Research Methods AS Flashcards
What are 2 strengths of closed questions?
Easy analyse More objective
What are 2 strengths of open questions?
Rich detail May have unexpected findings
What are 2 weaknesses of closed questions?
May Pidgeon hole people Oversimplifies
What are 2 weaknesses of open questions?
more difficult to draw conclusions difficult to interpret
What are 2 weaknesses of ranked scale?
may prefer to respond the same way regardless of context Social desirability
What are 2 strengths of ranked scale?
Objective Produces quantitative data
What is random sampling?
everyone in the population has an equal chance of being studied
What is stratified sampling?
process that allows a researcher to ensure that the sample represents the population on some criteria
What is volunteer sampling?
Involves participants selecting themselves to be part of the sample
What is opportunity sampling?
Taking the sample from people who are available at the time
2 strengths of random sampling
unbiased possible to choose a specific subgroup first
2 weaknesses of random sampling
takes more time and effort not always random as not everyone agrees to take part
2 strengths of stratified sampling
most representative increases control over extraneous variables
2 strengths of volunteer sampling
convenient can find specific people through where placed eg. medical students from ad on notice board in medical school
2 strengths of opportunity sampling
convenient only technique available due to not being able to list whole population
2 weaknesses of stratified sampling
subgroup selection may be biased lengthy process
2 weaknesses of volunteer sampling
Biased- volunteer bias more responsive to demand characteristics
2 weaknesses of opportunity sampling
biased may refuse to take part
measures of central tendency
mean, median, mode
measures of dispersion
range and standard deviation
strength of mean
reflects all values of all the data
strength of median
not effected by extreme scores
strength of mode
useful when data is in categories
weakness of mean
unrepresentative if data has extreme values
weakness of median
not as sensitive as mean as not all values are reflected
weakness of mode
not useful when more than one mode
2 weaknesses of range
affected by extreme values fails to take account for distribution
2 weaknesses of standard deviation
might hide extreme values cannot be quickly determined
2 strengths of range
convenient easy to calculate
2 strengths of standard deviation
precise measure of dispersion not difficult to calculate if you use a calculator
Strengths of quantitative data
easy to analyse more objective
Strengths of qualitative data
represents humans true complexities rich details
weaknesses of quantitative data
may not express participants precise thoughts/feelings oversimplifies reality and human thought
weaknesses of qualitative data
more difficult to detect patterns and draw conclusions interpreting is subjective
thematic analysis
A method for analysing qualitative data which involves identifying, analysing and reporting patterns within the data. Themes.
grounded theory
for qualitative data. When theoretical explanations emerge during the course of the investigation.
confidentiality
the assurance that messages and information are available only to those who are authorized to view them
deception
misleading participants about the true purpose of a study or the events that will actually transpire
informed consent
an ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate
privacy
the right of people not to reveal information about themselves
right to withdraw
A participant’s right to leave a study at any time and their ability to do so.
protection from harm
the right of research participants to be protected from physical or psychological harm
structured interview
An interview that consists of a predetermined set of questions for the interviewer to ask and doesn’t probe beyond those questions.
