Research Methods And Sampling

Question 1

Name the 6 ethical issues

Answer 1

• anonymity and confidentiality
• Deception
• Informed consent
• privacy
• Right to withdraw
• Protection from harm

Question 2

What is a structured interview

Answer 2

Predetermined questions delivered by an interviewer who does not probe beyond the answers received but may answer questions from the interviewee.

Question 3

What is a semi-structured interview?

Answer 3

Some questions are predetermined but also new questions are developed as the interview proceeds.

Question 4

What is an unstructured interview?

Answer 4

No questions are decided in advance

Question 5

What is repeated measures design

Answer 5

• Each ppt takes part in every condition being tested
• Each condition represents one leaves of the IV
• There may be a control condition

Question 6

What is independent groups design?

Answer 6

• Different ppts are allocated to two (or more) experimental groups representing different levels of the IV
• there may be a control group

Question 7

What is matched pairs design?

Answer 7

• Ppts who are similar on key variable are paired. One member of the pair is placed in group A and the other in group B.
• this means there are two groups of participants. Each given one level of the independent variable.

Question 8

What is nominal data?

Answer 8

Data is in separate categories (eg grouping people in your class according to their height, one group tall, one medium one small)

Question 9

What is ordinal data?

Answer 9

Data is ordered in some way (eg everyone in your class lines up in order of size)

Question 10

What is participant observation?

Answer 10

Observer is a ppts in the behaviour being observed. Eg being in a bus stop queue and observing behaviour in the queue.

Question 11

What is a non- participant observation?

Answer 11

Observer in not a participant in the behaviour being observed

Question 12

Describe the table for stat tests

Answer 12

NOMINAL ORDINAL

INDEPENDENT GROUPS Chi squared Man Whitney U

REPEATED MEASURES - Willcoxon

Question 13

What is a random sample?

Answer 13

• each member of the target population has the same chance of being selected
• could be done by putting names of ever member of the target population in a hat or using a randomising programme
• could be under representative of the target population as by chance all of the same type may be chosen
• few sampling frames cover the whole population, certain groups may be missed out

Question 14

What a is stratified sample?

Answer 14

• involves dividing the target population into subcategories and selecting members of each subcategory in the population that they occur in the target population.
• can only be done with characteristics that are known and info is available
• might be more representative as an effort is made to identify important characteristics of target population and ensure are represented in the sample.
• can only be done if researcher has the valid information available to them about the subcategories. Eg religious groups would be difficult
• can be time consuming as each relevant category in target pop had to be identified and proportioned

Question 15

What is opportunity sampling?

Answer 15

• involves selecting ppts available at the time the research takes place
• quick and convenient therefore most economical
• most often used method
• can be biased on the part of the researcher who may choose the participants most likely to be helpful

Question 16

What is volunteer sampling?

Answer 16

• involves ppts self-selecting themselves perhaps in response to an advertisement
• far less likely to have participants drop out during the study
• Milgram used this sampling method in his study of obedience
• involved ppts volunteering for a study. Therefore may not be representative as not all types will agree to volunteer.

Question 17

Is ‘lack of sleep affects reaction time’ one or two tailed hypothesis?

Answer 17

Two

Question 18

Is ‘lack of sleep increases reaction time’ one or two tailed hypothesis?

Answer 18

One

Question 19

What is overt observation?

Answer 19

• ppts aware of being observed

Question 20

What is covert observation?

Answer 20

• observation made without a ppt knowledge

Question 21

What is participant observation method?

Answer 21

• when observer is a ppt in the behaviour being observed

Question 22

What is a non ppt observation method?

Answer 22

• observer not ppt in behaviour being observed

Question 23

What is a controlled experiment?

Answer 23

-some variables changed by researcher

Question 24

What is a naturalistic experiment?

Answer 24

• everything left as usual, environment unstructured but may use ‘structured techniques’

Question 25

What’s an observed schedule?

Answer 25

• a form prepared prior to data collection
• describes the behaviour and situation to be observed and recorded during observations.

Question 26

What is event sampling?

Answer 26

• draw up a list of behavioural categories.
• then count and tally every time each of the behaviours occur in a specified time period.