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A-Level Psychology > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

What is an independent variable?

A
  • variable that is manipulated or changed
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2
Q

What is a dependent variable?

A
  • variable that is measured
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3
Q

What is a null hypotheses?

A
  • predicts no difference between conditions
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4
Q

What is a directional hypotheses?

A
  • predicts a specific direction in results
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5
Q

What is a non-directional hypotheses?

A
  • predicts there will be a difference but doesn’t state a specific direction
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6
Q

What is a laboratory experiment?

A
  • carried in controlled environment
  • IV is manipulated
  • extraneous variables are controlled with cause-and-effect relationships being established
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7
Q

What are the strengths of laboratory experiment?

A
  • high level control of extraneous variables
  • high replicability
  • cause and effect relationships can be uncovered
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8
Q

What are the limitations of laboratory experiments?

A
  • reduced ecological validity
  • increased risk of investigator effects and demand characteristics
  • RPS have artificial behaviour
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9
Q

What is a field experiment?

A
  • takes place outside a lab environment
  • IV manipulated
  • cause and effect relationships can be inferred
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10
Q

What are the strengths of field experiments?

A
  • cause and effect relationships can be uncovered
  • higher levels of ecological validity
  • reduction in demand characteristics
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11
Q

What are the limitations of field experiments?

A
  • reduced control over extraneous variables
  • time consuming
  • RPS don’t know they’re being experimented on
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12
Q

What is meant by natural and quasi experiments?

A
  • natural: naturally occurring changes in IV are observed

- quasi: RPS cannot be randomly assigned to experimental and control groups

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13
Q

What are the strengths of natural and quasi experiments?

A
  • useful where it would be impractical or impossible to manipulate variables
  • high levels of ecological validity
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14
Q

What are the limitations of natural and quasi experiments?

A
  • not always possible to clearly identify cause and effect relationships
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15
Q

What is meant by independent groups design?

A
  • each participant takes part in only one condition
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16
Q

What are the strengths of independent groups design?

A
  • no order effects
  • saving of time and effort
  • demand characteristics are reduced
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17
Q

What are the limitations of independent groups design?

A
  • participant variables may affect results e.g IQ

- twice as many participants are needed

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18
Q

What is meant by repeated measures design?

A
  • each participant takes part in all conditions of the experiment
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19
Q

What is meant by counterbalancing?

A
  • reducing order effects by ensuring that participant variables occur with equal frequency in all conditions
20
Q

What is meant by randomisation?

A
  • using chance to decide order in which participants experience the experimental or control condition when repeated measures
21
Q

What are the strengths of repeated measures design?

A
  • uses fewer participants

- participant variables aren’t a concern

22
Q

What are the limitations of repeated measures design?

A
  • risk of order effects

- cost of a loss of participants is greater

23
Q

What is meant by matched pairs?

A
  • participants in each condition are matched according to important variables
24
Q

What are the strengths of matched pairs?

A
  • good control of participant variables

- eliminates order effects

25
Q

What are the limitations of matched pairs?

A
  • matching participants is very difficult
26
Q

What is meant by controlled observation?

A
  • takes place in highly controlled environment such as laboratory setting
26
Q

What are the strengths of controlled observation?

A
  • high level of control

- easier to establish cause and effect relationships

26
Q

What are the limitations of controlled observation?

A
  • environment is artificial, may not get natural behaviour
27
Q

What is meant by naturalistic observation?

A
  • takes place in people’s natural environment without control over the variables
28
Q

What are the strengths and limitations of naturalistic observation?

A

Strengths:
- high degree of natural behaviour, findings can be generalised to everyday life

Limitations:
- difficult to establish cause and effect relationships

29
Q

What is the difference between overt and covert observation?

A
  • Covert is observation WITHOUT knowledge of participants

- Overt is WITH participants knowledge

30
Q

What are the strengths and limitations of covert observation?

A

Strengths:
- more valid results, natural behaviour is being observed

Limitations:
- lack of informed consent

31
Q

What are the strengths and limitations of overt observation?

A

Strengths:
- participants are able to give consent

Limitations:
- participants may not behave naturally if they’re aware of being observed

32
Q

What is the difference between participant observation and non-participant observation?

A
  • participant; data is gathered whilst being part of observed group
  • non-participant; data is gathered from a distance
33
Q

What are the strengths and limitations of participant observation?

A

Strengths:

  • greater insight into behaviour
  • increased validity of findings

Limitations:
- objectivity of observations are affected by being part of group

34
Q

What are the strengths and limitations of non-participant observation?

A

Strengths:
- lack of direct involvement ensures greater objectivity

Limitations:
- Data lacks richness of that provided by participant observation

35
Q

What are the strengths of questionnaires?

A
  • can be cost effective and time effective
  • provides honest data when completed anonymously, improving reliability
  • reduced investigator effects
36
Q

What are the limitations of questionnaires?

A
  • it may be difficult to phrase questions in ways that aren’t open to interpretation by participants
  • only certain people may return them
37
Q

What is the difference between closed questions and open questions?

A
  • closed; allow RPS to respond in certain ways

- Open; allow RPS to respond freely and without restriction

38
Q

What all the strengths and limitations of closed questions?

A

Strengths:

  • requires minimum effort to answer and analyse
  • good when asking questions with finite, clear-cut answers

Limitations:

  • respondent may have an answer which is not there
  • longer questions cause fatigue
39
Q

What are the strengths and limitations of open questions?

A

Strengths:

  • offers flexibility to respondent
  • researcher isn’t putting ideas to respondent

Limitations:

  • provides qualitative data, difficult to analyse and more time-consuming
  • questions may have answers that are difficult to interpret
40
Q

What are the strengths and limitations of interviews?

A

Strengths:

  • good source of qualitative data
  • can address sensitive and complex issues that other methods are unable to

Limitations:

  • responses can be influenced by researcher
  • interviews work best with RPS who are confident, honest and articulate
41
Q

What is the difference between structured interviews and unstructured interviews?

A
  • structured; predetermined set of questions

- unstructured; flexible interviews based around themes rather than fixed questions

42
Q

What are the strengths and limitations of structured interviews?

A

Strengths:
- possible to compare responses, and identify trends and patterns

Limitations:
- more time-consuming than questionnaires

43
Q

What are the strengths and limitations of unstructured interviews?

A

Strengths:
- allows RPS to go into more depth and detail

Limitations:

  • info gathered is difficult to analyse objectively
  • increased risk of interviewer bias

A-Level Psychology (11 decks)

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