Research Methods Flashcards
Aim [definition]:
A statement of what the researcher intends to find out in a research study.
For example: Investigating the effect of caffeine on memory
Debriefing [definition]:
A post-research interview designed to inform participants of the true nature of the study and to restore them to the state they were at the start of the study
How is debriefing useful? [2]:
- It is a means of dealing with ethical issues
- Can be used to get feedback on the procedures of the study
Independent variable [definition]:
The variable that changes in an experiment
Dependent variable [definition]:
Dependent on the independent variable
Control variable [definition]:
The one that doesn’t change
Confounding Variable [definition]:
A variable under the study that is not the IV but varies systematically with the IV
Extraneous variables [3]:
- Do NOT vary systematically with the IV
- They do not act as an alternative IV but instead have an effect on the DV
- They are nuisance variables
Internal validity [definition]:
The degree to which an observed effect was due to the experimental manipulation rather than other factors such as confounding/extraneous variables
External validity [definition]:
The degree to which a research finding can be generalised to other settings (ecological validity)
Validity vs Reliability:
Reliability = consistency of a measure Validity= accuracy of a measure
Confederate [2]:
An individual in a study who has been instructed how to behave, by the researcher
- In stanford prison experiment
Directional hypothesis [2]:
- States the direction of the predicted difference between two conditions
- example: Women will have higher scores than men will on Hudson’s self-esteem scale
Non-directional hypothesis [2]:
- Predicts simply that there is a difference between conditions of the iv
- There will be no difference between men’s scores and women’s scores on Hudson’s self-esteem scale
Pilot study [definition]:
- A small-scale trial run of a study to test any aspects of the design, to make improvements before the final study
When do psychologists use a directional hypothesis?
When past research suggests that the findings will go in a particular direction
When is a non-directional hypothesis used?
When there is no past research on the topic studied or past research is contradictory
What are 3 types of experimental design?
- Repeated measure design
- Independent measure design
- Matched pairs design
Repeated measures design [3]:
ALL participants experience ALL levels of the IV
+ Participant variables are reduced since its the same person
+ Fewer people are needed as they take part in all conditions
Limitations of repeated measure design [2]:
- Order effects e.g getting tired. Can be avoided by using counterbalance
- Participants may guess the aim of the experiment and behave a certain way e.g purposely do worse in the second half. Can be avoided by using a cover story
Independent measure design [2]:
Participants are placed in separate groups and only experience one level of the IV each
+ Avoids order effects
Limitations of independent measure design [2]:
- Participant variables e.g different abilities or characteristics [participants are randomly allocated]
- Needs more participants than repeated measure
Matched pairs design [3]:
Participants are matched by key characteristics or abilities, related to the study
+ Reduces participant variables
+ Reduces order effects
Limitations of matched pairs design [3]:
- If one participant drops out you lose 2 PPs’ data
- Very time-consuming trying to find closely matched pairs
- Impossible to match people exactly
Lab experiments [2]:
- Conducted in an environment controlled by researcher
- Researcher manipulates the IV
lab experiment examples [2]:
- Milgram’s experiment on obedience
- Bobo’s doll
Strengths of lab experiments [2]:
- It is easier to replicate. This is because standard procedure is being used
- They allow for precise control of extraneous and independent variables
Weakness of lab experiments:
- The artificiality of the setting may produce unnatural behavior that does not reflect real life (low ecological validity)
Field experiments [3]:
- Conducted in the participant’s everyday setting
- Researcher manipulates the IV, but in a real-life setting (can’t rlly control extraneous variables)
- example: Hofling’s hospital study on obedience (involves medicine cabinet used by nurses in hospital and tested nurses)
Strengths of field studies [2]:
- Behavior in a field experiment is more likely to reflect real life because of its natural setting
- There is less likelihood of demand characteristics affecting the results, as participants may not know they are being studied (in covert experiments)
Weakness of field experiments [2]`:
- There is less control over extraneous variables that might bias the results.
- This makes it difficult for another researcher to replicate the study in exactly the same way.
