Research Methods And Research Designs

Question 1

What is an independent groups design?

Answer 1

Participants are in separate/independent groups. Each group only takes part in one level of the IV. Compare the two groups as the DV

Question 2

What is a repeated measures design?

Answer 2

All participants participate in all IV levels, no groups
Compare all participants individually on both IV levels for the DV

Question 3

What is a matched pairs design?

Answer 3

Match participants on key characteristic RELEVANT TO THE STUDY that seem to affect the outcome of the DV
- This pair is split up and allocated to group A and B, taking part in different levels of the IV
- continue in the same way as with independent groups

Question 4

What are two limitations of repeated measures design?

Answer 4

. Order effect - order of levels of IV participated in May affect performance
. Demand characteristics - participants may guess the purpose of the experiment for the second test which may affect their behaviour.

Question 5

How can you deal with the limitations of repeated measures designs?

Answer 5

. May use two different tests to reduce a practice effect
. Use counterbalancing to deal with order effects
. Use a cover story about the purpose of the test to avoid participants guessing the aims of a study, although this is deception

Question 6

What are two limitations of the independent groups design?

Answer 6

. Participant variables (things about the participant) cannot be controlled (e.g characteristics/abilities of individual participants)
. Requires more participants than repeated measures to get the same amount of data as everyone only does one level of IV

Question 7

How can you deal with the limitations of independent groups designs?

Answer 7

. Randomly allocate participants to the conditions which should distribute participant variables evenly

Question 8

What are the limitations of the matched pairs design?

Answer 8

. Very time-consuming and hard to match participants on key variables effectively
. It is not possible to know everyone characteristic relevant to the study, so you can’t control all participant variables when other important characteristics are probably missed

Question 9

How can you deal with the limitations of a matched pairs design?

Answer 9

. Restrict number of variables required to match to make it easier and less time-consuming
. Conduct a pilot study to re-consider key variable relevant to the study

Question 10

Why is counterbalancing important?

Answer 10

It reduces the order effects in repeated measures designs as it ensures that each condition is tested first or second in equal amounts across the participants

Question 11

What are the two ways to carry out counterbalancing?

Answer 11

Way 1: AB or BA
Way 2: ABBA

Question 12

How does AB or BA method of counterbalancing work?

Answer 12

. Participants split into two equal groups
. Group 1: A then B
. Group 2: B then A

Still repeated measures as comparisons are made individually so the groups doesn’t matter and they are still taking part in both conditions

Question 13

How does ABBA method of counterbalancing work?

Answer 13

. All participants take part in each condition twice

First time:
- condition A
- condition B

Second time:
- condition B
- condition A

Note that this is very time-consuming

Question 14

What is an experimental design?

Answer 14

Type of procedure used to control factors such as participant variables that could affect an experiment’s results

Question 15

What are the 3 guiding principles to writing good questionnaire questions?

Answer 15

1. Clarity - unambiguous so the reader understands what is being asked
2. Bias
3. Analysis - generally want answers easy to analyse (closed questions)

Mnemonic: CAB

Question 16

What else must be considered in good questionnaires?

Answer 16

1. Filler questions: include some irrelevant questions to distract from the main purpose of the survey and reduce demand characteristics
2. Sequencing of questions: start with easily digestible questions so overwhelming or potentially anxiety-inducing questions can be saved until the respondent is relaxed
3. Sampling technique: how to select respondents
4. Pilot study: questions can be refined in response to any difficulties encountered

Question 17

What is the main difference between interviews and questionnaires?

Answer 17

Questionnaires are always structured but interviews can be structure or unstructured

Question 18

What is a lab experiment?

Answer 18

An experiment containing an independent variable that is manipulated and a dependent variable that is measured, in a special environment where the independent vary can be controlled to exclude extraneous variables so that it doesn’t interfere with the dependent variables results

Question 19

What is a field experiment?

Answer 19

An experiment conducted in a more ‘natural’ environment, where the IV is deliberately manipulated by the researcher and the researcher measures the DV

Question 20

What is the main difference between a field and lab experiment?

Answer 20

. In a field experiment, the participant is usually not aware that they are participating in an experiment, so they would elicit more natural behaviour

. In a lab experiment, the participant is usually aware they are participating, so may alter their behaviour as a result of demand characteristics

Question 21

Is Johnson and Scott’s weapon focus study a field or lab experiment?

Answer 21

Field as the actual behaviour being measured was natural (ability to identify the man that ran through the room) even though it seems like a controlled lab experiment on the surface

Question 22

What is a natural experiment?

Answer 22

An experiment where the IV isn’t deliberately manipulated for practical/ethical reasons, so the IV is said to vary ‘naturally’ rather than deliberately. The DV may then be tested in a lab

Question 23

Why are natural and quasi experiments not ‘true’ experiments?

Answer 23

The independent variable isn’t deliberately manipulated so it isn’t possible to establish cause and effect between DV and IV as you don’t know whether the changes in the dependent variable are directly caused by the IV

Question 24

What is a quasi experiment?

Answer 24

When the IV is naturally occurring, just a difference between people that exists. The IV isn’t deliberately made to vary, it just does naturally. The DV may then be measured in a lab