Research Methods A Flashcards
Learn the content
Hypothesis
Derived from theories, they are testable predictions
Independent variable
A variable varied by the experimenter in order to examine the effects of the dependent variable (Is tested on)
Dependent variable
A variable liable to be influenced by the independent variable (what is measured in the experiment)
Which is independent and dependent variable?…
“Eating carrots improves eyesight”
Independent: Eating carrots
Dependent: Eyesight
Three problems with research
Can be bias
Can breach ethics
Confounding variables
Confounding variable
An extraneous variable that has interfered with the results of the experiment
Three ways to avoid bias in an experiment
Single blind study
Double blind study
Use a placebo for a group
Single blind study
The participants are kept in the dark about specific elements of the study
Double blind study
The participants and the researcher conducting the experiment are kept in the dark about specific elements of the study
What Clever Hans tells us about bias
That it is better to conduct a double blind study so the examiner can’t give unconscious physical clues as to the correct or preferred answer
Reactivity
When the knowledge that a participants is being observed or measured influences their behaviour
Three types of research methods
Non-experimental
Experimental
Quasi - experimental
Four types of non-experimental research
Observational
Case study
Survey
Correlational research
Difference between non-experimental and experimental research
Non-experimental research is descriptive whereas experimental is explanative and contains control factors
How are observational experiments carried out?
Mainly through categorization with as little disturbance as possible
Example of observational experiment
Eibl-Eibesfeldt’s cross-cultural eyebrow raising during greeting observations
Two problems of observable methods
and how they are solved
-Reliability of categorisation (due to subjectivity)
Solved by comparison with other researchers
Reactivity of subjects
Solved with observers undercover as participants
How are case studies carried out?
Observation of a single person or particular group, often with a unique quality
Three problems with case studies
Generalisations
Reproducibility
Lack of cause and effect understanding
A solution to the problems with case studies
Deviant case analysis: create a situation similar to the case study with a distinct difference to work out the cause effect relationship
Three types of surveys
Questionnaire
Interview
Diary study
Four problems with surveys
Reactivity
Validity of questionnaire
How to quantify
Participant’s memory
Benefits of a structured interview (three)
Easily quantified
Comparable across participants
All topics covered
Three costs of a structured interview
Rigid structure Not personally adaptable Surface information (can't probe deeper depending on participants answers)