Research Methods Flashcards
What are the 8 steps n the scientific method
- Identify area of research and form a research aim
- Collect information
- Identify research and formulate hypothesis
- design method to test hypothesis
- collect and analyse data
- Draw a conclusion
- report findings
- Test conclusion
Define variable
A variable is a quantity or quality that can be different at different times or in different places
What is an independant variable
The variable deliberately manipulated or varied in some way by the experimenter. The experimenter controls the independent variable and is planned before the experiment begins. It is usually something compared to another (male/female, sleep/no sleep)
What is the dependent variable
The dependant variable is what is measured in the research. It is dependant on the IV to occur (so think, what will the IV cause). The DV is usually continuous and of numerical value.
What is the IV in the am “are males or females better at reading maps?”
IV: Whether they are male or female
DV: How many maps they can read
Does driving whilst talking on the hone increase the likelihood of an accident? What is the IV and the DV
IV: On the phone or not
DV: Number of accidents
Is mood increased by eating chocolate? What is the IV and the DV
IV: eating chocolate or not
DV: measurement of mood (may be through a self rating of how you feel)
How do you operationalise a variable
Operationalisation of a variable means the variable is stated in terms that show how it is measured
What is the operationalised versions of “age”
age in total months
What is the operationalised version of “aggression”
The number of aggressive acts of behaviour within a third minute period
What is a hypothesis
A hypothesis in psychological research is a clear statement predicting how changes
in the independent variable(s) will affect the value of the dependent variable(s).
A hypothesis should also clearly state the population about which the researcher
intends to draw conclusions.
WHAT IS THE AIM
The aim is the purpose of the study
What should the hypothesis always begin with
it is predicted that
What should be included in the hypothesis
identification of the population
IV
DV
A testable prediction
What would the hypothesis be to “to test the effect of sleep deprivation on performance”
It is hypothesised that the Monash university students who are sleep deprived will take longer to complete simple tasks than those who are not sleep deprived
What ist he operationalised hypothesis be to “to test the effect of sleep deprivation on performance”
It is hypothesised that the monash university students who get less than 4 hours of sleep per night will take longer recorded time to complete 100 anagrams than those who had more than 8 hours sleep per night.
Why is selecting a sample important
Because the population may be an impractical size, as a sample size increasing so does the accuracy
What are the there types of sampling
convinience
random
startified
What is convenience sampling
A sample is selected in the quickest and easiest way possible
What is the advantages and disadvantages to convenience sampling
Advantages
- quick easy and cheap
Disadvantages
- I s bias sample, and Not representative of the population
What is random sampling
Every member has an equal chance of being selected for a sample
What are the advantages and disadvantages of random sampling
- Free from bias, representative of sample
- Quick and easy
- Difficult to achieve with a large population
hat is stratified sampling
Break the population into groups and select participants from each group in the same proportion they appear in the population
What are the advantages and disadvantages to stratified sampling
- more representative of the population
- time consuming
What is the situation most suitable for each type of sampling
Convenience: Interest biased, no publishable
Random: Large samples
Stratified: Important research where characteristics could skew data
What is random allocation
WHEN EVERY MEMBER OF THE SAMPLE HAS AN EQUAL CHANCE OF BEING IN EITHER THE CONTROL OR EXPERIMENTAL GROUP
What is the control group
used as a comparison, not exposed to experimental condition (IV)
What is the experimental group
The group exposed to experimental conditions
What is subjective data
is that which relies on personal experience or report. are based on opinion, and there is no external yardstick by which they are measured. If you asked all the people in your class how they feel about mathematics, you would collect a wide range of responses
What is objective data
Is that which can be directly observed or measured. Each person
using an objective measure correctly will obtain
the same result. In the simplest terms, if each
person in the class measured the length and
breadth of a desk, they would each obtain the
What is qualitative data and provide two examples
refer to descriptions of the characteristics of what is being
studied. In psychological research this could be:
- emotional state: happy/sad/angry, etc.
- difficulty of task: easy/moderate/difficult/very difficult.
What is quantitive data
refer to measurements – numerical information about the
variables being studied.
What are the different types of investigation
observation case studies interview questionnaire self-report
What is a case study and an e.g.
