Research Methods Flashcards
Experimental Method
where the independent variable is manipulated to determine its effects on the dependent variable
Demand characteristics
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
Extraneous Variables
variables other than the independent variable which could effect the dependent variable
Confounding Variables
uncontrolled extraneous variables than can negatively effect the results
Independent Variable
factor manipulated by researchers
Dependent Variable
factor measured by the researchers
Laboratory experiments
experiment conducted in a controlled environment
Evaluation of Laboratory experiments
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
Field experiments
experiments conducted in a naturalistic setting where researchers can manipulate IV
Natural experiments
expeirments where the researcher ia waiting for the IV to have an effect on the DV
Evaluation of Field and Natural experiments
Advantages \+ high ecological validity \+ no demand characteristics disadvantages - less control - hard to replicate - ethics - sample bias
Quasi experiment
a type of natural experiment where the investigator cannot manipulate the IV
Observational Techniques
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
inter-observer reliability
when observers code behaviour in the same way
Types of Interviews
Structured identical closed questions read to participants while interviewer is writing down answers Unstructured informal discussion Semi-structured produces quantitive and qualitive data
Evaluation of interviews
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
Correlational Study
two factors are measured to see if they have a relationship
Evaluation of Correlational Study
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
Types of correlation
Positive Correlation
one co-variable increases as another increases
Negative Correlation
one co-variable increases as another decreases
Co-variables
variables being investigated in a correlational study
Operationalisation of variables
processs of defining variables into measurable factors
Investigator effects
ways in which researchers could unconsciously affect the results like their appearance, accent or gender
Sampling Procedures
methods of recording data event sampling counting the number of times a behaviour occurs time sampling counting behaviour in a set time frame
Types of Questionnaires
open
participants are allowed to use their own words
closed
participants answer with yes or no
Evaluation of Questionnaires
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
Questionnaire Construction
questions - concise, short, clear aims length previous questionnaires pilot study measurement scales
Types of Interviews
Structured
closed questions read to participants while interviewer is writing down answers
Unstructured
informal discussion
Semi-structured
produces quantitative data and qualitative data
Evaluation of Interviews
Advantages \+ deal with complex issues \+ ease misunderstandings \+ data analysis \+ replication Disadvantages - interviewer training - ethical issues - interviewer effects - demand characteristics - social desirability bias - participant answers
Aim
statement of why a study is taking place
Types of Hypotheses
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
Hypothesis
precise testable research prediction
Sampling
selection of participants to represent a wider population
Random Sampling
each member of the population has an equal chance of being selectec
Evaluation of Random Sampling
Advantages \+ unbiased selection \+ Generalisation Disadvantages - impractical - not representative
Oppurtunity sampling
giving someone an offer to participate
Evaluation of Oppurtunity Sampling
Advantages \+ ease of formation \+ natural experiments Disadvantages - unrepresentative - Self-selection
Volunteer Sampling
ask for volunteers
Volunteer Sampling Evaluation
Advantages \+ ease of formation \+ less chance of 'screw you' phenomenon Disadvantages - unrepresentative - demand characteristics
Systematic Sampling
taking nth person from a list
Systematic Sampling Evaluation
Advantages \+ unbiased selection \+ generalisation Disadvantages - periodic traits - not representative
Stratified Sampling
small scale reproduction of a population
Stratified Sampling Evaluation
Advantages \+ representative \+ unbiased Disadvantages - knowledge of population characteristics required - time consuming
Sign test
statistical test done on experiments with nominal data to predict a difference in two sets of data
