Research Methods

Question 1

The role of peer review

Answer 1

1- allocate research funding
2- validate the quality and relevance of the research (eg conclusions drawn)
3- to suggest improvements

Question 2

Evaluation of peer review

Answer 2

1- anonymity
2- publication bias
3- burying ground breaking research

Question 3

Correlation coefficient

Answer 3

A number between -1 and 1 that represents the direction and strength of a relationship between co-variables

Positive - the closer the coefficient to 1 the stronger it is
Negative- the closer the coefficient to -1 the stronger it is

Used for inter observer and concurrent validity (correlation of two sets of data exceeds +80)

Question 4

Case studies

Answer 4

Case studies - an in depth investigation, description and analysis of a single individual , group, institution or event.

• often qualitative data and longitudinal studies

Question 5

Content analysis

Answer 5

• a research technique that enables the indirect study of behaviours by examining communications that people produce , eg texting
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Question 6

Assessing reliability

Answer 6

Inter observer reliability- agreement between two it more observers

Test re test - assessing questionnaire or psychological test - assessing same person one two occasions

Question 7

Improving reliability

Answer 7

Questionnaire- remove complex or ambitious questions ( replacing open q with closed q)

Interviews- using same interviewer or
Making interview structured

Observations - operationalisation of behavioural categories

Question 8

Validity types

Answer 8

Ecological validity - findings can be generalised to other settings and situations

Population validity - research sample reflects target group

Internal validity- observed behaviour was due to independent variable

Temporal validity - can be generalised to other historical times and eras

Question 9

Improving validity

Answer 9

Questionnaire - open qs 
Interviews - open qs 
Experiments - stratified sampling 
Observations- control group 
Case studies - compare to other similar chases

Question 10

Assessing validity

Answer 10

Face validity - a measure scrutinised to determine whether it appears at first sight to measure what it is supposed to

Concurrent validity - extent to which a psychological measure relates to an existing similar measure

Question 11

Parametric tests ( related t test, independent t test, pearsons product moment )

3 parametric assumptions must apply ..

Answer 11

1- data is interval

2- distribution of score are are normal ( scores cluster around the mean/ normal bell curve)

3- variances should be homogeneous ( deviation of scores is similar between conditions

Question 12

Reporting psychological investigations

Answer 12

SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
METHOD (procedure, design, sample,ethics, materials)
RESULTS
DISCUSSION(findings in verbal form)
REFERENCING
( author, date, title of book, place of publication, publisher)

Question 13

Startisrical tests

Spearmans rho

Answer 13

N= no. Of participants

Question 14

Statistical tests

Unrelated t- test

Answer 14

Df- (number of scores in group 1 + number of scores in group 2) -2

Question 15

Statistical test

Related t test

Answer 15

Df= (no of pairs of scores) -1

Question 16

Statistical tests

Pearsons r

Answer 16

Df = (number of participants) -2

Question 17

Statistical test

Chi- squared

Answer 17

Df= (no of rows -1) times (no of columns -1)

Question 18

Mann-Whitney

Answer 18

N1 and n2 = number of scores in each condition

Question 19

Statistical test

Sign test

Answer 19

N= number of participants

Question 20

Statistical test

Wilcoxon

Answer 20

N=no. Of pairs of scores with a difference