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Psychology - Research Methods > Research Methods And Techniques > Flashcards

Research Methods And Techniques Flashcards

1
Q

Lab experiment

A

An experiment which is carried out in controlled settings
IV is manipulated to see effect on DV
EV’s are controlled for - matched pairs design eg
Ppts are randomly allocated to conditions
Ppts experience something for the purpose of the study

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2
Q

Field experiment

A

Carried out in natural environment
Realistic - more ecological validity
EV’s can’t be controlled for

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3
Q

Quasi experiment

A

Where the IV occurs naturally or is already established but can’t be manipulated (gender)

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4
Q

Observation

A

Observing behaviour and then recording it

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5
Q

Structured observation

A

Where a researchers makes a structure on the observation to meet its aim

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6
Q

Unstructured observation

A

Researchers records everything that happens

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7
Q

Naturalistic observation

A

Carried out in the real world

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8
Q

Controlled observation

A

Controls al factors which might affect behaviour

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9
Q

Participant observation

A

Where the observers are part of, or are pretending to be part of the group they are observing

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10
Q

Non participant observation

A

Where the observer isn’t a member of the group being studied

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11
Q

Overt observation

A

When participants know they are being observed

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12
Q

Covert observation

A

Ppts don’t know they are being observed

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13
Q

Self-report

A

Where ppts provide data about themselves

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14
Q

Interview

A

Ppts are asked questions face to face and their responses are recorded

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15
Q

Structured interview

A

Where the same set of questions is asked to each ppt in the same order

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16
Q

Semi structured interview

A

Interviewer has a list of questions but ppts can ask for clarification of particular answers or responses

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17
Q

Unstructed interview

A

When the researcher asks random questions

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18
Q

Questionnaire

A

Sets of questions answered by ppts

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19
Q

Structured questionnaire

A

Contains closed questions

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20
Q

Semi structured questionnaire

A

Contains open and closed questions

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21
Q

Unstructured questionnaire

A

Contains open questions

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22
Q

Correlational studies

A

Researcher tests to see if two variables are related

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23
Q

Positive correlation

A

As one variable increases, the other one does too

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24
Q

Negative correlation

A

As one variable increases, the other one decreases

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25
No correlation
No relationship between the variables
26
Correlation coefficient
The strength of a correlation
27
IV
aspect of experiment which is manipulated to see effect on behaviour
28
DV
The measure of behaviour in an experiment
29
Design
The procedure used to control the influence of participant variables in an experiment
30
Extraneous variables
An undesirable variable which might affect the relationship between the IV and the DV
31
Conditions
The situation under which an experiment is undertaken
32
Controls
Aspects of the research which are kept the same for each condition
33
Standardised procedure
A procedure which has controls to ensure each ppt experiences the same thing
34
Ecological validity
Where the research is true to life
35
Demand characteristics
Cues to the research aim
36
Internal validity
When researcher is measuring what it intended to measure
37
Confounding variables
Extraneous variables that haven't been controlled for
38
Social desirability bias
Ppts try and look good in front of the researcher
39
Leading questions
Questions which lead ppts to answer in a certain way
40
Qualitative data
Data in the form of words
41
Quantitative data
Data in the form of numbers
42
Open questions
Allows respondents to respond how they like
43
Closed questions
Gives the respondent a fixed range of responses to choose fro,
44
Experiment
Tests taken in controlled conditions in order to investigate the effect of the IV on the DV
45
Strengths of a laboratory experiment
High internal validity as EV's are controlled for | Standardised instructions so everyone is treated the same - can be repeated to check for reliability
46
Weaknesses of a laboratory experiment
Low ecological validity as in artificial setting | Demand characteristics are likely so ppts might act differently
47
Strengths of a field experiment
High ecological validity Less demand characteristics as ppts don't know they are in a study Behaviour is likely to be true
48
Weaknesses of a field experiment
Low internal validity as more likely to be EVs Lack of informed consent Lack of control so hard to say if it was the IV actually influencing behaviour
49
Strengths of a quasi experiment
They can be used to study real world issues | Behaviour is accurate as ppts are in their artificial setting
50
Weaknesses of a quasi experiment
EV's are hard to control for Hard to repeat No control over participant variables
51
Similarities between lab and field experiment
Establish a cause and effect relationship Useful in psychological research IV is manipulated to see effect on DV
52
Differences between lab and field experiment
High/low ecological validity carried out in real world/controlled settings High internal validity/low internal validity Control over EV's/no control over EV's
53
Similarities between field and quasi experiment
High ecological validity EV's are hard to control for Hard to repeat
54
Differences between field and quasi
IV is manipulated/IV isn't manipulated | Field isn't very controlled
55
Differences between lab and quasi
``` Lab IV is manipulated Low EV EV's are controlled for Can be repeated Quasi Can't be repeated IV already exists ```
56
Advantage of naturalistic observation
Can see normal realistic behaviour
57
Disadvantage of naturalistic observation
Lack of control means other things may be influencing behaviour
58
Disadvantage of a controlled observation
Situation is artificial/fake so behaviour might be affected
59
Advantage of controlled observation
Very controlled so less chance of EV's
60
Advantage of participant observation
Good point of view for your observations | Good insight into the experience yourself
61
Disadvantage of participant observation
Presence may change ppts behaviour | Researcher could become too involved with the group so might be bias
62
Advantage of non participant observation
Researcher wouldn't be bias
63
Disadvantage of non-participant observation
Wouldn't have the same level of insight as you would if you were involved
64
Advantage of unstructured observation
Get a lot of data as researcher records everything
65
Disadvantage of unstructured observation
Difficult to summarise and make comparisons | Too much going on so observation isn't successful
66
Advantage of structured observation
Comparisons can be made across each observation and trends can be seen
67
Disadvantage of structured observation
Once you start writing down observations, you might miss something
68
Advantage of covert observation
See natural behaviour so data is valid
69
Disadvantage of covert observation
Ethical issues arise as researcher doesn't have consent
70
Advantage of overt
Participants have given consent so it is ethical
71
Disadvantage of overt
Ppts might respond to demand characteristics or social desirability bias
72
Advantage of questionnaires
Enable a big amount of data to be gathered from a large sample very quickly
73
Disadvantage of questionnaires
Questions may be misunderstood so researchers need to spend time wording questions
74
Advantage of structured interview
Easy to gather quantitative data so results can be compared
75
Disadvantage of structured interview
Ppts can't explain their answers fully | Lack of EV as not a natural activity
76
Advantage of unstructed interview
Has EV as it is more like a conversation
77
Disadvantage of unstructured interview
Data is hard to summarise as so much is discussed so hard to analyse
78
Advantage of semi structured interview
Both types of data is collected | Ppts may feel like it is more trustworthy
79
Advantages of Correlational investigations
Allows researchers to measure a relationship between variables which can't be measured using an experiment Useful when testing for reliability as can be repeated Quick and easy
80
Disadvantages of Correlational investigations
Correlation doesn't mean cause, just cos 2 variables are correlated doesn't mean that one of them caused the other to change - doesn't show cause an effect
81
Case studies
Research which focuses on one individual or a small group of people
82
Advantages of case studies
Useful for gaining In depth eyesight into unusual behaviour
83
Disadvantages of case studies
Can't be generalised to the wider population

Psychology - Research Methods (6 decks)

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