Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Psychology - PAPER 1 > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

1
Q

Define Hypothesis

A

A clear statement, showing the relationship between variables to be investigated. (a prediction)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Three types of Hypothesis:

A

Directional Hypothesis
Non-Directional Hypothesis
Null Hypothesis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Define Directional Hypothesis

A

When a researcher has a good idea what is going to happen, and predicts a specific outcome

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Define Non-Directional Hypothesis

A

When the researcher is less sure what is going to happen, and wont state the direction. They will predict more general outcome

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Define Null Hypothesis

A

When the researcher is confident there will be no relationship between the variables that are being investigated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

An Independent Variable is…

A

What the researched manipulates

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

A Dependent Variable is…

A

What the researcher measures

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

An Extraneous Variable is…

A

any variables other than the IV which may effect the DV (found when planning the experiment)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Participant Variables are…

A

down to the individual e.g. age, weight, height, health

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Situational Variables are…

A

down to the surrounding

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Confounding Variables are…

A

any variable other than the IV which may effect the DV (found after getting results)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

4 Ethical issues:

A

Protection from Harm
Informed Consent
Deception
Confidentiality

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Why is Protection from Harm an ethical issue?

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Why is Informed Consent an ethical issue?

A

Participants should always agree to take part in a study.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Why is Deception an ethical issue?

A

Participants should know exactly what is involved before they agree. Researchers should not withhold any information

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Why is Confidentiality an ethical issue?

A

Participants should feel confident they will remain anonymous.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Experimental design: (3)

A

Independent Groups
Repeated Measures
Matched Pairs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Define the independent groups design

A

Where two different groups of participants experience two difference conditions of an experiment and they results are compared

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Define the repeated measures design

A

When all participants take part in both conditions and their data can be compared

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Define the Matched pairs design

A

when you match two very similar people, put one in each group and compare their results to each other

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Demand Characteristics are…

A

if the participants figured out the real purpose of the investigation, and may act differently to alter results.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Investigator effects are…

A

any effect of the investigators behavior that may effect results

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

How to control variables: (5)

A 
Randomisation
Standardisation
Counterbalancing
Single-Blind Procedures
Double-Blind procedure
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is randomisation

A

randomly generate everything (eg. order of people)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What is standardisation

A

using the same standard procedures for all participants

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Single-Blind Procedure

A

Participant is not told the aim of the research

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Double-Blind Procedure

A

neither participant nor the research conductor are aware of the aims of the investigation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

The Different types of sampling: (5)

A 
Random Sampling 
Systematic Sampling
Stratified Sampling
Opportunity Sampling
Volunteer Sampling
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Define Random Sampling

A

Where all members of the target population have an equal chance of being selected

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Define Systematic Sampling

A

When every nth member of the target population is selected

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Define Stratified Sampling

A

Where the sample reflects the proportion of people in certain subgroups within target population (subgroup e.g. gender)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Define Opportunity Sampling

A

Where the researcher selects anyone who happens to be willing and available

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Define Volunteer Sampling

A

Where participants select them-self from an advert

34
Q

Define Target Population

A

A group of people who are the focus of the researchers interest. Where the sample is drawn from

35
Q

4 types of experiment:

A

Laboratory Experiment
Field Experiment
Natural Experiment
Quasi Experiment

36
Q

Laboratory Experiment:

A
  • High control
  • Easy to repeat
  • High internal validity
  • May lack generalisation
37
Q

Field Experiment:

A
  • In a natural more everyday setting

- High external validity

38
Q

Natural Experiment:

A
  • Pre-existing

- High external validity

39
Q

Quasi Experiment:

A
  • Based on existing difference between people (eg. gender)
40
Q

Define a covert observation

A

Where the participant is unaware they,re being observed

41
Q

Define a overt observation

A

Where the participant is aware they’re being observed

42
Q

Define Participant observation

A

Where the researcher is with the participants

43
Q

Define non-participant observation

A

Where the researcher remains separate from participants

44
Q

What is a self report technique

A

Any method in which a person is asked to state or explain their own feelings, opinion and behaviours

45
Q

What’s the difference between a questionnaire and an interview

A

Questionnaire - writing

Interview - speaking

46
Q

Advantage of a questionnaire over interview

A

Participant may be more honest as they won’t feel judged sitting infront of someone

47
Q

Advantage of an interview over questionnaire

A

Researcher can ask follow up questions or if something doesn’t make sense

48
Q

Why are closed questions good

A

Straight to point
Clear
specific

49
Q

Why are open questions good

A

More detail

Get more of an in-site

50
Q

Strengths of a questionnaire

A
  • cost effective
  • quick to get data
  • cheap
  • easy to analyse
51
Q

Weakness of questionnaire

A

-may not be truthful due to social desirability bias

52
Q

What is an open question

A

Does not have a fixed answer, allows participant to talk

Used to produce qualitative data

53
Q

What is a closed question

A

Offer a range of responses and that’s it

Produces quantitive date

54
Q

What is a unstructured interview

A

Works like a conversation
No set questions
General aim

55
Q

Positive of unstructured interview

A

A lot more flexibility

Interviewer can ask follow up questions if needed

56
Q

Negative of unstructured interviews

A

Harder to collect data as a lot of unwanted data

Participants may lie for social desirability

57
Q

What is a structured interview

A

Pre determined set of questions Asked in a fixed order

58
Q

Strengths of structured interviews

A

Easy to replicate

Reduced difference between interviews

59
Q

Weakness of structured interviews

A

The researcher may deviate from the topics

60
Q

What is a semi structured interview

A

There is a list of questions to ask, however the interviewer is allowed to ask more

61
Q

What happened to HM

A
  • 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
62
Q

Key discovery’s from HM:

A
  • Short term memory and long term memory occur in different parts of the brain
  • procedural memory’s are different to fact memory’s
63
Q

Some strengths of case studies

A
  • can find rare information

- expands knowledge

64
Q

Limitations of case studies

A
  • individualistic therefore hard to generalise

- rate to occur

65
Q

What is a case study

A

An in-depth investigation, description and analysis of a single individual group, or event

66
Q

What is content analysis

A

Technique used for analysing qualitative data into quantitative data

67
Q

Steps to content analysis

A

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

68
Q

Strength of qualitative data

A

Provides a lot of detail

Gives more information

69
Q

Limitation of qualitative data

A

Can be interpreted differently

Cause confusion

70
Q

Strength of Quantitative data

A

Easy to understand as in numbers
Easy process
Saves time

71
Q

Limitation of Quantitative data

A

Not provide a lot of detail

Vague

72
Q

Directional hypothesis for a correlation

A

There will be a positive/negative correlation between ________ and ________

73
Q

Non directional hypothesis for correlation

A

There will be a correlation between _________ and _________

74
Q

What are the three measures of central tendency

A
  • mean
  • median
  • mode
75
Q

Measures of dispersion analyse….

A

How spread out scores are from the average

76
Q

What is standard deviation

A

How much the scores deviate from the mean

77
Q

A large standard deviation score shows…

A

There is a lot of variation

78
Q

A small standard deviation score shows…

A

There is more consistency

79
Q

A normal distribution will be a

A

Bell shaped curve

Mode, median, mean all in middle

80
Q

In A positive screw…

A

most of distribution will be on the left
Mode
Median
Mean

81
Q

In a negative skew

A

most of distribution will be on the right
Mean
Median
Mode

Psychology - PAPER 1 (26 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions