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Psychology - Paper 2 > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

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
What are measures of dispersion
Range | Standard deviation
26
What are order effects when do they matter and how to avoid it
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
What is an aim
A general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate (purpose)
28
Evaluate the use of peer review
+ validity increased +improved research - publication bias (headline research only so overlook most) - rivals critiquing
29
What are behavioural categories
Used in observations and break down one target behaviour into components that are measurable
30
What is a pilot study
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
Evaluation of random sampling
+ no researcher bias | - time consuming
32
How to measure and improve reliability
Test-retest Inter-observer - operationalised - no leading qs - pilot study
33
Describe content analysis
Code into operationalised categories (eg words) Count up Coding often leads to thematic coding (themes)
34
Evaluation of independent group design
+ no order effects | - doesn’t account for individual differences
35
What is a naturalistic and controlled observation
``` Naturalistic = takes place in the setting or context where’re the target behaviour would usually occur. Controlled = takes place within s structures environment ```
36
Evaluation of matched pairs design
+ reduces ppt variables + order effects no problem - time consuming - expensive
37
What is correlation strength
How strong the relationship between the co-variables is. | On a scale between -1 and +1
38
What is skewed distribution and the types of it
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
How to choose a statistical test
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
What’s an extraneous variables
Any variable other than the IV that may have an effect on the DV
41
What is validity
Does it measure what is supposed to measure
42
What is reliability
How consistent your findings are
43
What are the ethical issues
Informed consent Deception Protection from harm Confidentiality
44
What is operationalisation
Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured (ALWAYS write a hypothesis like this)
45
What are participant variables
The individual differences in the participants
46
What are the sections of a scientific report
``` 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
What is event + time sampling and evaluate them
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
What are the levels of measurement
``` Nominal = categories Ordinal = ordered Interval = using units of equal measurement (often time-mins,secs) ```
49
What’s the accepted inter-observer reliability percentage for a study to be credited
80%
50
What are statistics
Analysis of numerical data
51
What is a type 2 error
When the null hypothesis is wrongly accepted | This happens when the significance level is larger
52
What are descriptive statistics
Mean Mode Median
53
What is a type 1 error
When the null hypothesis is wrongly rejected | The lower the significance level, the less chance of making a type 1 error
54
How to deal with the ethical issues
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
What is a case study and what’s the problem with them
An in depth investigation, description and analysis of a single individual or group - they cannot be generalised to the whole population
56
What are the types of experiments
Lab - highly controlled Field - natural environment but still manipulating the DV Natural - the IV naturally changes
57
What are investigator effects
The effect of the researchers behaviour on the results
58
What are the sampling methods
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
Evaluation of volunteer sampling
+ easy and cheap | - may attract a certain type of person making it hard to generalise
60
Evaluate field experiments
+ high realism | - less control over extraneous variables
61
What is a paradigm and paradigm shifts
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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