Research methods And Bio psychology Flashcards
what is an aim?
An aim is a general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate providing the purpose of the study.
e.g. to investigate how time spent with cats effects happiness
what is a correlation?
A correlation is a research method which indicates STRENGTH and DIRECTION of the relationship between TWO OR MORE COVARIABLES.
What is the difference between correlations and experiments?
In an experiment the IV is manipulated. In a correlation there is no such manipulation of one variable therefore it is not possible to establish a cause and effect between the variables.
Evaluate correlations
+ provide precise and quantifiable measure of how two variables relate
+less time consuming then experiments
- third variable problem
- cannot tell which variable caused an effect on the other
what is an hypothesis?
A hypothesis is a precise, definite, testable statement which mentions both conditions in an experiment
what are the two types of hypothesis?
- directional/one tailed- states a direction and a response
- Non-Directional/two tailed - suggests that there will be a difference.
what is a pilot study?
a pilot study is a small scale trial run through of the actual investigation which allows researchers to identify any potential issue and modify the design or procedure saving time and money in the long term.
Name the four ethical problems and how to solve them
- consent–> prior general consent, presumptive consent
- Deception–> avoid lying to ptsp
- protection from physical and psychological harm –> full debrief, right to withdraw, reassure behaviour is ordinary
- privacy and confidentiality –> maintain anonymity eg use numbers/initials. remind ptsps that data will be anonymous
What is peer assessment?
Peer assessment is the assessment of scientific work by other who are specialised in the same field to ensure that any research intended for publication is of high quality.
what are the three aims of peer review?
- allocate research funding
- validate the quality and relevance of the research
- to suggest amendments or improvements
What are the three descriptive statistics?
mean
median
mode
what are the two measures of dispersion ?
standard deviation
range
what is anonymity?
the principle of research ethics stating that the identity of a studied ptsp should remain unknown
what is standard deviation?
the measurement of the average spread of scores around the mean
evaluate standard deviation
+ more precise than range as all data is taken into account
- it is more difficult to calculate
describe a normal distribution
bell shaped
symmetrical
mean median and mode are the in the same place (middle)
describe a positive skew distribution
majority of data is skewed to the lower end of the graph
order= mode median mean
describe a negative skew distribution
the majority of the data are on the higher end of the graph
order= mean median mode
evaluate the mean
+ uses all values
- not appropriate for nominal data or if there is extreme values
evaluate the median
+ unaffected by extreme values
- not all values are reflected
evaluate the mode
+ easy to calculate
- not useful for small sets of data or when there is not a mode
what are the three levels of measurement?
nominal - basic categories
ordinal - data is ranked
interval - data measured on numerical scale
evaluate nominal data
+ east to analyse
- least informative
evaluate ordinal data
+ indicates relative value on a linear scale and more informative than nominal data
- subjective, no definable gaps between units
evaluate interval data
+most informative
- takes a long time to collect the data
what is the measure of central tendency and measure of dispersion for nominal data?
measure of central tendency = mode
measure of dispersion for = none
what is the measure of central tendency and measure of dispersion for ordinal data?
measure of central tendency = median
measure of dispersion for = range
what is the measure of central tendency and measure of dispersion for interval data?
measure of central tendency = mean
measure of dispersion for = standard deviation
what is the definition of significance level
the point at which you reject or accept the hypothesis
what is the significance level in psychology?
less than or equal 0.05
this means that the chance that the result is a fluke has to be equal to or less than 5%.
what is a lab experiment?
an experiment that takes place in a controlled environment where the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV while maintaining strict control over extraneous variables
what is a field experiment?
an experiment that takes place in a natural setting within which the research manipulates the IV and records its effect on the DV
what is a natural experiment?
an experiment where the change in the IV is not brought about by the researcher but the researcher records the effect the IV has on the DV.
what is a quasi experiment?
