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Psychology - Paper 2 > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

What is standard deviation

A

A measure of dispersion, how much the scores deviate from the mean.

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2
Q

Evaluation of systematic sampling

A

+ no researcher bias
+ representative
- as random a chance it isn’t representative

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3
Q

What are demand characteristics

A

Participants being able to work out the true aims of the study and so act differently

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4
Q

What is inter-observer reliability

A

The extent to which 2 or more observers agree on their results by correlating them

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5
Q

What is a correlation

A

A mathematical technique used to investigate an association between two co-variables

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6
Q

What’s a dependant variable

A

The aspect that is measured by the researcher caused by the IV change

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7
Q

What are the features of science

A 
Empiricism
Objectivity
Replicability
Falsifiability
Control
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8
Q

Evaluation of natural experiments

A

+ high external validity

- less sure whether IV actually affected DV

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9
Q

Evaluation of opportunity sampling

A

+ saves time and money

  • researcher bias
  • unrepresentative as only in specific areas
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10
Q

What’s an independent variable

A

The aspect of the experiment that is being manipulated by the researcher

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11
Q

What are the mean mode and median

A 
Mean = arithmetic average (add up all values and divide by number of values)
Median = the middle number when order values from smallest to largest (if even, add up middle numbers and divide by 2)
Mode = the most frequently occurring value
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12
Q

What are the experimental design

A

Independent group - 2 separate groups experience 2 separate conditions.
Repeated measures - when all participants experience both conditions
Matched pairs - participants matched on a type of scale (IQ) eprson from each pair does a condition

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13
Q

What are some implications for the economy of conducting psychological research

A
  • decreases unemployment rate (mental illness)
  • saves costs (mental illness)
  • promotes single dad (attachment of fathers)
  • ability for families to function adequately (attachment of fathers)
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14
Q

What is the range

A

The difference between the highest value and the lowest value

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15
Q

What does the standard deviation tell us

A

The larger it is, the greater the spread of data.

The smaller it is, the lesser the spread of data (they acted in a similar way)

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16
Q

Evaluation of repeated measure design

A

+ ppt variables are controlled
+ less ppts needed
- order effects
- demand characteristics

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17
Q

Evaluate lab experiments

A

+ no extraneous variables
+ easy to replicate
- artificial tasks
- demand characteristics

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18
Q

What is a normal distribution

A

A symmetrical spread of frequency data that forms a bell shaped curve. The mean, mode and median are at the highest point.

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19
Q

What are the types of correlation

A 
Positive = as one variable increases/decreases as does the other
Negative = as one variable increases the other decreases
Zero = there is no relationship
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20
Q

What is an hypothesis and the different types

A

A clear, statement that states the relationship between the variables

Alternative = there is some relationship between the variables :
Non-directional = doesn’t state the direction
Directional = states the exact direction

Null = there is no relationship between the variables

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21
Q

Evaluation of stratified sampling

A

+ avoids researcher bias
+ representative
- time consuming
- strata divisions vary

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22
Q

What are the aims of peer review

A

To allocate funding to researchers
To validate quality/ethical situation of research
To suggest improvements

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23
Q

How to measure and improve validity

A 
Face validity (on the face of it)
Concurrent validity - correlate to a well established test
  • standardised procedures
  • reduce investigator effects
  • reduce demand characteristics
  • reduce social desirability
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24
Q

Evaluations of correlations

A

+ provide quantitative data (show patterns)
+ quick and easy
- shows us relationship not why
- exposure to more variables that could impact it

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25
Q

What are measures of dispersion

A

Range

Standard deviation

26
Q

What are order effects when do they matter and how to avoid it

A

When the order the participants do each condition in affects the results in a repeated measure design.
Counterbalancing = half ppts in one order and vice versa

27
Q

What is an aim

A

A general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate (purpose)

28
Q

Evaluate the use of peer review

A

+ validity increased
+improved research
- publication bias (headline research only so overlook most)
- rivals critiquing

29
Q

What are behavioural categories

A

Used in observations and break down one target behaviour into components that are measurable

30
Q

What is a pilot study

A

A small scaled version of the study to be carried out.p with the same aims but a smaller sample to check all the procedures work

