Research Methods Flashcards
Random sampling
Using a random method to select a subset of individuals for the sample from the population
Sample
Collection of individuals from which we collect data
A confound
Confused
Confounding variable’s may influence the interpretations of experiment results
Experimental methods are used to determine
How the independent variable is acting on the dependent variable
Additional confounds
Expectancy effect, placebo effect
Expectancy effect
Researcher subtly communicates to behaviour he/or she expects to find, producing the desired reaction
Placebo effect
Participants change their behaviour in the absence of any kind of experimental manipulation and example would be given people placebo pills
Controlling confounds
Researchers use methods and attempt to hold constant all variables and conditions other than those related to the hypotheses being tested
Eg.tape recorder
Double blind control
In which the experimenter and subject are unaware as to who receives were treatment
Placebo controlled
Inclusion of an experimental condition in which the treatment is not administered
Correlation method
Used to determine the extent to which two variables are related, use only when you can’t manipulate variables
Correlation coefficient Positive
0.01 to 1.0
Correlation coefficient negative
-.01 to -1.0
Experimental research designs
Between subject designs, within subject designs
Between subject designs
Different group of participants or sign to experimental conditions or to control condition
Within subject designs
Each participant is compared to themselves overtime
Population
Set of individuals that Generalizations will be based on
Sample
Actual people in the experiment
Representative sample
Subset they closely matches the characteristics of the population being studied
An example of random sampling
Marbles in a jar, but counting the small jar you can make a guest for your bigger jar of the ratio of coloured balls
Population of interest/ election polling
Depends on your goals, can everyone do it, is there an age restriction, likely voters/participants
Election pulling- how is it conducted
If you know the details of an area population, and the people you choose should fit the characteristic as in how is it represented
Which showing the polls throw the voting. Screw the polls and why
It would because by showing people the results it may skew their judgement
Measurement accuracy is determined by
Reliability and validity
Reliability
Stable and consistent and example would be an IQ test
Validity
Degree to which a test measures what it wants to measure it’s conceptual
Face validity
Does the test look like what you’re trying to measure
Predictive validity
Does the thing you measure predict whether or not someone will experience with your studying
Types of measure to obtain data
Depends on with being studied, self report measures, behavioural measures
Self-report measures
Not usually valid, verbal or written answers to what the researcher poses which means your own observations
Behavioural measures
Based on performance could be archival or case studies
Archival
The records in history,
Relies on others observations
Case studies
Exam in a small number of people , lots of domains, more , new clinical settings, eg. H.M
Self-report measures can be
Questionnaires or an interview format or surveys
The problem with self report measures
People often want to make themselves look better that this could affect their answers
Self-report measures include what type of questions
Direct or open ended
Lexical decision
Determining if somethings a word
Types of observations
Direct, naturalistic,
Direct observations
Have a laboratory kind of setting
Cons of direct observations
The subject may be uncomfortable in the setting
Naturalistic observation’s
In a calm environment more likely like a house party
Cons of naturalistic observation’s
You don’t have control over the situation
Quasi experimental design
Experiment that does not require random assignment to conditions
Qualitative methodologies include
Case studies, narrative analysis is, qualitative
Participant observation study
Researcher in beds themselves into the group to study it’s dynamic
Narrative analysis
Study of stories of personal accounts of people groups or cultures Researchers will study themes, structures, and dialogue of each person’s nature
Independent variable
Variable research for manipulate and control
Dependent variable
The variable the researcher Measures but does not manipulate