An in depth study on a singular person or small group
e.g.. phones gage
What are the applications of a case study
Can be used in rare or unusual conditions
What are the strengths and weaknesses to a case study
Very detailed
Difficult to generalise to the whole population
What is observational studies and an example
A study reliant upon watching or overriding others behaviours, actions and responses
eg. bystander effect
What are the applications
Situational or environmental studies which require a natural environment
What are the strengths and weaknesses of ob. studies
More naturalistic setting
data can be subjective
Self report
A study reliant on participants feedback via various mediums
What are the applications of a self report
Behaviour and opinions that can not be directly observed
What are the strengths and weaknesses of self reports
May indicate trends
Data can be difficult to compare and analyse (could be lying)
What are the types of self reports
questionnaire
interview
rating scales
What type of info is a quentionnaire
Very versatile and easy to administer in large numbers. Can be open or closed questions
What type of info is an interview
Can obtain lots of quality data as responses are open. Can change/adapt to questions as they go
what type of info of rating scales
Fixed responses are more easily compared and measured (likert scale)
gives quantitive data
What is primary data
with an example
That which is sourced for the purpose of addressing the research question. It could be sourced through questionnaires, interviews, and rating scales.
eg. doing an experiment and drawing findings
What is secondary data and provide an example
That which is sourced through someone else research or data sources. It could be used as a basis to form a hypothesis, strengthen findings, explore trends and patterns and much more.
eg. census data
What are the advantages and disadvantages of primary data q
- specific and detailed
- can inform future research
- current
- time and cost involved
- sample size restricted
What are the advantages and disadvantages of secondary data
- cheap and easy to obtain
- large amounts of data
- can be over long periods of time
- not most up to date and may not be specific
What is an extraneous variable and give an example
Something that has an unwanted effect on results and hence alters the DV. The only thing that should be different between the groups is the IV. All other differences should be controlled by the experimenter, so the only thing different is the IV.
eg. both groups are equal in gender and intelligence, personal factors (body weight and sleep deprivation) both conditions are equal in treatment and time of day.
What are the types of extraneous variables
- participant differences: Personal to participant (gender, mood, height, weight, IQ, age)
- non-standardised instructions and procedures: When experiments is run they groups are treated differently (enthusiastic experimenter, given more info.)
- order effects
- placebo effect
- experimenter effects
What sampling techniques are best for eliminating extraneous variables
Random sampling
Stratified sampling
Whats the type of experiment which help minimise EV
Observational study
Self report
What are the three types of experimental design
independent groups
matches participants
repeated measures
What is independent groups
also known as ‘random allocation’, it is defined by every member of the sample is randomly allocated to either the control or experimental group
What are the advantages and disadvantages to independent groups
cost and time efficient
there may be individual participant differences causing EV
What is the matched participants design
Each member of the sample is paired based on a particular characteristic and then one member of each pair i randomly allocated to be in the control and experimental group
What are the advantages and disadvantages to matched participants design
fewer individual participant differences between the groups which eliminated EV
Time consuming as a pre-test is involved (extra stage)
What is the repeated measures design
Each ember of the sample is involved in both the control and experimental conditions
What are the advantages and disadvantages
No participant differences
order effects
What is order effects
An EV that occurs when the sequence of the two conditions impacts on the DV e.g.. boredom, knowledge, practice, experience, fatigue
What is counterbalancing
Half of the participants are explored the control condition and then experimental condition, which the order of conditions for the other half is reversed. Counter balancing does not eliminate order effects, it eliminates the impact of order effects on the results
What are cross sectional studies
Those that collect data at one point in time
What are longitudinal studies
are those that collect data from the same individuals over a long period of time
What is the hawthorne effect
a change in behaviour due to the knowledge they are being observed
What is a single blind procedure and how is this done
The participant is unaware whether they ar in the control or experimental group
done through the placebo effect
benefit: Results can be unbiased if the participant expects the results
What is a double blind procedure and how is this a benefit
The experimenter and participants are unaware if they are in the control of experimental groups
Placebo & 3rd party
benefit: eliminates experimenter effect
What is the placebo effect
Fake or false drug or treatment. The effect is the change in participant behaviour due to expectation regarding the treatment they are receiving.
What is the experimenter effect
A change in particular behaviour due to the experimenter’s treatment or influence
What is a confounding variable
A variable other than the IV that has a systematic effect on the value of the DV.
What is the difference between the EV and the CV
- If it caused a change in the DV
- Cold it be a new IV? Could it be an IV altogether
- Is it bad
- EV does not really change the DV and conclusions can still be drawn
- CVS lead to no conclusions
When studying the effect of caffeine on memory what if the caffeine group were all university professors
are we looking at an EV or a CV
CV because the fact they were professors could have causes their memories to be better rather than the Caffeine