an experiment in which the IV has not been determined by anyone - the variable simply exists. the researcher records the effect the IV has on the DV whilst maintaining strict control over extraneous variables
evaluate lab experiments
+ same standardised procedure
- low ecological validity -do not represent real life
–> Hawthorne effect
evaluate field experiments
+ high ecological validity- less artificial
- hard to control extraneous variables
- not always possible to obtain informed consent
evaluate natural experiments
+ high external validity - involve the study of real life issues
+ provides opportunities that would otherwise be unethical to manipulate
- the researcher is not in control of the variables
- no informed consent
evaluate quasi experiments
+ they have a standardised procedure
+ high control over extraneous variables
- researchers cannot randomly allocate ptsps to conditions
what is a self report technique
a method in which a person is asked to state or explain their own feelings/ behaviours/ opinions
state two self report techniques
questionnaires
interviews
state the two types of questions used in questionnaires
open questions
closed questions
evaluate open questions
+ produce qualitative data which is rich in detail
- difficult to analyse
evaluate closed questions
+ produce quantitative data that is easy to analyse
- lacks depth and detail
evaluate questionnaires
+ cost effective
- may be errors if rushed - if done too quickly
state the three types of interviews
- structured
- unstructured
- semi-structured
evaluate structured interviews
+ easy to replicate
- unhelpful because it does not allow ptsps to elaborate
evaluate unstructured interviews
+ much more flexible than unstructured, allows you to go more in-depth on a particular topic
- analysis of data is more difficult
state 5 things to avoid in interviews
1- overuse of jargon
2- emotive language
3- leading questions
4- double barrelled questions
5- double negatives
state the three types of closed questions
- likert scale (faces)
- rating scale (1-5)
- fixed choice (yes/no)
what is a naturalistic observation|?
watching and recording behaviour in the setting within which it would normally occur.
evaluate naturalistic observations
+ high external validity (ecological)
- lack of control over the research makes replication more difficult
what is a controlled observation?
watching and recording behaviour within a structures environment
evaluate controlled observations
+ replication is easier, high internal validity
- produces findings that mat not be easily applied to real life settings low external validity
what is a covert observation?
observation in which ptsps behaviour is watched without their consent
evaluate covert observations
+ natural behaviour increases validity, no social desirability
- no consent -> ethical issue
what is a overt observation?
observation where the ptsps behaviour is watched with their consent
evaluate overt observations
+ more ethically acceptable
- hawthorn effect- The Hawthorne effect refers to people’s tendency to behave differently when they become aware that they are being observed
what is a participant observation ?
when the researcher becomes a member of the group whose behaviour they are watching and recording
evaluate participant observations
+ the researcher can experience the situation as the ptsps do, increased insight –> increases validity
- researchers may identify too strongly with ptsps and become ‘ too niave’
what is a non participant observation
an observation where the researcher remains outside the group
evaluate participant observations
+ allows researcher to maintain an objective psychological distance
- may lose valuable insight gained by participant observations
what is a case study
- detailed study of a single individual or group.
- information gained from a range of sources
- done over a long period of time.
- qualitative data collected
evaluate case studies
+ offers rich in depth data
+ used to investigate instances where it would otherwise be unethical to manipulate the variables
- cannot be generalised to the rest of the population
what is behavioural sampling
when a target sample is broken up into its components that are observable and measurable
what is event sampling
when a target sample or event is first established then the researcher records this event every time it occurs
what is time sampling
when a target individual or group is first established then the researcher records their behaviour in a fixed time frame
evaluate event sampling
+ useful when target behaviour happens quite frequently
- if the event is too complex, the observer may overlook important details
evaluate time sampling
+ reduces number of observations that have to be made
- may be unrepresentative of the observation as a whole
what is content analysis?
a form of observational study in which behaviour is observed indirectly by looking at the content of things produced by people in written or verbal materials
explain the two stages of content analysis
- coding - categorising large data into meaningful units
( qualitative -> quantitative ) - thematic analysis - process of identifying themes which may only merge once data has been coded
( quantitative -> qualitative )
evaluate content analysis
+ it avoids issue of demand as ptsps are unaware they are taking part
+ very easy to replicate
- analysis is limited to availability of material
- interpretation of data may be subjective so the researcher may chose to interpret it in a way that would best suit their hypithesis
what is an extraneous variable?
any variable other than the IV that may have an effect on the DV if not controlled
what is a cofounding variable ?
a variable that varies systematically with the IV which may affect the DV. this means that the researcher does not know if the change in the DV was because of the IV or the cofounding variable
what is opportunity sampling?
sampling method that consists of taking the sample from people who are available at the time that the study is carried out
what is volunteer sampling?
a sampling method that consists of ptsps becoming a part of the study because they volunteered when asked
What is the localisation of function?
