Research Methods Flashcards
Disadvantages of observational research
Time consuming
Expensive
Difficult to control
Stratifed sampling
Involves selecting participants to create the same proportions of groups that exist in the population.
Systematic sampling
Involves applying a regular system or rule when selecting participants.
Volunteer sampling
Allows participants to select themselves, such as by responding to an advert.
Random sampling
All members of population must stand an equal chance of being selected.
Opportunity sampling
Accessing participants on the basis of their convenient availability to the researcher.
Null hypothesis
This states what will happen if the experimental hypothesis isn’t supported by results. It usually states that when the independent variable is changed, there will be no change in the dependent variable.
Flaws in questionnaire wording
The use of complex jargon.
Leading questions cause bias.
Vague questions cause confusion.
Offensive questions.
Strengths of questionnaires
Reliable Replicable Ethical Quick Closed questions produce quantitative data and are easily analysed.
Limitations of questionnaires
Lacks validity
Demand characteristics
Social desirability
Difficult to write questions that aren’t leading or unclear
Single-blind study
Where the participant doesn’t know what condition they’re in but the researcher does.
Double-blind study
Where neither the participant nor the researcher know which condition they’re in.
Consent form
Potential risks
Consent
Right to withdrawal at any point
Confidential data
