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A Level Psychology (AQA) > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the purpose of a psychological study?

A

To establish a cause-effect relationship.

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2
Q

Define independent variable

A

The factor manipulated by the researcher

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3
Q

Define dependent variable

A

The factor measured by the researcher in an investigation.

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4
Q

Define extraneous variables

A

Variables other than the IV that could influence the DV and therefore the results of the study.

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5
Q

Define confounding variables

A

Uncontrolled extraneous variables that negatively affect results

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6
Q

What are the 4 types of experimental methods?

A

Laboratory
Field
Natural
Quasi

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7
Q

What is a laboratory experiment?

A

An experiment that occurs in an artificial setting allowing the establishment of causality.

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8
Q

What are the strengths of a laboratory experiment? (2)

A
  • Easy to replicate

- Extraneous variables can be easily controlled.

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9
Q

What are the weaknesses of a laboratory experiment?

A

The artificiality of the setting may produce unnatural behaviour

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10
Q

What is a field experiment?

A

Research in a natural setting with the IV still manipulated by the researcher.

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11
Q

What are the strengths of a field experiment? (2)

A
  • Behaviour is more likely to reflect real life

- There is less likelihood of demand characteristics

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12
Q

What are the weaknesses of field experiments?

A
  • There is less control over extraneous variables
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13
Q

What is a natural experiment?

A

An experiment conducted in the everyday environment of the participants, but there is no control over the IV

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14
Q

What are the strengths of field experiments? (3)

A
  • More likely to reflect real life behaviour
  • Less likely for demand characteristics
  • Can be used if it is unethical to manipulate the IV
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15
Q

What are the weaknesses of a natural experiment? (2)

A
  • Can be more expensive and time consuming

- No control over extraneous variables

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16
Q

What is a quasi experiment?

A

An experiment where the researcher is unable to freely manipulate the IV and is unable to randomly allocate participants to the different conditions due to a simple difference E.G-gender

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17
Q

What are the strengths of a quasi experiment? (2)

A
  • Less likely for demand characteristics

- Can be used if it is unethical to directly manipulate the IV

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18
Q

What are the weaknesses of a quasi experiment?

A
  • Can be more expensive and time consuming

- No control over extraneous variables

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19
Q

Define ecological validity

A

Refers to the ability of a psychological study to generalise a research finding beyond the particular setting in which it was demonstrated.

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20
Q

Define demand characteristics

A

Features of a study that provides cues to the participants about the aim of the study and this will often cause participants to unknowingly change their behaviour.

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21
Q

Define investigators effects

A

A research effect where the researchers features influence participants responses. These features can be physical such as age, gender and ethnicity.

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22
Q

What is correlational analysis?

A

A statistical technique which assesses the strength and direction of relationship between two co-variables.

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23
Q

Define naturalistic observation

A

Surveillance and recording of a naturally occurring event.

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24
Q

Define controlled observation

A

Surveillance and recording in a controlled environment, where the researcher decides where and when the observation will take place.

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25
Q

Define covert observation

A

Participants are unaware of being observed

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26
Q

Define overt observation

A

Participants are aware of being observed

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27
Q

Define participant observation

A

Researcher becomes actively involved in the behaviour being studied

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28
Q

Define non-participant observation

A

Researcher observes externally and remaining inactive in the behaviour being studied.

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29
Q

What are the strengths of a naturalistic observation? (2)

A
  • High ecological validity (natural environment reflects natural behaviour and can be generalised to others in the target population)
  • Low demand characteristics
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30
Q

What are the weaknesses of a naturalistic observation? (2)

A
  • Conducted on a micro scale and can lack a representative sample
  • Difficult to replicate
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31
Q

What are the strengths of a controlled observation? (2)

A
  • Easily replicated

- Data obtained is quantitative which is less time consuming to analyse

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32
Q

What are the weaknesses of a controlled observation?

A

Lack validity due to Hawthorne effect and demand characteristics

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33
Q

What are the strengths of a covert observation? (2)

A
  • Few demand characteristics

- Few investigators effects.

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34
Q

What are the weaknesses of a covert observation? (2)

A
  • Can be considered unethical

- Cannot be exactly replicated

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35
Q

What are the strengths of an overt observation?

A

More ethical than covert observations

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36
Q

What are the weaknesses of an overt observation? (2)

A
  • Demand characteristics and investigators effects

- Cannot be exactly replicated

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37
Q

What are the strengths of a participant observation? (2)

A
  • Validity: produces rich qualitative data

- Practical advantages for studying the behaviour of suspicious groups.

38
Q

What are the weaknesses of a participant observation? (2)

A
  • It can be difficult to get time to record your results

- If the researcher get too involved they can lose objectivity

39
Q

What are the strengths of a non participant observation?

A

Researcher is not at risk from dangerous behaviour

40
Q

What are the weaknesses of a non participant observation? (2)

A
  • There is little control over extraneous variables

- Cannot be easily replicated.

41
Q

Define self report technique

A

Participants giving information about themselves without researcher interference.

42
Q

What is a questionnaire?

A

A self report method where participants record their own answers to a preset list of questions.

43
Q

What are interviews?

A

A self report method where participants answer questions with the researcher present.

44
Q

Define social desirability bias

A

When participants lie about themselves or modify information in order to present themselves in the most ‘socially desirable’ way.

45
Q

What are the strengths of a questionnaire? (2)

A
  • Can obtain many participants quickly

- Less social desirability if it’s anonymous

46
Q

What are the weaknesses of a questionnaire? (2)

A
  • Researcher is absent and is unable to clarify questions.

