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Psychology AS Research Methods > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

Define lab experiment

A

When IV is deliberately manipulated in a specially designed environment where other variables can be easily controlled.

PPs are aware that they are taking part.

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2
Q

Strengths of lab experiment

A
  • More control

- Easily replicated

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3
Q

Weaknesses of lab experiment

A
  • Artificial environment, lacking ecological validity

- Demand characteristics

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4
Q

Define field experiment

A

Deliberate manipulation of the IV in a natural environment.

PPs are often unaware that they are in the experiment.

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5
Q

Strengths of field experiment

A
  • High ecological validity

- No demand characteristics

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6
Q

Weaknesses of field experiment

A
  • Less control, can be less confident with cause and effect.

- Unethical:Might experience distress and are not debriefed, invasion of privacy.

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7
Q

Define natural experiment

A

When the IV already exists.

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8
Q

Strengths of natural experiment

A
  • Provides opportunities for research that wouldn’t have been done.
  • High external validity because they study real life issues.
  • Might be more ethical because it does not interfere with PP’s existence.
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9
Q

Weaknesses of natural experiment

A
  • Rare, can be difficult to generalize
  • Randomisation: not randomly allocated so participant effects may lower validity. Can be less confident about cause and effect.
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10
Q

Define self-report

A

When PPs ar required to give their own responses.

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11
Q

Strengths of questionnaires

A
  • Easily replicated

- PPs might be more willing to reveal personal information than in an interview.

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12
Q

Weaknesses of questionnaires

A
  • Answers may not be truthful due to leading questions or social desirability bias. Can use filler questions to help.
  • sample bias: can only be filled by literate people with time to do it.
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13
Q

Strengths and weaknesses open questions

A
  • They produce qualitative data- rich detail

- More difficult to analyze

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14
Q

Strengths and weaknesses of quantitative data

A
  • Easier to analyze

- PPs may be forced to select answers that are not their real thoughts of behavior.

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15
Q

Types of closed questions

A
  • Likert scales:PPs must choose the extent which they agree
  • Rating scales:PPs identify a value that represents their strength of feeling about a particular topic
  • Fixed choice option:from the lists of options, PPs have to indicate which ones apply to them.
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16
Q

Strengths of structured interview

A

Easily replicated because questions are standardized .

Easier to analyze.

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17
Q

Weaknesses of structured interview

A

Answers may not be truthful due to social desirability bias.
Answers may influenced by interviewer:interviewer bias.

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18
Q

Strengths of semi structured interview

A

More detailed information.
Can access extra information.
More ecological validity because it is like a real conversation.

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19
Q

Weaknesses of semi structured interview

A

More likely to be affected by interviewer bias.
Requires trained interviewers.
Difficult to summarize data, to analyze for trends, or make comparisons.

20
Q

Strengths of unstructured interview

A

More flexibility

Could be tailored according to the answer.

21
Q

Weaknesses of unstructured interview

A

Hard to analyze.
Social desirability bias.
Requires trained interviewers which are expensive.
Lack objectivity due to spontaneous nature.

22
Q

Define a case study

A

A detailed study of an individual, event, or a community which uses a range of sources and methods, They usually have a longitudinal nature.

23
Q

Strengths of case studies

A

Allows great depth and genuine context, increasing validity.
Validity can be improved by triangulation.
High ecological validity.
Follows developmental changes.

24
Q

Weaknesses of case studies

A

Low generalizability as case is unique.
Researcher Bias and subjectivity as relationship forms.
Ethical issues with privacy and confidentiality.

25
Q

Define naturalistic observation

A

Observations made where everything has been left normally

26
Q

Strengths and weaknesses of naturalistic observation

A
  • High ecological validity.
  • No demand characteristics.
  • No control over extraneous variables.
  • Observer bias and reliability of observations.
27
Q

Strengths and weaknesses of controlled observation

A
  • Can manipulate variables to observe effects.
  • Reduced ecological validity.
  • Investigator effects
  • Observer bias and reliability of observations.
  • Demand characteristics
28
Q

Define behavioral categories

A

An objective method to separate the stream of actions into separate behavioral components.

29
Q

What is inter-rater reliability.

A

When all observers compare results and check the consistency when observing the same behavior with the same checklist.

30
Q

Define event sampling

A

Where researcher counts number of times a certain behavior happens for an individual.

31
Q

Define time sampling

A

Where behavior is recorded in a given time frame.

32
Q

Strengths and weaknesses of covert observation

A
  • No demand characteristics and social desirability bias.
  • Data collection is more difficult.
  • Ethical issues because they cannot give consent.
33
Q

Strengths and weaknesses of participant observation.

A
  • Can gain detailed data and a wide variety of them.
  • Longitudinal research.
  • Risk of not being able to observe.
  • Difficult to record information without letting them know.
34
Q

Define correlations

A

A relationship between two continuous variables .

35
Q

Strengths of correlations

A

Useful for investigating trends, used an a initial research tool.
Easily repeated, findings can be confirmed.
Quick and economical.
Can be used when it’s impractical to manipulate variables.

36
Q

Weaknesses of correlations

A

Misinterpretation of results from one researcher to another.
There could be a third variable affecting the results.
Does not show cause and effect.

37
Q

Strengths of structured observation

A

Objective- because only those behavior could be recorded.

High inter-rater reliability

38
Q

Strengths of unstructured observation

A
  • Unlikely to miss important behaviours

- Behaviours are not limited because he could record anything he sees

39
Q

Explain why low reliability would be a problem in experiments

A
  • Lower validity
  • Experiments are inconsistent
  • Cannot tell whether differences are due to manipulations or errors.
  • eg. Lower consistency between researchers.
  • eg. lower consistency for same researcher over time
40
Q

How should you measure reliability when there is only one observer

A
  • Use test re-test method
  • Record the experiment and watch the video twice
  • Find correlation between scores for first and second observation
  • The higher the correlation the more reliable it is
  • Results should be consistent if it is reliable.
41
Q

Suggest one disadvantage of using a likert scale to measure ‘happiness’

A

There may be individual differences as people may interpret 0-10 differently .

42
Q

What is a naturalistic observation

A

An observation done in a real setting where there is no interference.

43
Q

What is a controlled observation

A

An observation that is set up and usually done in an artificial environment. Often uses stooge.

44
Q

Explain why low validity would be a problem

A

Validity is being sure you are investigating what you intended.

  • If it is valid, the results are credible, more useful, and you can believe in your findings.
  • You would not be able to draw causal conclusion and generalise your findings.
  • You don’t know if IV is causing DV.
45
Q

Suggest a problem with reliability in any study

A

-D&K might have interpreted the dream reports differently, PPs from SS could have interpreted the scale differently.

46
Q

Weaknesses for using scale for self-report

A

Subjectivity because another child might interpret it differently.

47
Q

Explain a reason for having a control condition

A

Other variables might be affecting the DV.

Psychology AS Research Methods (4 decks)

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