Research Methods

Question 1

3 experimental designs and their issues

Answer 1

1) Repeated measures
- each pp does each condition
- order effects (counter-balancing)
- demand characteristics (cover story)

2) Independent groups
- each pp does one condition
- pp = confounding variable (random allocation
- More pp needed

3) Matched Pairs
- matched on key characteristics
- time consuming
- diff to match (restrict variables)
- need known variables (pilot study)

Question 2

What is a directional hypothesis?

Answer 2

One-tailed

• states direction
• used when previous research indicates direction

Question 3

What is a non-directional hypothesis?

Answer 3

Two-tailed

• states difference but not direction
• no previous research

Question 4

What is a pilot study?

Answer 4

• Small scale trial run
• Check methodological problems
• Check ethics

Question 5

What is validity? 2 types, assessing, improving

Answer 5

• Accuracy
• Internal (tests what is intended), external (population, ecological, historical)
• Assessing- Face validity (surface value), Concurrent validity (two tests corrolated similarly)
• Improving- Low face- make more relevant, low concurrent- remove irrelevant, double bind, pilot study

Question 6

What is reliability? Assess and improve

Answer 6

• Consistency
• Assess- inter observer, test-retest. split half
• Improve-standardised procedures, IO- behavioural categories, TRT- reduce ambiguity

Question 7

Define probability

Answer 7

Numerical measure of likelihood/ chance that certain events occur

Question 8

Why is the 0.05 level used?

Answer 8

• best compromise
• 5% probability of chance
• 95% probability of accuracy

Question 9

Type I and Type II error

Answer 9

TYPE I
- FALSE POSITIVE
- reject null hyp, sig level too low
TYPE II
- FALSE NEGATIVE
- accept null hyp, sig leve; too high

Question 10

8 features of a science

Answer 10

1) Empirical methods (evidence through direct observation and no bias)
2) Objectivity
3) Replicability
4) Theory construction (induction- propose theory after, deduction- propose theory first)
5) Hypothesis testing (assess validity of hypothesis)
6) Paradigm (shared set of assumptions)
7) Paradigm shift (scientific revolution)
8) Falsifyability (ability to prove something wrong via tests)

Question 11

8 features of a science

Answer 11

1) Empirical methods (evidence through direct observation and no bias)
2) Objectivity
3) Replicability
4) Theory construction (induction- propose theory after, deduction- propose theory first)
5) Hypothesis testing (assess validity of hypothesis)
6) Paradigm (shared set of assumptions)
7) Paradigm shift (scientific revolution)
8) Falsifyability (ability to prove something wrong via tests)

Question 12

9 types of research method

Answer 12

• Experiments
• Observation
• Questionnaires
• Interviews
• Case studies
• Correlation
• Meta analysis
• Content analysis
• Longitudinal

Question 13

4 types of experiment

Answer 13

1) Lab- IV manipulated
- H intern val
- L eco val- mundane realsim
- Demand characteristics

2) Field- IV manipulated but more natural
- More natural
- Less control

3) Natural- IV is naturally occuring
- allows research that wouldn’t be ethical if manipulated IV
- Low control- confounding variables- L internal validity

4) Quasi- IV is naturally occurring (eg genders)
- Allows comparison between types of people
- Low control- confounding variables- L internal validity

Question 14

2 problems with experiments

Answer 14

1) Demand characteristics
- single bind
- double bind

2) Investigator effects
- double bind

• experimental realism

Question 15

6 types of observation and some evaulation

Answer 15

1) Naturalistic- no interfering
2) Controlled- lacks realism
3) Overt- pp aware
4) Covert- pp unaware
5) Non-participant- watches from a distance
6) Participant- joins group- inter observer

• Observer bias
• Naturalistic has high ecological validity
• covert has ethical issues

Question 16

3 self- report techniques and their evaluation

Answer 16

1) Questionnaires
- open and closed questions
- objective and scientific
- easily distributed

2) Structured interview
- pre-determined questions- no deviation
- interviewer bias
- easier analysis and form stats

3) Unstructured interview
- general aims, develops based on previous answer
- interviewer bias
- more personal

Question 17

What is a meta- analysis? Evaluation

Answer 17

Review of previous research addressing a particular aim or hypothesis to assess trends

• H validity and large sample
• different designs/ aim (not comparable)

Question 18

What is a case study? Evaluation

Answer 18

Detailed study of individual- often longitudinal- can be observation or interview

• detailed and unique
• difficult to generalise

Question 19

What is a Content analysis? Evaluation

Answer 19

Indirect observation- analysis of artefacts like tv programes
Describe content- provide quantitative from qualitative
- observer bias = low internal validity and reliability

Question 20

6 Ethical issues

Answer 20

1) Right to Withdraw
2) Confidentiality
3) Privacy
4) Deception
5) Protection from harm
6) Informed consent

Question 21

5 sampling methods, way they are done and +ive, -ive

Answer 21

1) Random- random number generator
+ unbias- equal chance
- list of names- time

2) Stratified- in proportion
+ proportional representation
- time consuming

3) Volunteer- advertise
+ variety of pp
- volunteer bias

4) Opportunity- convenience
+ easiest
- lacks population validity

5) Systematic- every nth person
+ objective
- not 100% random

Question 22

3 measures of central tendancy and their evaluation

Answer 22

Central/ averages

1) Mean- distorted by extremes
2) Median- not distorted by extremes but doesn’t reflect exact values
3) Mode- not distorted by extremes but not useful if more than one mode

Question 23

2 measures of dispersion

Answer 23

spread of data

1) standard deviation- precise as takes all values into account but distorted by extremes
2) range- easy to calculate but distorted by extremes

Question 24

The role of peer review

Answer 24

• check ethics
• ## check validity