- Risk of low response

47
Q

What are the strengths of an interview? (2)

A
  • In-depth information can be obtained

- Report can be made

48
Q

What are the weaknesses of an interview? (2)

A
  • High risk of social desirability bias

- Time consuming

49
Q

Define aim

A

A precise statement of why a study is taking place.

50
Q

Define hypothesis

A

Precise testable research prediction.

51
Q

What is a directional hypothesis?

A

A hypothesis explaining a specific change.

52
Q

What is a non-directional hypothesis?

A

A hypothesis that has an ambiguous change and does not specify the direction of change

53
Q

Define operationalisation

A

The process of defining variables into measurable factors.

54
Q

What is the difference between correlation all study and experiments?

A

In an experiment the experimenter manipulates the independent variable to observe the effect on the dependent variable, but a correlation all study is where the psychologist is trying to see whether two variables are linked.

55
Q

What is random sampling?

A

Each member of a population has an equal chance of being selected.

56
Q

What are the strengths of random sampling?

A

Unbiased selection

Generalisation : results will be generalisable to the target population.

57
Q

What are the weaknesses of random sampling?

A

Impractical: random sampling can be difficult if you don’t know the full details of the target population.
Not representative: a certain group could all be selected, for example all females could be randomly selected.

58
Q

What is opportunity sampling?

A

Selecting participants who are available and willing to take part at the time and place in which the study is taking place.

59
Q

What are the strengths of opportunity sampling?

A

Ease of formation

Useful for natural experiments

60
Q

What are the weaknesses of opportunity sampling?

A

Unrepresentative

Self-selection : participants have the option to decline to take part, thus it is a self-selected sample.

61
Q

What is volunteer sampling?

A

People volunteering to participate

62
Q

What are the strengths of volunteer sampling?

A

Ease of formation

Less chance of ‘screw you’ effect as pps are eager to take part

63
Q

What are the weaknesses of volunteer sampling?

A

Unrepresentative as volunteers tend to be a certain ‘type’ of person
Chances of Demand characteristics are increased as pps are eager to take part

64
Q

What is systematic sampling?

A

Using every nth person from a sampling frame to create a sample

65
Q

What are the strengths of systematic sampling?

A

Unbiased selection

Representativeness is likely as characteristics are unlikely to repeat for every nth person

66
Q

What are the weaknesses of systematic sampling?

A

The process of selection can interact with Periodic traits hidden within the population, if selection coincides with the frequency of the traits the sample becomes making non representative

67
Q

What is stratified sampling?

A

Small-scale reproduction of a population by dividing it into characteristics important to research. The. The population is randomly sampled within each stratum

68
Q

What are the strengths of stratified sampling?

A

Representative

Unbiased

69
Q

What are the weaknesses of stratified sampling?

A

Knowledge of population characteristics required.

70
Q

What are pilot studies?

A

Small-scale practice investigations carried out prior to research, to identify potential problems so they can be fixed.

71
Q

What is independent groups design?

A

Experimental design in which each participant performs one condition of an experiment

72
Q

What are the strengths of independent groups design?

A

No order effects
Less likely chance demand characteristics will occur as pps do one condition and have less chance to guess the purpose of the study
Less time consuming as both groups can perform both conditions at the same time

73
Q

What are the weaknesses of independent groups design?

A

More participants needed

Group/individual differences, causal factors may be a result of participant variables rather than manipulation of IV

74
Q

What is repeated measures design?

A

Experimental design where each participant performs all conditions of an experiment.

75
Q

What are the strengths of repeated measures design?

A

No group differences

Fewer participants needed

76
Q

What are the weaknesses of repeated measures design?

A 
Order effects (overcome by counterbalancing)
More likely for demand characteristics to occur
Takes more time
77
Q

What is matched pairs design?

A

Experimental design where participants are in similar pairs, with one of each pair performing each condition.

78
Q

What are the strengths of matched pairs design?

A

No order effects
Less chance of demand characteristics
Less chance of group differences

79
Q

What are the weaknesses of matched pairs design?

A

It is impossible to match all variables between pps and unmatched variables Amy be vitally important
Time consuming to match participants

80
Q

What are ethical issues?

A

The rules governing the conduct of researchers in investigations

81
Q

What are the code of ethics made by the BPS?

A 
Informed consent
Avoidance of deception
Adequate briefing & debriefing
Protection from harm
Confidentiality & anonymity
No incentives to take part
Right to withdraw
82
Q

How can the use of deception be overcome in an ethical manner?

A

Getting presumptive, prior or retrospective consent

Debriefing

83
Q

What are the implications of psychological research on the economy?

A

Development of effective therapies reduce absenteeism, meaning more people working and contributing to the economy. Effective therapies also reduce the strains on health services as less money is spent on hospital visits, etc…

84
Q

Define reliability

A

The extent to which a test or measurement produces consistent results

85
Q

What is internal reliability?

A

Concerns the extent to which something is consistent within itself

86
Q

What is external reliability?

A

Concerns the extent to which a test measures consistently over time

87
Q

How is reliability assessed?

A

Split-half method measures internal reliability by splitting a test into two and having the same participants do both halves. If both halves provide similar results indicate internal reliability .
Test-retest method measures external reliability by giving the same test to the same pps on 2 occasions. If the same result is obtained then external reliability is established.

88
Q

What is interrater reliability?

A

The extent to which different observers are viewing and rating behaviour in the same way

89
Q

How is interrater reliability assesed?

A

Conducting a correlation of all observers scores, with high correlation indicating they are consistent

90
Q

How is interrater reliability improved?

A

Developing clearly defined and separate categories of observational criteria

91
Q

What is validity?

A

The extent to which results accurately measure what they are supposed to measure

A Level Psychology (AQA) (10 decks)

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