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PSYCHOLOGY- CASE STUDIES/PERSPECTIVES > RESEARCH METHODS > Flashcards

RESEARCH METHODS Flashcards

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1
Q

Define random sampling

Pros and cons

A

A sample in which and member of the population has an equal chance of being selected

  • no bias
  • hard to do in a large population
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2
Q

Define opportunity sampling

Pros and cons

A

Taking samples from people that are available at the time

  • very general (variety of different samples)
  • biased (same area=similar characteristics)
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3
Q

Define volunteer sampling

Pros and cons

A

Sign up for yourself

  • easier to acquire participants (quicker)
  • biased (likely to be more interested in their memory compared to the test)
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4
Q

Define snowball sampling

Pros and cons

A

Where Ps are contacted and asked if others have the characteristics they are looking for

  • lots of info (rich inPs)
  • smaller generic sample (similar to each other)
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5
Q

What is an alternative/experimental hypothesis?

A

Predicts there will be a significant affect

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6
Q

Describe the principle of respect (guidelines and description)

A

Informed consent, right to withdraw (stop when they want) and confidentiality (right to control flaw of info about themselves)

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7
Q

Describe the principle of integrity (guidelines and description)

A

Avoid deception

-occurs when person is not told the truth about research aims and not told what they are required to do

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8
Q

What are benefits and drawbacks of the principle of integrity?

A
  • help Ps decide if they want to take part or not

- May reduce meaning of the research because aims are revealed

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9
Q

Description of the principle of competence (guidelines and description)

A

Recognise limitations of own competence, seek help when needed, professional duty of care

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10
Q

Description of principle of responsibility (guidelines and description)

A

Protection from harm (physical and psychological)

Debrief (inform Ps of the intentions)

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11
Q

What is a null hypothesis?

A

Predicts there will not have a significant effect

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12
Q

What is repeated measures design?

Strengths and weaknesses

A

Two conditions (compare results) Ps complete both conditions

  • need fewer Ps
  • difference between Ps is unlikely to distort the effect of IV
  • higher chance of demand characteristics
  • study takes longer
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13
Q

What is the independent measures design?

Strengths and weaknesses

A

Ps only complete one condition and compare with different people

  • lower chance of demand Cs
  • study is quicker (more time for analysis)

-needs more Ps

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14
Q

What is matched pairs design?

Weakness

A

One condition matched with Ps in another condition

Can’t accurately compare them (not exact match)=repeatability is lowered

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15
Q

What are strengths and weaknesses of lab experiments?

A
  • control extraneous variables
  • can’t repeat experiment=reliability is decreased
  • lack off ecological validity (artificial setting=changed behaviour)
  • risk of demand Cs
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16
Q

What is a field experiment?

Strengths and weaknesses

A

IV still manipulated by the researcher but in a real setting

  • lower demand Cs
  • increased ecological validity
  • no consent, therefore debrief can’t be done=unethical
  • can’t control extraneous variables
  • can’t repeat=unreliable
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17
Q

What is a quasi experiment?

Strengths and weaknesses

A

IV naturally occurring and cannot be manipulated by the experimenter

-test variables that could not be ethically or practically manipulated

  • hard to repeat (lacks validity)
  • may cause offence (researching personal characteristics)
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18
Q

Define operationalise

A

Must specify exactly what the conditions will be

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19
Q

Define a one-tailed hypothesis

A

Predicts what will happen

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20
Q

Define counterbalancing

A

Eliminate order effects which could affect the results

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21
Q

Define extraneous variables

A

Variables that affect the DV

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22
Q

Define casuality

A

How one variable effects another variable

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23
Q

Define control

A

All ex. variables need to be controlled in order to be able to establish cause (IV) and effect (DV)

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24
Q

Define falsification

A

Only way to be certain that your theory/law is accurate

prove it wrong

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25
Q

Define objectivity

A

Researchers should remain totally value free when studying; try to remain totally unbiased in their investigation

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26
Q

Define replicability

A

Repeated or not (same people)

It can’t be replicated=not accepted

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27
Q

Define standardisation

A

Keeping everything the same for all Ps so that the investigation is fair

28
Q

What is a positive correlation?

A

High values of one variable are associated with high values of another
Increase at a similar rate

29
Q

What is a negative correlation?

A

High values of one variable are associated with low variables of another (still indicates a relationship)

30
Q

What are third party variable effects?

A 
Cannot assume cause and effect in correlational analysts 
//could be another variable
31
Q

What are the strengths of correlational analysis?

A
  • indicate possible relationships between co-variables (starting point of research)
  • can be conducted on co-variables that can be measured but not manipulated (other measures may be unethical)
32
Q

What are the weaknesses of correlational analysis?

A
  • cannot demonstrate cause and effect relationships between co-variables because of third variable
  • Only tested on variables with quantitative data (meaning they can lack understanding as to why someone behaves a certain way)
33
Q

What do rating scales measure?

A

How strong someone feels about a particular statement

34
Q

What are likert scales?

A

How strongly Ps agree to a statement

eg: strong disagree- strongly agree

35
Q

What are semantic differential scales?

A 
Words used are polar opposite
(eg: boring-exciting)
turns into quantitative data
-boring (1)
-exciting (5)
36
Q

What are strengths and weaknesses of rating scales?

