Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

Experimental Method

A

where the independent variable is manipulated to determine its effects on the dependent variable

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2
Q

Demand characteristics

A

features of a piece of research which allow the participants to work out its aim or hypothesis, participants may change behaviour to frustrate the aim of the research

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3
Q

Extraneous Variables

A

variables other than the independent variable which could effect the dependent variable

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4
Q

Confounding Variables

A

uncontrolled extraneous variables than can negatively effect the results

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5
Q

Independent Variable

A

factor manipulated by researchers

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6
Q

Dependent Variable

A

factor measured by the researchers

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7
Q

Laboratory experiments

A

experiment conducted in a controlled environment

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8
Q

Evaluation of Laboratory experiments

A
Strengths 
\+ high degree of control
\+ replication 
\+ cause and effect 
\+ isolation of variables
Weaknesses 
- lacks mudane realism 
- experimenter bias 
- problems operationalising the IV and DV
- low ecological validity
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9
Q

Field experiments

A

experiments conducted in a naturalistic setting where researchers can manipulate IV

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10
Q

Natural experiments

A

expeirments where the researcher ia waiting for the IV to have an effect on the DV

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11
Q

Evaluation of Field and Natural experiments

A
Advantages 
\+ high ecological validity 
\+ no demand characteristics 
disadvantages 
- less control
- hard to replicate 
- ethics 
- sample bias
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12
Q

Quasi experiment

A

a type of natural experiment where the investigator cannot manipulate the IV

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13
Q

Observational Techniques

A

Participant Observation
observers are actively involved in the observation
Non participant Observation
participants are not involved in the observation
Covert Observation
participants do not know that they are being observed
Overt Observation
participants do know that they are being observed

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14
Q

inter-observer reliability

A

when observers code behaviour in the same way

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15
Q

Types of Interviews

A
Structured 
identical closed questions read to participants while interviewer is writing down answers
Unstructured 
informal discussion 
Semi-structured 
produces quantitive and qualitive data
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16
Q

Evaluation of interviews

A
Advantages 
\+ deal with complex issues 
\+ ease misunderstandings 
\+ data analysis 
\+ easy to replicate 
Disadvantages 
- interviewer has to be trained
- ethical issues 
- interviewer effects 
- demand characteristics 
- social desirability bias 
- participant answers
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17
Q

Correlational Study

A

two factors are measured to see if they have a relationship

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18
Q

Evaluation of Correlational Study

A
Advantages 
\+ allows predictions to be made 
\+ Allows quantification of relationships 
\+ no manipulation of variables
Disadvantages 
- quantification problem 
- cause and effect 
- extraneous relationships 
- only works for linear relationships
19
Q

Types of correlation

A

Positive Correlation
one co-variable increases as another increases
Negative Correlation
one co-variable increases as another decreases

20
Q

Co-variables

A

variables being investigated in a correlational study

21
Q

Operationalisation of variables

A

processs of defining variables into measurable factors

22
Q

Investigator effects

A

ways in which researchers could unconsciously affect the results like their appearance, accent or gender

23
Q

Sampling Procedures

A
methods of recording data 
event sampling
counting the number of times a behaviour occurs 
time sampling 
counting behaviour in a set time frame
24
Q

Types of Questionnaires

A

open
participants are allowed to use their own words
closed
participants answer with yes or no

25
Q

Evaluation of Questionnaires

A
Advantages 
\+ quick 
\+ easy to replicate 
\+ qualitative and quantitative analysis 
\+ lack of investigator effects 
Disadvantages 
- participants can lie 
- misunderstanding 
- biased samples 
- low response rate 
- superficial issues 
- social desirability
26
Q

Questionnaire Construction

A
questions - concise, short, clear 
aims 
length 
previous questionnaires 
pilot study 
measurement scales
27
Q

Types of Interviews

A

Structured
closed questions read to participants while interviewer is writing down answers
Unstructured
informal discussion
Semi-structured
produces quantitative data and qualitative data

28
Q

Evaluation of Interviews

A
Advantages 
\+ deal with complex issues 
\+ ease misunderstandings 
\+ data analysis 
\+ replication 
Disadvantages 
- interviewer training 
- ethical issues 
- interviewer effects 
- demand characteristics 
- social desirability bias 
- participant answers
29
Q

Aim

A

statement of why a study is taking place

30
Q

Types of Hypotheses

A
experimental/alternative 
differences will occur because of manipulation of the IV 
null 
IV will not affect the DV 
Directional 
predicts direction of results 
Non-directional 
predicts that there will be a change but not the direction
31
Q

Hypothesis

A

precise testable research prediction

32
Q

Sampling

A

selection of participants to represent a wider population

33
Q

Random Sampling

A

each member of the population has an equal chance of being selectec

34
Q

Evaluation of Random Sampling

A
Advantages 
\+ unbiased selection 
\+ Generalisation 
Disadvantages 
- impractical 
- not representative
35
Q

Oppurtunity sampling

A

giving someone an offer to participate

36
Q

Evaluation of Oppurtunity Sampling

A
Advantages 
\+ ease of formation 
\+ natural experiments 
Disadvantages 
- unrepresentative 
- Self-selection
37
Q

Volunteer Sampling

A

ask for volunteers

38
Q

Volunteer Sampling Evaluation

A
Advantages 
\+ ease of formation 
\+ less chance of 'screw you' phenomenon 
Disadvantages 
- unrepresentative 
- demand characteristics
39
Q

Systematic Sampling

A

taking nth person from a list

40
Q

Systematic Sampling Evaluation

A
Advantages 
\+ unbiased selection 
\+ generalisation 
Disadvantages 
- periodic traits 
- not representative
41
Q

Stratified Sampling

A

small scale reproduction of a population

42
Q

Stratified Sampling Evaluation

A
Advantages 
\+ representative 
\+ unbiased 
Disadvantages 
- knowledge of population characteristics required 
- time consuming
43
Q

Sign test

A

statistical test done on experiments with nominal data to predict a difference in two sets of data