Natural experiments [3]:
- Conducted in everyday life
- Researcher does NOT manipulate the IV cus occurs naturally
- Hodges and Tizard’s attachment research (1989) compared the development of children who had been adopted to children who spent their lives with their biological families
Strengths of natural experiments [3]:
- Behavior in a natural experiment is more likely to reflect real life because of its natural setting
- There is less likelihood of demand characteristics affecting the results, as participants may not know they are being studied
- Can be used in situations in which it would be ethically unacceptable to manipulate the independent variable, e.g. researching stress
Weaknesses of natural experiments [2]:
- They may be more expensive and time consuming than lab experiments
- There is no control over extraneous variables that might bias the results. makes it difficult replicate
Quasi experiments [3]:
+ Can be done in a controlled environment
- IV is not made, it is a pre-existing difference
- Sheridan and King 1972 tested obedience between the genders by making them shock a puppy with increasing strength. Male obedience was 54% and female was 100%
Strengths of quasi experiment:
Allows comparisons between different types of people
Weaknesses of quasi experiments [2]:
- Participants may be aware they are being studied, creating demand characteristics
- The dependent variable may be an artificial task reducing mundane realism
Mundane realism [definition]:
The degree to which the procedures in an experiment are similar to events that occur in the real world
Single blind design:
Participant is not aware of research aims and/or which condition of the iv they are in
Double blind design [2]:
- Both participant and researcher are unaware of condition of IV or aim
- The person conducting the experiment is less likely to give away the aim of the experiment
Experimental realism:
If the researcher makes an experimental task sufficiently engaging the participant pays attention to the task and not the fact that are being observed
Generalisation [definition]:
Applying the findings of a particular study to the population
Opportunity sample [3]:
People who are the most convenient or available are recruited
+ Easiest method cus u can just use the first suitable subject
- Biased sample cus only a small part of the population
Random sample [3]:
Uses random methods like picking names out of a hat
+ Unbiased/ all members of target population have an equal chance of getting chosen
- Time consuming (needs to have a list of all population members)
Stratified sample [3]:
Strata (subgroups) within a population are identified. Then members of the strata are chosen
+ More representative of the population than other samples
- Very time consuming
Systematic sample [3]:
A predetermined system is used to select participants
+ Unbiased as it uses an objective system
- Not truly random
Volunteer sample [3]:
Advertised on the newspaper, noticeboard or the internet and people volunteer
+ Gives access to variety of participants which can make the sample more representative
- Sample is biased because participants are more highly motivated to be helpful
Random techniques [3]:
- Random number table
- Random number generator
- Lottery method (pulling names out of a hat)
Ethical issues [6]:
- Deception
- Informed consent
- Privacy
- Confidentiality
- Protection from harm
- Right to withdraw
Deception- Participant POV [3]:
- It’s unethical.
- The researcher should not deceive anyone without good cause.
- Deception prevents informed consent
Deception- researcher’s POV [2]:
- Can be necessary otherwise participants may alter behaviour
- Can be dealt with by debriefing participant when study is completed
Informed consent- Participant POV [2]:
- They should be told what will be required to do in the study so that they know what they are agreeing too
- It is a basic human right
Informed consent- Researcher POV [2]:
- Means revealing true aims of the study
- Can get presumptive consent
Right to withdraw- Participant POV [3]:
- It is an important right
- Allows patient to leave if uncomfortable
- The withdraw may be compromised if payment was used as an incentive
Right to withdraw- Researcher POV [3]:
- Can lead to a biased sample if people leave
- They lose money if the person was paid and withdrew
- Researcher has to inform the participant of this right before the study
Protection from harm- Participant POV [2]:
- Nothing should happen to them during a study that causes harm
- It is acceptable if the harm is no greater than what the subject would experience in ordinary life
Protection from harm- Researcher POV [3]:
- Some more important questions in psychology involve a degree of distress to participants
- It is difficult to guarantee protection from harm
- Harm is acceptable if the outcome is more beneficial than the harm
Confidentiality- Participant POV [2]:
- The data protection act makes confidentiality a legal right
- It is only acceptable for personal data to be recorded if the data is not made available in a form that identifies participants
Confidentiality- Researcher’s POV [3]:
- Can be difficult because the researcher wishes to publish the findings
- A researcher can guarantee anonymity but it may still be obvious who the subjects were
- Researchers should not record the names of participants
Privacy- Participant POV:
- People do not expect to be observed in certain situations
Privacy- Researcher POV [2]:
- It may be difficult to avoid invasion of privacy when studying participants in public
- Do not study anyone without informed consent unless in a public place and displaying public behaviour
BPS ethical guideline strengths and weaknesses [3]:
+ The guidelines are quite clear
- They’re vague
- The guidelines absolve the individual responsibility because they can just justify their research claiming they followed the guidelines
Controlled observation [definition]:
A form of investigation in which behaviour is observed but under conditions where certain variables have been organised the researcher
Covert observations [definitions]:
Observing people without their knowledge.
Knowing that behaviour is being observed is likely to alter the participant’s behaviour
Inter-observer reliability [definition]:
The extent to which there is agreement between 2 or more observers involved in observations of a behaviour
Naturalistic observation [definition]:
An observation carried out in an everyday setting, in which the investigator does not interfere in anyway but merely observes the behaviours in question
Non-participant observation [definition]:
The observer is seperate from the people being observed
Overt observation [definition]:
Observational studies where participants are aware they are being observed
Participant observation [definition]:
Observations made by someone who is also participating in the activity being observed, which may affect their objectivity
Naturalistic observation evaluation [2]:
+ Gives a realistic picture of spontaneous behaviour (high ecological validity)
- There is little control of all other things that are happening (sumn unknown may cause the behaviour being observed)
Controlled observation evaluation [2]:
+ Observer can focus on particular aspects of behaviour
- control comes at the cost of the environment (artificial feeling)
Covert observation evaluation [2]:
+ Behaviour is more natural
- Participants cannot give consent