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research methods - psychology > Research Methods and Techniques > Flashcards

Research Methods and Techniques Flashcards

experiment, observation, self report, correlation

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1
Q

IV

A

what the researcher wants to compare/manipulate/change

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2
Q

DV

A

what the researcher measures

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3
Q

extraneous variables

A

variables that could affect the DV if not controlled

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4
Q

confounding variables

A

variables that could affect the DV strongly enough to influence the results

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5
Q

lab experiment

A
  • experiments conducted in an artificial environment
  • researcher manipulates the IV to measure its affect on the DV
  • controls extraneous variables which could influence the results
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6
Q

strengths of lab experiments

A
  • high level of control so affect of EV are minimised
  • increased replicability
  • shows cause and effect
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7
Q

weaknesses of lab experiments

A
  • low ecological validity
  • prone to demand characteristics
  • ethical concerns as deception is often used
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8
Q

Field experiment

A
  • conducted in natural environments
  • little control over extraneous variables
  • IV is manipulated so cause and effect can be inferred
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9
Q

strengths of field experiments

A
  • high ecological validity
  • demand characteristics can be minimised
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10
Q

weaknesses of field experiments

A
  • low control over variables
  • difficult to replicate
  • difficult to record data
  • ethical concerns: lack of consent, deception, stress, no debriefing
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11
Q

quasi experiments

A
  • naturally occurring IV
  • usually conducted in a lab
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12
Q

strengths of quasi experiments

A
  • naturally occurring IV
  • highly controlled so the effect of EV is minimised
  • can show cause and effect
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13
Q

weaknesses of quasi experiments

A
  • low ecological validity
  • not easy to replicate
  • prone to demand characteristics
  • ethical concerns: deception is often used & stress may occur
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14
Q

participant observations

A
  • researcher becomes part of the group whose behaviour is being observed
  • can be overt or covert
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15
Q

non-participant observations

A
  • researcher records behaviour without being involved in the situation being observed
  • can be overt or covert
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16
Q

structured observation

A
  • researcher has a coding frame for recording behaviour
  • can be participant or non participant, overt or covert
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17
Q

unstructured observation

A
  • researcher records all behaviour that is relevant to the study
  • can be participant or non participant, overt or covert
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18
Q

controlled observation

A

occur in an artificial setting and it is more likely the participant will be aware they are being observed

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19
Q

naturalistic observation

A

occur in a more natural setting so have lower-levels of control but higher levels of realism

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20
Q

overt observation

A

participants are aware they are being observed

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21
Q

covert observation

A

participants are unaware they are being observed

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22
Q

strengths of observations

A
  • observations give a different take on behaviour, as what people say they will do and actually do are often different
  • able to capture spontaneous and unexpected behaviour
  • high in ecological validity
  • coding frames make recording behaviour easy
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23
Q

weaknesses of observations

A
  • observer bias may occur (may see what they want to see)
  • poorly designed coding frames reduce reliability and inter-rater reliability
  • participants may show demand characteristics or socially desirable behaviour
  • observations cannot provide information about what people think or feel
24
Q

self report

A

interviews or questionnaires to collect data

25
Q

questionnaires

A

completed by the participants or a set of questions read to the participants by the researcher

26
Q

structured interviews

A
  • asking predominantly closed questions in a fixed order
  • scripted in a standardised order and every participant is asked the same Q in the same order
27
Q

semi structured interviews

A
  • fixed list of open/closed questions
  • researcher can introduce questions if required to clarify/expand on a topic
28
Q

unstructured interview

A
  • starts with standard questions asked to every participant
  • questions then depend on participants answers
  • interviewer may have a list of topics to cover
29
Q

strengths of self reports

A
  • large amounts of standardised data can be gathered from a large number of participants quickly/conveniently so results are more generalisable
  • questionnaires/structured interviews are highly replicable so trends/similarities/differences in behaviour can be identified
  • unstructured interviews allow in depth, qualitative data to be gathered
30
Q

weaknesses of self reports

A
  • questionnaires/structured interviews lack flexibility so participants cannot expand on answers
  • unstructured interviews cannot be replicated
  • responses are often influenced by demand characteristics/social desirability
31
Q

what is correlation used for

A
  • to establish whether there is a relationship between 2 variables
  • does not involve any manipulation
32
Q

