research methods Flashcards
Lab Experiment
The IV is manipulated by the researcher and it conducted in controlled conditions
strengths and weakness of lab experiment
s -It produced scientific research and can establish cause and effect
w - Low ecological validity, as they are conducted in an artificial setting
Field Experiment
The IV is manipulated by the researcher and it is conducted in a natural setting
strengths and weaknesses of field experiment
s - Offer a more realistic setting for a study and therefore have greater ecological validity
w - Lack control and variables can be influenced by extraneous variables
Quasi Experiment
The IV is naturally occurring and cannot be manipulated. It is conducted in natural settings
strengths and weaknesses Quasi experiment
s - It allows us to study the effects of the variables psychologists can manipulate
w - No control over participants
structured and unstructured observation
structured observation - A observation system will be used to record the data (coding frame), only certain behaviours shown will be recorded
unstructured observation - The researcher continuously records and reports behaviour, noting everything that happens
strengths and weakness of structured observation
s - Comparisons can be made across each observation and can see clear trends in data.
w - By only noting down some behaviour you could miss important information. Open to observer bias
strengths and weakness of unstructured observation
s -
You don’t miss any behaviour as all of it is recorded
w - The data gathered may be too dense and detailed making it hard to summarise and make comparisons between other participants
naturalistic and controlled observations
naturalistic observation - his is an observation which is carried out in the field, it a natural setting.
controlled observations - This is where all the possible factors which might alter the behaviour are controlled.
strengths and weakness of naturalistic observations
s - You may see more realistic behaviour
w - There is often a lack of control meaning other factors may influence behaviour
strengths and weakness of controlled observation
s -Allows cause and effect to be established
w - the situation is artificial, often showing behaviour which has been affected by the artificial setting
participant and non-participant observations
participant observation - This is a method of gathering data through observation, the observer is part of the group being observed.
non-participant observation - this is where the observer is not a member of the group being studied
strengths and weakness of participant observation
s -
You have a good vantage point for your observations. As Well as they you can understand why people are behaving how they do.
w - It may be hard to record the data and some may be missed
strengths and weakness of non-participant
s - You remain more objective
w - You may not have the same level of insight as an observer within the group
overt and covert observation
overt observation - This is where the participant knows that he/she is being observed, and has either given consent or is aware of the observation.
covert observation - This is where the participants does not know that he/she is being observed
self report ethods
questionnaire - Questionnaires are a set of questions that are usually completed as pen and paper tests, but can also be done over the internet or phone
interviews - structured, semi-structured and unstructured
structured interview
This is where the same set of questions is asked to each participant in the same order. Often researchers will not show any expression or interest.
semi-structured interview
This is where the interviewer has a list of questions but he may ask for clarification when needed
unstructured interview
This is where the researcher has topics to discuss but these don’t have to be in the same order for each participant. It is more like a conversation.
strengths and weaknesses of structured interview
s - it is easier to gather quantitative data and is possible to analyse it and draw trends
w - it is artificial and the respondent may not feel free to add or explain their answers
strengths and weakness of unstructured interview
s - it is more like a regular conversation meaning it has higher ecological validity. It also provided rich and detailed information
w - With such a broad range of topics is can often be hard to summarise and compare data
define IV and DV
IV (independent variable) is the variable that is manipulated (changed)
DV (dependent variable) is the variable that is measured
state the two types of hypothesis
An alternate (or experimental) - hypothesis will predict the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable
null hypothesis -
states that the independent variable will not have the predicted effect on the dependent variable
define a research aim
Once a question has been identified, then the next step is to identify an aim of an investigation to test or answer your research question(s).
define what a on tailed and two tailed hypothesis is
one tailed hypothesis is when a specific effect is predicted.
two tailed hypothesis is when an effect is predicted but not specified
define target population
a target population is the group of people you wish to study
define what is meant by a sample
A sample is a group of the target population used to represent the whole target population.
name all the types of sampling
random sampling
snowball sampling
opportunity sampling
self selected/volunteer sampling
state the strengths and weakness of sampling techniques
the sample has to be representative of the target population.
if a sample is not representative it is called a bias sample
sample size has to be considered
what are ethnocentric biases
gender bias
age bias
culture bias
name all the experimental design
repeated measures
independent measures
matched pairs
repeated measures
This is where each participant is tested in every condition.
strengths and weaknesses of repeated measures
s - By comparing the same person in different conditions, the likelihood of individual differences is reduced
w -
Participants can be effected by order effects and boredom.
Participants may work out the independent variable and thus show demand characteristics.
independent measures
This is where a sample is allocated to either the experimental condition(s) or a control condition, usually with equal members in each.
strengths and weaknesses of independent measures
s - It is not affected by order effects as each participant is only tested in one condition.
It is less likely to be affected by demand characteristics.
w - An independent measures design does not control extraneous variables. Large samples are often needed in order to be sure that any effect on the IV is caused by the DV
Matched pairs
Each participant is paired up with someone else in the sample based on the variables of the study eg. gender, age etc. One of the pair is tested in the experimental condition and the other in the control.
strengths and weaknesses of matched pairs
s -
Avoids the problems of a repeated measures sign, does not show order effects or demand charticics
It controls participant variables more than the independent measures design
w - time consuming to match participants.Sometime it is impossible to find a match and also to ensure the match is correct.
define Extraneous variable
All other variables that may influence the behaviour are known as extraneous variables, these need to be controlled are far as possible.
Coding Frames
These are useful as they enable psychologists to analyse qualitative data. The observer needs to observe behaviour and identify key features the behaviour and code for them. The observer will sometimes have certain boxes to record certain types of behaviour or record the number of times a certain behaviour is carried out.
time point sampling
this is where the observer records what participants are doing at certain fixed intervals.
time event sampling
where a fixed period of time is set for an observation.
event sampling
This is where an event is recorded each time it happens.
open question
Open questions allow the participant freedom to respond and give them the opportunity to explain their answers.
Closed questions:
These are questions that have a fixed response
rating scales
Variables can be measured on a rating scale providing quantitative data. Often used in self report questionnaires and structured interviews.
Likert scales
A likert scales are where participants are given a range of answers from which they select the one that resents the extent to which they agree.
Semantic differential scale
This is used to put something between two descriptive words such as strong or weak. They are usually opposites and reflect what is being measured.
raw data
the data psychologists collect from each participant is called raw data
state all levels of data
Nominal level data
Ordinal level data
Interval level data
Quantitative data
Qualitative data
Primary data
Secondary data
Nominal level data
This is when the data is split into categories to how often they occur. This is the most basic type of data gathered.
Ordinal level data
his type of data is the individual’s data, psychologists can then rank each person and put them in order to how well they did.
Interval level data
this has equal intervals, this type of data ranks the participants
strengths and weaknesses of Quantitative data
s -
Allows comparisons between participants or groups.
It is easily summarized and can use descriptive statistics
w - It lacks ecological validity as it cannot reflect how we respond in everyday life.
strengths and weaknesses of Qualitative data
s -
Provides rich detailed information, thus making it more valid
w -
Provides rich detailed information, thus making it more valid
Primary data
An advantage of this is that psychologists know that controls were it in place thus making the data more reliable
Secondary data
Data that has already been collected but is accessible for the psychologist.
