Research Methods

Question 1

Experimental Method

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Demand characteristics

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Extraneous Variables

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Confounding Variables

Answer 4

uncontrolled extraneous variables than can negatively effect the results

Question 5

Independent Variable

Answer 5

factor manipulated by researchers

Question 6

Dependent Variable

Answer 6

factor measured by the researchers

Question 7

Laboratory experiments

Answer 7

experiment conducted in a controlled environment

Question 8

Evaluation of Laboratory experiments

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Field experiments

Answer 9

experiments conducted in a naturalistic setting where researchers can manipulate IV

Question 10

Natural experiments

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Evaluation of Field and Natural experiments

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Quasi experiment

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Observational Techniques

Answer 13

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

Question 14

inter-observer reliability

Answer 14

when observers code behaviour in the same way

Question 15

Types of Interviews

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Evaluation of interviews

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Correlational Study

Answer 17

two factors are measured to see if they have a relationship

Question 18

Evaluation of Correlational Study

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Types of correlation

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Co-variables

Answer 20

variables being investigated in a correlational study

Question 21

Operationalisation of variables

Answer 21

processs of defining variables into measurable factors

Question 22

Investigator effects

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Sampling Procedures

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Types of Questionnaires

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Evaluation of Questionnaires

Answer 25

``` 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 ```

Question 26

Questionnaire Construction

Answer 26

``` questions - concise, short, clear aims length previous questionnaires pilot study measurement scales ```

Question 27

Types of Interviews

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Evaluation of Interviews

Answer 28

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

Question 29

Aim

Answer 29

statement of why a study is taking place

Question 30

Types of Hypotheses

Answer 30

``` 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 ```

Question 31

Hypothesis

Answer 31

precise testable research prediction

Question 32

Sampling

Answer 32

selection of participants to represent a wider population

Question 33

Random Sampling

Answer 33

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

Question 34

Evaluation of Random Sampling

Answer 34

``` Advantages + unbiased selection + Generalisation Disadvantages - impractical - not representative ```

Question 35

Oppurtunity sampling

Answer 35

giving someone an offer to participate

Question 36

Evaluation of Oppurtunity Sampling

Answer 36

``` Advantages + ease of formation + natural experiments Disadvantages - unrepresentative - Self-selection ```

Question 37

Volunteer Sampling

Answer 37

ask for volunteers

Question 38

Volunteer Sampling Evaluation

Answer 38

``` Advantages + ease of formation + less chance of 'screw you' phenomenon Disadvantages - unrepresentative - demand characteristics ```

Question 39

Systematic Sampling

Answer 39

taking nth person from a list

Question 40

Systematic Sampling Evaluation

Answer 40

``` Advantages + unbiased selection + generalisation Disadvantages - periodic traits - not representative ```

Question 41

Stratified Sampling

Answer 41

small scale reproduction of a population

Question 42

Stratified Sampling Evaluation

Answer 42

``` Advantages + representative + unbiased Disadvantages - knowledge of population characteristics required - time consuming ```

Question 43

Sign test

Answer 43

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