The theory that different areas of the brain are responsible for specific behaviours, processes and activities
what is systematic sampling
a sampling method which involves identifying everyone in the target population and then selecting ptsps using a predetermined system eg every nth person
what is random sampling?
a sampling method where every member of the population has an equal chance of getting chosen
what is stratified sampling?
a sampling method which involves classifying the population into categories and then choosing a sample which consists of ptsps from each category in the same proportions as they are in the population. once subgroups are decided the ptsps go through a random sampling
Where is the motor area found ?
Frontal lobe
What is the motor area used for
Movement
What is the Broca’s area used for ?
Speech production
Where is the Broca’s area found ?
Frontal lobe in the left hemisphere
Where is Wernicke’s area ?
Temporal lobe
What is wernicke’s area responsible of ?
Language comprehension
What is the auditory area responsible of ?
Analysis of speech based information
Where is the auditory area found?
Temporal lobe
Where is the somatosensory area found ?
Parietal lobe
What is the somatosensory area used for
Processes sensory information
What is the visual area used for ?
Receives and processes visual information
What is hemispheric lateralisation
The idea that the two halves of the brain are functionally different and that certain mental processes and behaviour and mainly controlled by one hemisphere
Where is the visual area found ?
Occipital lobe
What is the split brain procedure?
• 11 ppl who had the split brain used a specialised set up
• in which there is a screen with a dot in the middle and an image could be projected to the ptsps RVF
• the same or different image could be projected on the LVF
What is split Brain research ?
• A series of studies
• began in 1960s
• involving ppl with epilepsy who had experienced a surgical separation of the two hemispheres
• enables researchers to test lateral functions of the brain in isolation
What is the spilt brain procedure findings?
-When a pic is shown in the ptsps RVF they could describe it
- when a pic. I shown to the ptsps LVF they could not describe it
- although the ptsps could not give verbal labels to the object projected to their LVF, they could select a matching object out of sight using hr left hand
- their left hand was also to select an object that was most closely associated with an object presented to the LVF.
What is plasticity ?
The brains tendency to change and adapt as a result of experience and new learning. This generally involved the growth of new connections
what is functional recovery?
A form of plasticity following damage through trauma. The brains ability to redistribute or transfer functions usually performed by a damaged area to other undamaged areas
what Is synaptic pruning?
When rarely used connections are deleted and frequently used connections are strengthened
how do post mortem examinations work?
The brain is analysed after death to determine whether certain observed behaviour during the patients lifetime can be limited to abnormalities in the brain
how do fMRI work
-It measure brain activity while a person is performing a task.
-When a brain area is more active it consumes more oxygen
-FMRI scan detects which areas have the lowest concentration of oxygen
-A 3D image showing which part of the brain is involved in particular mental process is produced
what are the four ways of studying the brain?
fMRI
EEG
ERP
Post mortem examination
evaluate post mortem scans?
+ useful for ppl like Broca and Wernicke before scans were involved
+ useful for the study of HM’s case
- ethical issues
- relation not causation
evaluate fMRI scans
+ no radiation used
+ virtually risk free
+non invasive
+very high spatial resolution
- expensive
- low temporal resolution (time lag )
How do EEG’s work
-Using a fixed skull cap, electrical activity is measured
-the scan represents brain wave pattern generated from millions of neurones
- this provides an overall account of brain activity that can be used to indicate unusual rhythms
Evaluate EEG’s
+ useful studying sleep
+ high temporal resolution
+ real world usefulness
+ cheaper than fMRI
- cannot pinpoint individual neurones
- cannot distinguish between adjacent location in the brain