Semi-structured interview
An interview in which questions are decided before however new questions are decided as the interview proceeds
unstructured interview
no questions are decided in advanced
2 strengths of a structured interview
easily repeated easier to analyse data
2 strengths of an unstructured/semi structured interview
more detailed information can be obtained access information which might not have been revealed otherwise
2 weaknesses of a structured interview
interviewers expectations may influence the answers pp may feel reluctant to reveal information
2 weaknesses of an unstructured/semi structured interview
more affected by interviewer bias requires well trained interviewers
2 Strengths of questionnaires
can be given out to lots of people more willing to reveal confidential information
A strength of an interview
may reveal more as skilled interviewed could encourage more thoughtful responses
A weakness of an interview
number of ppts are limited
researcher effect
Also called the interviewer effect, this refers to how the relationship between researcher and respondent may bias responses and lead to invalid data
internal validity
if a study assess what it intended to assess
ecological validity
if the findings can be generalised outside of the study
predictive validity
a test score should forecast performance on some other measure of the same behaviour
inter-rater reliability
compare the data from more than one interviewer
test-retest reliability
compare test scores over time
3 Strengths of laboratory experiments
high control, minimises extraneous/confounding variables east replication
2 Strengths of field experiments
feels more natural ppts not always aware of being studied
3 weaknesses of laboratory experiments
contrived situation, behaviour may not be natural demand characteristics
3 weaknesses of field experiments
less control more time consuming may be covert (ethical)
2 repeated measures design strengths
control ppts variables fewer ppts needed
2 independent groups design strengths
avoid order effects avoids guessing aims
2 matched pairs design strengths
control ppts variables avoids order effects
2 repeated measures design weaknesses
order effects may guess aims
2 independent groups design weaknesses
ppts variables not controlled needs more ppts
2 matched pairs design weaknesses
time consuming may not control all ppts variables
extraneous variables
any variables other than the independent variable that seem likely to influence the dependent variable in a specific study
confounding variables
a factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment
2 strengths of collecting quantitative data
systematic observations
a strength of collecting qualitative data
identifying themes
Strength of event sampling
makes observations more manageable
event sampling
count behaviours in a specific time period
time sampling
count behaviours at regular intervals
a strength of time sampling
tracks time related changes
2 strengths of ppt observation
special insights may see more from inside
2 strengths of non participant observation
objectivity unobtrusive
2 strengths of structured observation
focus on specific behaviours and test hypothesises tentative causal conclusions
2 strengths of naturalistic observation
realistic, high ecological validity useful for new areas of research
2 strengths of overt observation
ppts can give consent observer doesn’t have to hide
2 strengths of covert observation
more naturalistic behaviour
2 Strengths of a Case Study
rare and unethical cases in depth data and complex interactions
4 weaknesses of a Case Study
poor generalisability recollected from the past low objectivity ethical issues eg. confidentiality
A strength of a CAT scan
reveals structural features
CAT scan
detailed picture built from x-ray slices
2 weaknesses of a CAT scan
high radiation no information about activity
PET scan
radioactive substance injected and taken up into active areas
2 strengths of PET scans
shows brain in action can identify specific areas of brain linked to behaviour
3 weaknesses of a PET scan
difficult to interpret cant pinpoint locations may damage tissues
3 strengths of an fMRI scan
shows brain in action no radiation clear picture
3 weaknesses of an fMRI scan
expensive person has to stay very still time lag
twin studies 2 strengths
genetic influences vs environmental large data set available
twin studies 2 weaknesses
MZ twins treated more similarly cant identify specific genes
adoption studies 2 strengths
controls extraneous variable- environment twin studies overestimate genetics
adoption studies 2 weaknesses
selective placement adoptive parents tend to be better educated
2 strengths of longitudinal research
study effects of age ppts variables controlled
2 weaknesses of longitudinal research
cohort effects attrition effects- drop out of study
2 strengths of cross-sectional research
takes less time to study age effects enable comparison between groups
2 strengths of cross-cultural research
can study nature vs nurture takes psychology beyond white middle class
2 Strengths of meta-analysis
increases sample size
meta-analysis
data from many studies combined, report effect size
2 weaknesses of cross-sectional research
ppts variables not controlled cohort effects
2 weaknesses of cross cultural research
researchers often westerners use imposed ethics
2 weaknesses of meta-analysis
sample bias studies may not be comparable
2 weaknesses of use of animals
not as generalisable pain may not be justified guidelines might not be effective
2 strengths of use of animals
conditioning processes same fewer ethical issues easier to study complex behaviours over generations
alternative hypothesis
state the relationship between the variables
null hypothesis
statement of no relationship
experimental hypothesis
statement about the effect of the IV on the DV
directional hypothesis
states direction of difference/correlation
Non-directional hypothesis
Does not state the direction
operationalised
state variables in a form that is testable
demand characteristics
cues in an experiment that tell the participant what behaviour is expected
What are the 7 ethical guidelines?
Deception Debrief Informed consent Competence Right to withdraw Privacy Confidentiality
2 strengths of quantitative data
easier to analyse more objective
2 weaknesses of quantitative data
may restrict expression reductionist
2 Strengths of qualitative data
holistic approach free range expression increases validity
1 weaknesses of qualitative data
more difficult to detect patterns subjective
2 Strengths of primary data
suits aims of study first hand from ppts, authentic
2 weaknesses of primary data
takes time and money may end up with flawed data
2 Strengths of secondary data
large data sets saves time in design and checking
2 weaknesses of secondary data
may not exactly fit current aims may waste time on inappropriate data
type 1 error
false positive
type 2 error
false negative
