Research Methods A2

Question 1

Directional and non-directional hypothesis

Answer 1

Directional - States the direction of the difference or relationship.
Non-directional - Does not state the direction of the difference or relationship.

Question 2

Extraneous vs Confounding variables

Answer 2

Extraneous - Any variable other than the IV that may affect the DV if it is not controlled.
Confounding - A kind of EV but it varies systematically with the IV. therefore we cannot tell if any change in the DV is due to the IV or the confounding variable.

Question 3

Pilot studies

Answer 3

A small scale version of an investigation that takes place before the real investigation is conducted. The aim is to check if that procedure, materials etc. work. The aim is also to allow the researcher to make changes or modifications if necessary.

Question 4

Observational techniques - time sampling and event sampling

Answer 4

Time sampling - A target individual or group is first established then a researcher recorder their behaviour in a fixed time frame, e.g. every 60 seconds.
Event sampling - A target behaviour or event that is first established then the researcher records this event every time it occurs.

Question 5

Measures of central tendency and dispersion

Answer 5

Measures of central tendency:
Mean, mode and median.
Measures of dispersion:
Standard deviation and the range.

Question 6

Implications for psychological research on the economy

Answer 6

How do we learn from the findings of research influence, affect and benefit or devalue our financial prosperity?

2

Question 7

Thematic analysis

Answer 7

2

Question 8

Ways of assessing reliability

Answer 8

Test-retest - A method of assessing the reliability of a questionnaire or psychological test by assessing the same person on two separate occasions. This shows to what extent the test (or other measure) produces the same answers - consistent/reliable.
Inter-observer reliability - The extent to which there is agreement between two or more observers involved in observations of a behaviour. This is measured by correlating the observations of two or more observers.

Question 9

Statistical tests - Chi-squared

Answer 9

Unrelated design - independent groups
Nominal data
Test of association/correlation

Question 10

Statistical test - Mann-Whitney

Answer 10

Unrelated design - independent groups
Ordinal data

Question 11

Statistical tests - Wilcoxon

Answer 11

Related design - matched pairs/repeated measures
Ordinal data

Question 12

Statistical tests - Spearman’s Rho

Answer 12

Test of association/correlation
Ordinal data

Question 13

Features of science

Answer 13

Objectivity - When all sources of personal bias are minimised so as to not distort or influence the research process.
Falsifiability - The principle that a theory cannot be considered be considered scientific unless it admits the possibility of being proved untrue.
Paradigm shift - The result of a scientific revolution: a significant change in the dominant unifying theory within a scientific discipline.
Replicability - The extent to which scientific procedures and findings can be repeated by other researchers.