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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)

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2
Q

Three types of Hypothesis:

A

Directional Hypothesis
Non-Directional Hypothesis
Null Hypothesis

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3
Q

Define Directional Hypothesis

A

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

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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

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5
Q

Define Null Hypothesis

A

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

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6
Q

An Independent Variable is…

A

What the researched manipulates

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7
Q

A Dependent Variable is…

A

What the researcher measures

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8
Q

An Extraneous Variable is…

A

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

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9
Q

Participant Variables are…

A

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

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10
Q

Situational Variables are…

A

down to the surrounding

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11
Q

Confounding Variables are…

A

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

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12
Q

4 Ethical issues:

A

Protection from Harm
Informed Consent
Deception
Confidentiality

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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

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14
Q

Why is Informed Consent an ethical issue?

A

Participants should always agree to take part in a study.

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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

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16
Q

Why is Confidentiality an ethical issue?

A

Participants should feel confident they will remain anonymous.

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17
Q

Experimental design: (3)

A

Independent Groups
Repeated Measures
Matched Pairs

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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

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19
Q

Define the repeated measures design

A

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

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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

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21
Q

Demand Characteristics are…

A

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

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22
Q

Investigator effects are…

A

any effect of the investigators behavior that may effect results

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23
Q

How to control variables: (5)

A 
Randomisation
Standardisation
Counterbalancing
Single-Blind Procedures
Double-Blind procedure
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24
Q

What is randomisation

A

randomly generate everything (eg. order of people)

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25
What is standardisation
using the same standard procedures for all participants
26
Single-Blind Procedure
Participant is not told the aim of the research
27
Double-Blind Procedure
neither participant nor the research conductor are aware of the aims of the investigation.
28
The Different types of sampling: (5)
``` Random Sampling Systematic Sampling Stratified Sampling Opportunity Sampling Volunteer Sampling ```
29
Define Random Sampling
Where all members of the target population have an equal chance of being selected
30
Define Systematic Sampling
When every nth member of the target population is selected
31
Define Stratified Sampling
Where the sample reflects the proportion of people in certain subgroups within target population (subgroup e.g. gender)
32
Define Opportunity Sampling
Where the researcher selects anyone who happens to be willing and available
33
Define Volunteer Sampling
Where participants select them-self from an advert
34
Define Target Population
A group of people who are the focus of the researchers interest. Where the sample is drawn from
35
4 types of experiment:
Laboratory Experiment Field Experiment Natural Experiment Quasi Experiment
36
Laboratory Experiment:
- High control - Easy to repeat - High internal validity - May lack generalisation
37
Field Experiment:
- In a natural more everyday setting | - High external validity
38
Natural Experiment:
- Pre-existing | - High external validity
39
Quasi Experiment:
- Based on existing difference between people (eg. gender)
40
Define a covert observation
Where the participant is unaware they,re being observed
41
Define a overt observation
Where the participant is aware they're being observed
42
Define Participant observation
Where the researcher is with the participants
43
Define non-participant observation
Where the researcher remains separate from participants
44
What is a self report technique
Any method in which a person is asked to state or explain their own feelings, opinion and behaviours
45
What’s the difference between a questionnaire and an interview
Questionnaire - writing | Interview - speaking
46
Advantage of a questionnaire over interview
Participant may be more honest as they won’t feel judged sitting infront of someone
47
Advantage of an interview over questionnaire
Researcher can ask follow up questions or if something doesn’t make sense
48
Why are closed questions good
Straight to point Clear specific
49
Why are open questions good
More detail | Get more of an in-site
50
Strengths of a questionnaire
- cost effective - quick to get data - cheap - easy to analyse
51
Weakness of questionnaire
-may not be truthful due to social desirability bias
52
What is an open question
Does not have a fixed answer, allows participant to talk | Used to produce qualitative data
53
What is a closed question
Offer a range of responses and that’s it | Produces quantitive date
54
What is a unstructured interview
Works like a conversation No set questions General aim
55
Positive of unstructured interview
A lot more flexibility | Interviewer can ask follow up questions if needed
56
Negative of unstructured interviews
Harder to collect data as a lot of unwanted data | Participants may lie for social desirability
57
What is a structured interview
Pre determined set of questions Asked in a fixed order
58
Strengths of structured interviews
Easy to replicate | Reduced difference between interviews
59
Weakness of structured interviews
The researcher may deviate from the topics
60
What is a semi structured interview
There is a list of questions to ask, however the interviewer is allowed to ask more
61
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
62
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
63
Some strengths of case studies
- can find rare information | - expands knowledge
64
Limitations of case studies
- individualistic therefore hard to generalise | - rate to occur
65
What is a case study
An in-depth investigation, description and analysis of a single individual group, or event
66
What is content analysis
Technique used for analysing qualitative data into quantitative data
67
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
68
Strength of qualitative data
Provides a lot of detail | Gives more information
69
Limitation of qualitative data
Can be interpreted differently | Cause confusion
70
Strength of Quantitative data
Easy to understand as in numbers Easy process Saves time
71
Limitation of Quantitative data
Not provide a lot of detail | Vague
72
Directional hypothesis for a correlation
There will be a positive/negative correlation between ________ and ________
73
Non directional hypothesis for correlation
There will be a correlation between _________ and _________
74
What are the three measures of central tendency
- mean - median - mode
75
Measures of dispersion analyse....
How spread out scores are from the average
76
What is standard deviation
How much the scores deviate from the mean
77
A large standard deviation score shows...
There is a lot of variation
78
A small standard deviation score shows...
There is more consistency
79
A normal distribution will be a
Bell shaped curve | Mode, median, mean all in middle
80
In A positive screw...
most of distribution will be on the left Mode Median Mean
81
In a negative skew
most of distribution will be on the right Mean Median Mode

Psychology - PAPER 1 (26 decks)

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