Research Methods Flashcards
What is a lab experiment
IV is manipulated by the researcher and the experiment is carried out in a lab or other controlled setting away from normal environment
Advantage and disadvantages of lab experiments
Advantage: Easy to replicate and you can be certain that the DV is affected by the IV
Disadvantage: low ecological validity as its artificial setting and the participants may behave in a way they think the experiments want them to behave in
What is a field experiment
IV is manipulated by the researched but the experiment is done in normal surroundings eg college
Advantage and disadvantage of field experiments
Advantage: higher ecological validity, behaviour more likely to be normal
Disadvantage: lack of control-extraneous variables may affect the the DV not the IV, ethical issues- not being aware of the experiment
What is a quasi experiment
IV is naturally occurring eg the weather, not manipulated by the researcher
Advantage and disadvantage of quasi experiments
Advantage: can study effects of variables that you can’t manipulate p, high ecological validity
Disadvantage: difficult to replicate due to naturally occurring IV, lack of control over extraneous variables may affect results
What is repeated measures?
Advantage and disadvantage?
Use of the same people for both conditions
Ad: participant variables don’t affect results
Dis:order effects -fatigue or practice so will need extra materials
What is independent measures?
Advantage and disadvantage?
Use different people on each condition
Ad:order effects doesn’t affect results
Dis: participant variables-differences between participants may affect results
What is matched groups/pairs?
Advantage and disadvantage?
Using different groups of people, but who have similar characteristics for each condition
Ad:benefits of both designs -no order effects and no participant variables
Dis:complicated to recruit participants
What is an extraneous variable
An undesirable variable that may affect the relationship between the DV and IV
What are participant variables
Characteristics of the individual that may influence the results eg age or gender
What are situational variables
Any feature of situation which influences participants behaviour;therefore results are affected eg order effects
Can be controlled by matched groups or independent
Don’t tell them the aim to limit demand characteristics
What is an alternative hypothesis
Predicts that the IV will affect the DV eg there will be a significant difference
What is a null hypothesis
Predicts that the IV wil not affect the DV
Any difference will be as a result of chance factors
What is a two tailed hypothesis
States that the IV will have a significant effect on the DV but it doesn’t state the direction in which it affects the DV eg the sun will affect the colour of hair
What is a one tailed hypothesis
Predicts the IV will affect the DV and in which way eg the sun will make hair lighter
What is operationalisation
Process of making variables psychically measurable or testable
What is self selecting?
Advantage and disadvantage?
When people volunteer to take part by the sight of posters or leaflets
Ad: ethical and relatively easy to get participants
Dis:biased based on who volunteers, may not get many volunteers
What is opportunity sampling?
Advantage and disadvantage?
When a group of participants are chosen as they are the most readily available at given time and place
Ad:quick to get participants and easy as no advertising
Dis:biased based on where you go less ethical as they may feel obliged to take part
What is random sampling?
Advantage and disadvantage?
Each me,beer of target population has an equal chance of being selected
Ad:representative of target population
Dis:difficult to ensure all names are included, biased based on those who are chosen and those who are willing to do it
What is snowball sampling?
Advantage and disadvantage?
When a few participants are asked to ask their friends and family to join in and then to ask their friends and family
Ad: only need to get a few participants before the rest are recruited
Dis:biased as the participants know eachother and may have similar characteristics
What is Primary data
Collecting data through experimental task
What’s secondary data
Collecting data through research of what already exists
What is quantitative data?
Advantage & disadvantage
Numbers, stats, percentages etc
Ad:easy to compare
Dis:lack ecological validity