31
Q

Evaluation of random sampling

A

+ no researcher bias

- time consuming

32
Q

How to measure and improve reliability

A

Test-retest
Inter-observer

  • operationalised
  • no leading qs
  • pilot study
33
Q

Describe content analysis

A

Code into operationalised categories (eg words)
Count up
Coding often leads to thematic coding (themes)

34
Q

Evaluation of independent group design

A

+ no order effects

- doesn’t account for individual differences

35
Q

What is a naturalistic and controlled observation

A 
Naturalistic = takes place in the setting or context where’re the target behaviour would usually occur.
Controlled = takes place within s structures environment
36
Q

Evaluation of matched pairs design

A

+ reduces ppt variables
+ order effects no problem
- time consuming
- expensive

37
Q

What is correlation strength

A

How strong the relationship between the co-variables is.

On a scale between -1 and +1

38
Q

What is skewed distribution and the types of it

A

A spread of frequency that is not symmetrical

Positive = the long tail is on the right and distribution mostly to the left
Negative = the long tail is on the left and distribution mostly on the right
39
Q

How to choose a statistical test

A

Test of difference. Test of correlation
Unrelated Related

Nominal chi-squared. sign test. chi-squared
Ordinal. mann-whitney. wilcoxon. spearmans rho
Interval. unrelated t-test. related t-test. pearsons r

Carrots Should Come
Mashed With Swede
Under Roast Potatoes

40
Q

What’s an extraneous variables

A

Any variable other than the IV that may have an effect on the DV

41
Q

What is validity

A

Does it measure what is supposed to measure

42
Q

What is reliability

A

How consistent your findings are

43
Q

What are the ethical issues

A

Informed consent
Deception
Protection from harm
Confidentiality

44
Q

What is operationalisation

A

Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured (ALWAYS write a hypothesis like this)

45
Q

What are participant variables

A

The individual differences in the participants

46
Q

What are the sections of a scientific report

A 
Abstract
- key details (aims, hypothesis, method used, conclusions)
- used to identify those worthy of examination
Introduction
- look at last research
Method
- design, sample, materials, procedure, ethics
Results
- inferential and descriptive statistics
Discussion
- what the results tell us
References
47
Q

What is event + time sampling and evaluate them

A

Event = counting the number of times a behaviour occurs
+ representative of whole observation
- can miss out little details

Time sampling = recording all behaviour within a time frame
+ can be specific
- not representative of whole observation

48
Q

What are the levels of measurement

A 
Nominal = categories
Ordinal = ordered
Interval = using units of equal measurement (often time-mins,secs)
49
Q

What’s the accepted inter-observer reliability percentage for a study to be credited

A

80%

50
Q

What are statistics

A

Analysis of numerical data

51
Q

What is a type 2 error

A

When the null hypothesis is wrongly accepted

This happens when the significance level is larger

52
Q

What are descriptive statistics

A

Mean
Mode
Median

53
Q

What is a type 1 error

A

When the null hypothesis is wrongly rejected

The lower the significance level, the less chance of making a type 1 error

54
Q

How to deal with the ethical issues

A

Informed consent - be given a form to be signed detailing all the aims.
Deception/protection - debrief telling them everything and give them the right to withdraw
Confidentiality - make sure no names/Personal information used

55
Q

What is a case study and what’s the problem with them

A

An in depth investigation, description and analysis of a single individual or group

  • they cannot be generalised to the whole population
56
Q

What are the types of experiments

A

Lab - highly controlled
Field - natural environment but still manipulating the DV
Natural - the IV naturally changes

57
Q

What are investigator effects

A

The effect of the researchers behaviour on the results

58
Q

What are the sampling methods

A

Random - equal chance of being selected
Systematic - selecting every nth person
Stratified - splits people into strata and randomly from these groups
Opportunity - anyone who happens to be available
Volunteer - ppts select themselves to be part of the study

59
Q

Evaluation of volunteer sampling

A

+ easy and cheap

- may attract a certain type of person making it hard to generalise

60
Q

Evaluate field experiments

A

+ high realism

- less control over extraneous variables

61
Q

What is a paradigm and paradigm shifts

A

Paradigm = general theory that’s accepted my the majority
Over time evidence may contradict this belief resulting in a paradigm shift
- pre science
- normal science
- revolutionary science

Psychology - Paper 2 (3 decks)

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