Research Methods Flashcards
Define Hypothesis
A clear statement, showing the relationship between variables to be investigated. (a prediction)
Three types of Hypothesis:
Directional Hypothesis
Non-Directional Hypothesis
Null Hypothesis
Define Directional Hypothesis
When a researcher has a good idea what is going to happen, and predicts a specific outcome
Define Non-Directional Hypothesis
When the researcher is less sure what is going to happen, and wont state the direction. They will predict more general outcome
Define Null Hypothesis
When the researcher is confident there will be no relationship between the variables that are being investigated
An Independent Variable is…
What the researched manipulates
A Dependent Variable is…
What the researcher measures
An Extraneous Variable is…
any variables other than the IV which may effect the DV (found when planning the experiment)
Participant Variables are…
down to the individual e.g. age, weight, height, health
Situational Variables are…
down to the surrounding
Confounding Variables are…
any variable other than the IV which may effect the DV (found after getting results)
4 Ethical issues:
Protection from Harm
Informed Consent
Deception
Confidentiality
Why is Protection from Harm an ethical issue?
Psychologists have a responsibility to protect their participants from physical and emotional harm. Participants should not be exposed to more risk than they would expect from everyday life
Why is Informed Consent an ethical issue?
Participants should always agree to take part in a study.
Why is Deception an ethical issue?
Participants should know exactly what is involved before they agree. Researchers should not withhold any information
Why is Confidentiality an ethical issue?
Participants should feel confident they will remain anonymous.
Experimental design: (3)
Independent Groups
Repeated Measures
Matched Pairs
Define the independent groups design
Where two different groups of participants experience two difference conditions of an experiment and they results are compared
Define the repeated measures design
When all participants take part in both conditions and their data can be compared
Define the Matched pairs design
when you match two very similar people, put one in each group and compare their results to each other
Demand Characteristics are…
if the participants figured out the real purpose of the investigation, and may act differently to alter results.
Investigator effects are…
any effect of the investigators behavior that may effect results
How to control variables: (5)
Randomisation Standardisation Counterbalancing Single-Blind Procedures Double-Blind procedure
What is randomisation
randomly generate everything (eg. order of people)
What is standardisation
using the same standard procedures for all participants
Single-Blind Procedure
Participant is not told the aim of the research
Double-Blind Procedure
neither participant nor the research conductor are aware of the aims of the investigation.
The Different types of sampling: (5)
Random Sampling Systematic Sampling Stratified Sampling Opportunity Sampling Volunteer Sampling
Define Random Sampling
Where all members of the target population have an equal chance of being selected
Define Systematic Sampling
When every nth member of the target population is selected
Define Stratified Sampling
Where the sample reflects the proportion of people in certain subgroups within target population (subgroup e.g. gender)
Define Opportunity Sampling
Where the researcher selects anyone who happens to be willing and available
Define Volunteer Sampling
Where participants select them-self from an advert
Define Target Population
A group of people who are the focus of the researchers interest. Where the sample is drawn from
4 types of experiment:
Laboratory Experiment
Field Experiment
Natural Experiment
Quasi Experiment
Laboratory Experiment:
- High control
- Easy to repeat
- High internal validity
- May lack generalisation
Field Experiment:
- In a natural more everyday setting
- High external validity
Natural Experiment:
- Pre-existing
- High external validity
Quasi Experiment:
- Based on existing difference between people (eg. gender)
Define a covert observation
Where the participant is unaware they,re being observed
Define a overt observation
Where the participant is aware they’re being observed
Define Participant observation
Where the researcher is with the participants
Define non-participant observation
Where the researcher remains separate from participants
What is a self report technique
Any method in which a person is asked to state or explain their own feelings, opinion and behaviours
What’s the difference between a questionnaire and an interview
Questionnaire - writing
Interview - speaking
Advantage of a questionnaire over interview
Participant may be more honest as they won’t feel judged sitting infront of someone
Advantage of an interview over questionnaire
Researcher can ask follow up questions or if something doesn’t make sense
Why are closed questions good
Straight to point
Clear
specific
Why are open questions good
More detail
Get more of an in-site
Strengths of a questionnaire
- cost effective
- quick to get data
- cheap
- easy to analyse
Weakness of questionnaire
-may not be truthful due to social desirability bias
What is an open question
Does not have a fixed answer, allows participant to talk
Used to produce qualitative data
What is a closed question
Offer a range of responses and that’s it
Produces quantitive date
What is a unstructured interview
Works like a conversation
No set questions
General aim
Positive of unstructured interview
A lot more flexibility
Interviewer can ask follow up questions if needed
Negative of unstructured interviews
Harder to collect data as a lot of unwanted data
Participants may lie for social desirability
What is a structured interview
Pre determined set of questions Asked in a fixed order
Strengths of structured interviews
Easy to replicate
Reduced difference between interviews
Weakness of structured interviews
The researcher may deviate from the topics
What is a semi structured interview
There is a list of questions to ask, however the interviewer is allowed to ask more
What happened to HM
- cracked his head, often had seizers
- removed part of his brain which stopped seizers but also stopped his memory
- was given task of drawing star. Improved each time, but couldn’t remember doing it
Key discovery’s from HM:
- Short term memory and long term memory occur in different parts of the brain
- procedural memory’s are different to fact memory’s
Some strengths of case studies
- can find rare information
- expands knowledge
Limitations of case studies
- individualistic therefore hard to generalise
- rate to occur
What is a case study
An in-depth investigation, description and analysis of a single individual group, or event
What is content analysis
Technique used for analysing qualitative data into quantitative data
Steps to content analysis
1) read/watch information
2) identify certain categories that emerge (coding)
3) give examples of categories
4) re read/watch and count number of examples that fall into each category to create quantitative data
Strength of qualitative data
Provides a lot of detail
Gives more information
Limitation of qualitative data
Can be interpreted differently
Cause confusion
Strength of Quantitative data
Easy to understand as in numbers
Easy process
Saves time
Limitation of Quantitative data
Not provide a lot of detail
Vague
Directional hypothesis for a correlation
There will be a positive/negative correlation between ________ and ________
Non directional hypothesis for correlation
There will be a correlation between _________ and _________
What are the three measures of central tendency
- mean
- median
- mode
Measures of dispersion analyse….
How spread out scores are from the average
What is standard deviation
How much the scores deviate from the mean
A large standard deviation score shows…
There is a lot of variation
A small standard deviation score shows…
There is more consistency
A normal distribution will be a
Bell shaped curve
Mode, median, mean all in middle
In A positive screw…
most of distribution will be on the left
Mode
Median
Mean
In a negative skew
most of distribution will be on the right
Mean
Median
Mode