A
  • likert=how strongly someone agrees (opinions much more complex =deeper understanding)
  • quantitative data=analyse it statistically, it can be interpreted objectively

-quantitative lacks depth and understanding
(reduces validity-not true reflection)
-tendency to rate towards the middle of the scale (decrease validity, as Ps think its more socially accepted)

37
Q

Describe open questions

A

Invite the respondent to provide their own answers and provide qualitative data (understand reasons behind behaviour)

38
Q

Describe closed questions

Strengths and weaknesses

A

Limited/fixed choices

  • quantitative (compare objectively)
  • easy to compare as set Qs

-quantitative data lacks depth, Ps can’t express themselves fully

39
Q

What are principles to consider with questionnaires?

A
  1. Clear Qs (simple sentences, no complex words)

2. Free from bias (researchers should not include own opinions)

40
Q

Evaluation of questionnaires (both open and closed)

A

Repeatable (concurrent validity)
Easy to gather info, so you can test large samples
-more representative of population (population validity)
-identify trends
-make comparisons

Quantitative data-cannot elaborate (lacks depth=lacks validity)
Able to lie due to demand Cs and social desirability (not a true reflection)

41
Q

What are structured interviews?

Strengths and weaknesses

A

Pre-planned questions that the interviewer cannot deviate from

  • easy to repeat
  • quick to conduct (more time to analyse the data)
  • not flexible as Qs predetermined (can’t elaborate if misunderstood)
  • expensive (need expert interviewers)
42
Q

What are unstructured interviews?

Strengths and weaknesses

A

Allowed to probe to gather more information

  • qualitative (deeper understanding)
  • researcher will understand why P behaves a certain way
  • takes long time to analyse
  • hard to replicate
43
Q

What is a semi-structured interview?

Strengths and weaknesses

A

Some predetermined questions but can ask follow up questions
-deeper insight

-takes a long time to conduct

44
Q

Why would a researcher choose interviews over questionnaires?

A

> ask for clarification
explain what is meant by question
verbal communication can be better over written communication (especially in children)

45
Q

Evaluation of interviews

A
  • accessible to all
  • face to face=increase validity
  • immediate data collection
  • qualitative and quantitative
  • expensive (have to pay interviewer)
  • Ps may be unwilling to open up to interview (questionnaires better for sensitive topics)
  • lacks introspective ability (lacks validity)
46
Q

What is external reliability?

A

How consistent procedure is when repeated-checked through test-retest, showing consistency

47
Q

What is the test-retest?

A

Do the test, or self report, then repeat at a later date (good external reliability)

48
Q

What is internal reliability?

A

Whether a procedure is standardised, must be able to repeat and get same or similar results

49
Q

What is face validity?

A

Measuring what it claims to measure

50
Q

What is construct validity?

A

Measuring all concepts of a human (skills, attributes and abilities)

51
Q

What is criterion validity?

A

Extent to which one measure estimates or predicts the values of another related measure

52
Q

What is the concurrent validity?

A

Comparison of new tests to the result of an older test

53
Q

What is predictive validity?

A

The extent of how a previous event can affect the outcome of a future event

54
Q

What is population validity?

A

Representative sample (accurate sample- range of ages, gender, education, etc)

55
Q

What is ecological validity?

A

Whether the situation/ environment reflects the real life situation or not

56
Q

What are controlled observations?

Pros and cons

A

Variables are controlled by the researcher

  • no ex. variables
  • repeatable (increases external validity)
  • demand Cs (artificial setting)
  • lacks ecological validity
57
Q

What is a naturalistic observation?

Pros and cons

A

Observe behaviour in natural setting (eg: place with CCTV)

  • no demand Cs
  • increase ecological validity
  • extraneous variables
  • observer bias (drawn to stand out behaviour)
  • harder to repeat
58
Q

What is a non-participant observation?

Pros and cons

A

Researcher remains separate from the person they are observing

  • no influence on behaviour
  • less ethical issues
  • can observe certain behaviour
  • less detail and accuracy
59
Q

What is participant observation?

Pros and cons

A

Research involved with the people they are observing

  • can be the only way to observe behaviour (gangs/ cults)
  • ecological validity (natural setting)
60
Q

What is an overt observation?

Pros and cons

A

Ps aware they are being observed
-no influence on behaviour

  • demand Cs
  • observer bias (decreases validity)
61
Q

What is a covert observation?

Pros and cons

A

Not aware they are being observed

  • reduce demand Cs (decreases validity)
  • less social desirability
  • less ethical
  • observer bias (stronger behaviour stands out)
62
Q

Evaluate observations

A
  • ecological validity (generalise behaviour and how it would be affected in a real life situation)
  • risk of demand Cs (unaware as in natural setting)
  • observer bias (can interpret behaviour in a subjective way-inter rater reliability needs to be checked)
  • unethical (no consent)
63
Q

How can you improve validity of observations?

A

Validity= whether a study measures or examines what it claims to measure

> ensure categories are clear
ensure the observer is well-trained

64
Q

What is time sampling?

Pros and cons

A

Observe behaviour at certain time intervals

  • reduce time spent on observations
  • observer won’t become fatigued (not observing for long)
  • behaviour may be missed
  • accuracy reduced if several Ps observed at the same time
65
Q

What is event sampling?

Pros and cons

A

Consists of the researcher recording an event every time it happens during a specified time frame

  • less likely for behaviour to be missed
  • useful when behaviour is infrequent
  • reduce validity (tally doesn’t show how long lasting)
  • may miss behaviour if too much happening at once
66
Q

What are behavioural categories?

Pros and cons

A

Behaviours that are observed and recorded
-repeatable
(categories always the same=external reliability)

-observer bias (set behaviour checklist meaning not all behaviour will be recorded, decrease validity)

PSYCHOLOGY- CASE STUDIES/PERSPECTIVES (7 decks)

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