should be randomly allocated to experimental groups.

Question 17

Advantages of independent groups

Answer 17

No order effects - participants only tested once so won’t get bored/tired - controls an important confounding variable

Will not guess aim - participants only tested once so less likely to guess research aim - behaviour may be more normal

Question 18

Disadvantages of independent groups

Answer 18

Participant variables - the participants in each group are different - acts as an extraneous or confounding variable - reduces validity

More participants - need twice as many people - more time spent recruiting - more expensive

Question 19

Repeated measures

Answer 19

Some participants take part in all conditions of an experiment. The order of conditions should be counterbalanced to avoid order effects.

Question 20

Advantages of repeated measures

Answer 20

Participant variables - the person in both characteristics has the same characteristics- controls an important confounding variable

Fewer participants - half the number of participants is needed - less time spent recruiting participants

Question 21

Disadvantages of repeated measures

Answer 21

Participants may guess aims - participants may change their behaviour - may reduce validity of results

Order effects are a problem - participants may do better or worse when performing a similar task twice - reduces validity of results

Question 22

Matched pairs

Answer 22

Two groups of participants are used but they are also related to each other by being paired on participant variables (characteristics) that matter for the experiment (e.g. Age, gender)

Question 23

Advantages of matched pairs

Answer 23

Participant variables - participants are matched on a variable (characteristic) that is relevant to the experiment - enhances the validity of results

No order effects - participants only tested once so no boredom or fatigue - improves validity

Question 24

Disadvantages of matched pairs

Answer 24

Matching is not perfect - matching is time consuming and can’t control all relevant variables - may not address participant variables

More participants - need twice as many participants - time consuming and expensive