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Psychology- research methods > Research methods > Flashcards

Research methods Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a null hypothesis?

A

A prediction which states that there is no relationship between the variables being studied

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2
Q

What is an alternate hypothesis?

A

A prediction which states that there is a relationship between the variables between studied

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3
Q

What is an independent variable?

A

A variable that is being changed in an investigation

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4
Q

What is a dependent variable?

A

A variable that is being measured in an investigation

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5
Q

What is an extraneous variable?

A

A variable that is not the independent variable, but it could still affect the dependent variable and the results

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6
Q

What is standardisation?

A

Keeping everything the same so that the investigation is fair. e.g. Extraneous variables must be controlled

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7
Q

What are the two types of experimental design?

A
  • Independent group measures

- Repeated measures

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8
Q

What is the independent group measures?

A

This where a different group of participants take part in each condition

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9
Q

What are the pros of independent group measures?

A

No order effect e.g practice or fatigue

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10
Q

What are the cons of independent group measures?

A
  • More time consuming (as more people are needed)
  • Participant variables. Differences in participants may affect results (e.g, variations in age, gender, or social background
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11
Q

What is repeated measures?

A

When the same participants take part in both conditions of the experiment

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12
Q

What are the pros of repeated measures?

A
  • less time consuming (fewer people are needed)

- Participant variables are reduced (as they take part in both conditions)

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13
Q

What are the cons of repeated measures?

A
  • Order effect (performance in second condition may be better as they’ve already done it)
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14
Q

What is the target population?

A

The target population is the total group of individuals in which the sample could be drawn

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15
Q

What is a sample?

A

The group of people who take part in the investigation

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16
Q

What is random sampling?

A

A method of sampling which ensures that everybody has an equal chance of being picked

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17
Q

What are the pros of random sampling?

A

The sample represents the target population and eliminated sampling bias

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18
Q

What are the cons of random sampling?

A
  • Very difficult to achieve (time, effort, money)
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19
Q

What is opportunity sampling?

A

A method of sampling in which whoever is available and willing to take part at the time, takes part in the investigation

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20
Q

What are the pros of opportunity sampling?

A
  • Its a quick and easy way of choosing participants
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21
Q

What is a con of opportunity sampling?

A

May not represent the entire target population and could be biased

22
Q

What is informed consent?

A

It is that experimenters should gain the consent of the participants by informing them of what they will be doing, and what the research is about

23
Q

What is the right to withdraw?

A

Participants should be able to leave the investigation at any time when they start feeling uncomfortable

24
Q

What is confidentiality?

A

Participants and the data gained from them must be kept confidential unless full consent is given to do otherwise

25
Q

What is protection of participants?

A

The participants should not be put under distress at any point of the investigation. They should also be protected from physical and mental harm. You can not embarrass, harm, frighten or offend the participants

26
Q

What is deception?

A

This where participants are wrongly led or informed about the aim of the investigation. Experimenter should avoid doing this

27
Q

What is a lab experiment?

A

An experiment conducted in a well-controlled environment

28
Q

What are the strengths of a lab experiment?

A
  • It is easier to replicate a lab experiment as a standardized procedure is used
  • Allows extraneous variables to be controlled so we can see a clear cause and effect relationship
29
Q

What are weaknesses of a lab experiment?

A
  • low in ecological validity (does not reflect real life)

- demand characteristics and experimenter bias may affect the results and become confounding variables

30
Q

What are field experiments?

A

when experiments are conducted in a real life environment

31
Q

What are the strengths of a field experiment?

A
  • high in ecological validity (reflects real life)

- less likely for demand characteristics to affect results as it might be a covert experiment

32
Q

What are the weaknesses of a field experiment?

A
  • less control of extraneous variables that may affect the results
33
Q

What are questionnaires?

A

They are a method of self-report where participants answer a set of written interviews

34
Q

What are closed questions?

A

Closed questions have a particular set of answers for individuals to choose from.

35
Q

What are open questions?

A

Open questions allow participants to express what they think in their own words in as much detail as they would like

36
Q

What are advantages of using questionnaires?

A
  • Many people could be tested quickly and easily
  • Helps to collect large quantities of data
  • Researcher doesn’t have to be present
37
Q

What are the disadvantages of using questionnaires?

A
  • Demand characteristics (people may lie and exaggerate to look good)
38
Q

What are interviews?

A

An alternative method of self report where the interviewer and the interviewee interact

39
Q

What are structured interviews?

A

A formal interview where participants are given a fixed set of questions. They are based on structured, closed-ended questions

40
Q

What are unstructured interviews?

A

Informal interviews where the interviewee is given open-ended questions and they are free to adapt and develop their answers

41
Q

What are the advantages of using interviews?

A
  • Detailed info can be obtained and avoid oversimplifying complex issues
  • Greater attention is given to an individuals point of view
  • Unstructured, casual interviews can encourage openness in answers.
42
Q

What are the disadvantages of using interviews?

A
  • Its difficult to analyse if it is unstructured and qualititative
  • Time consuming/expensive
43
Q

What are observations?

A

When a persons behaviour is monitored for an investigation

44
Q

What is a covert observation?

A

An observation when the people do not know they are being observed

45
Q

What is an overt observation?

A

An observation when the participants know they are being observed

46
Q

What are the pros of a covert observation?

A

Participants dont know they are being studied and therefore wont change their behaviour. This means there is higher validity

47
Q

What are the cons of a covert observation?

A
  • Highly unethical as there is a lack of consent

- The research is hard to sustain over a long period of

48
Q

Define case studies:

A

Case studies are in-depth investigations of a single person, group, event or community.

49
Q

Define correlation:

A

Correlation means association - more precisely it is a measure of the extent to which two variables are related.

50
Q

What is participant observation?

A

Participant observation is a variant of the above (natural observations) but here the researcher joins in and becomes part of the group they are studying to get a deeper insight into their lives.

51
Q

Limitations of participant observation

A
  1. It can be difficult to get time / privacy for recording.

2. If the researcher becomes too involved they may lose objectivity and become bias.

Psychology- research methods (1 decks)

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