3 types of correlation

A
  • positive
  • negative
  • no/zero
33
Q

positive correlation

A
  • as scores on one variable increase, so does the other
  • does not show cause and effect but does show they are positively related
34
Q

negative correlation

A
  • As the scores on one variable increases, the other decreases
  • does not indicate cause and effect but does show they are negatively related
35
Q

strengths of correlations

A
  • uses quantifiable measures of each variable
  • gives information about the relationship between the variables measured
  • strong negative/positive correlations form the basis for further researcher to establish cause and effect
36
Q

weaknesses of correlations

A
  • cause and effect cannot be established
  • findings can be misleading as they can imply cause and effect relationships that don’t exist
37
Q

Strengths of participant observations

A
  • Gives observer insight into participant emotions and motives
  • participants may behave more naturally if they’re unaware if the observers
  • people may reveal more if they are unaware of the observer
38
Q

Weaknesses of participant observations

A
  • participants are aware they are being observed (but not by whom) so may not reflect normal behaviour
  • observer may become subjective if they get involved with social group
  • if participant observer is hidden, it raises ethical and practical issues as participants can’t give informed consent
39
Q

Strengths of non-participant observations

A
  • if observer is overt, data recording systems make more accurate and detailed records
  • observers remain objective from the social situation
40
Q

Weaknesses of non-participant observations

A
  • ethical questions raised if participants are unaware they’re being observed (right to withdraw)
    -if participants are aware of the observer, thus may impact behaviours displayed
41
Q

Strengths of overt observations

A
  • more ethical way to observe behaviour as the participants are aware of the observer’s presence
42
Q

Weaknesses of overt observations

A
  • if the participants are aware of being observed, this can impact their behaviour
43
Q

Strengths of covert observations

A

-participants will act more naturally if they’re unaware they’re being observed
- if covert and non-participant then data recording devices can increase accuracy

44
Q

Weaknesses of covert observations

A
  • if observer is identified or suspected then validity is compromised
  • ethical questions raised, consent etc
  • if the observer is a participant observer, becomes harder to record data accurately without being detected
45
Q

Strengths of structured observations

A
  • opertational definitions can be developed in a pilot study increasing validity
  • operationally defined behaviour categories can be agreed between observers (more reliable)
  • practising the use of data collection techniques improves inter-rater reliability
  • photographic and video data collection allows for reanalysis of data
46
Q

Weaknesses of structured observations

A
  • simple definitions may not convey sufficient meaning
  • total numbers of behaviours in a category can be meaningless without context, lowers validity
  • predetermined behaviours may become limiting if new behaviours occur during the study
47
Q

Strengths of unstructured observations

A
  • without any predetermined behaviours, anything relevant can be recorded which provides richer data
  • detailed descriptions rather than simple catagory totals means you get a more complete picture
48
Q

Weaknesses of unstructured observations

A
  • attempting to record everything means certain aspects may be missed or ignored
  • some data may be irrelevant from key features
  • without operational definitions, recording may be inconsistent or subjective
49
Q

What is counterbalancing

A
  • ABBA design
  • sample is split into 2 groups
  • group one does A then B, group 2 does B then A
50
Q

Why is counterbalancing used

A
  • eliminates order effects
  • order effects still occur in both groups, but they cancel out as they occur equally in both groups
51
Q

Time sampling

A

behaviours are recorded at predetermined intervals such as every 5 minutes

52
Q

Instantaneous scan sampling

A
  • behaviour is recorded at the start of the time interval
  • e.g., every 10 seconds a researcher may record the action performed by the subject and any other actions being ignored
53
Q

predominant activity sampling

A

at a determined interval e.g., every 10 seconds, the most common behaviour is recorded

54
Q

One-zero time sampling

A

at timed intervals, coding frame is used to record whether a behaviour did or didn’t happen

55
Q

Event sampling

A

recording pre-established behaviours each time they occur

research methods - psychology (5 decks)

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