Research Methods (AS)

Question 1

Define aims

Answer 1

A statement about what researchers intend to find in the study

Question 2

Define ethical issues

Answer 2

Concerns questions of right & wrong. They arise in research when there is conflicting sets of values between researchers & Ps concerning goals, procedures & outcomes of the study

Question 3

Define experiment

Answer 3

A research method where causal conclusions can be drawn because an IV has deliberately between manipulated to measure the causal effect on the DV

Question 4

Define extraneous variables

Answer 4

Do not vary systematically with the IV & therefore do not act as an alternative IV, but may have an effect on the DV

Question 5

Define hypothesis

Answer 5

A precise & testable statement about the assumed relationship between variables

Question 6

Define IV

Answer 6

An event that is directly manipulated by an experimenter in order to test the effect on another variable (DV)

Question 7

What is informed consent?

Answer 7

Ps must be given comprehensive info concerning the nature & purpose of research & their role so they can make an informed decision on whether to participate

Question 8

Define operationalise

Answer 8

Ensuring variables are in a form that can be easily tested

Question 9

Define standardised procedures

Answer 9

A set of procedures that are the same for all Ps in order to be able to repeat the study

Question 10

Define confounding variables

Answer 10

A variable in a study which is not the IV, but varies systematically with the IV
Changes in the DV may be due to the CV

Question 11

What is mundane realism?

Answer 11

Refers to how the study mirrors the real world

Research environment is realistic to the degree in which events will occur in the real world

Question 12

What is internal validity?

Answer 12

The degree to which an observed effect was due to experimental manipulation as opposed to other factors (extraneous/confounding)

It is concerned with:
Whether the IV produced the change in DV
Whether the researcher tested what they intended to test

Question 13

What is external validity?

Answer 13

The degree to which a finding can be generalised to other settings

External validity concerns:
The place where research was conducted - may not be appropriate to generalise lab study to real life (ecological)
The people who are studied (population)
The historical period (historical)

Question 14

What is a directional hypothesis?

Answer 14

States the direction of the predicted difference between 2 conditions/groups of Ps

E.g. People who do homework with the TV on do worse in results than people with TV off

Question 15

What is a non-directional hypothesis?

Answer 15

States simply that there will be a difference in the 2 conditions, without giving direction

E.g. People who watch TV when doing work produce different results to those who do

Question 16

When should you use a directional or non directional hypothesis?

Answer 16

Psychologists use directional hypothesis when past research suggests findings will go in a particular way

Psychologists use non directional hypothesis when there is no past research or past research is contradictory

Question 17

Define pilot study

Answer 17

A small scale trial run of a study to test any aspects of the design, with the view of making improvements

Question 18

Define confederate

Answer 18

An individual in a study who is not a real p, they have been instructed how to behave by the investigator

Question 19

What are the characteristics of a repeated measures design

Answer 19

All Ps receive every level of the IV

limitations:
May cause order effect - Ps do better on 2nd test because they are less anxious or may guess purpose of the test and show demand characteristics

Dealing with limitations:
The researcher may use 2 different tests (must be of equal difficulty)
Counterbalancing - ensure each condition is tested 1st in equal amounts

Question 20

What are the characteristics of the repeated measures design?

Answer 20

Ps are placed in separate groups. Each group does one level of the IV

Limitations:
The researcher can’t control the effect of the P variables (characteristics)
Independent need more Ps than repeated measure in order to end up with the same amount of data

Dealing with limitations:
Randomly allocate Ps to conditions (name in hat) which (theoretically) distributes Ps evenly

Question 21

What are the characteristics of matched pairs design?

Answer 21

Pairs of Ps are matched in terms of key variables such as age/IQ. One member of each pair is allocated to each condition

Limitations:
Very time consuming & difficult to match everyone on key variables.
It is not possible to match on all variables, only ones you know to be relevant

Dealing with limitations
Conduct pilot study to consider key variables that are relevant

Question 22

What are the characteristics of a lab experiment?

Answer 22

An experiment carried out in a controlled lab setting

Tend to have high internal validity because good control over variables

Tend to have low ecological validity because tasks tend to be more artificial

Question 23

What are the characteristics of a field experiment?

Answer 23

A controlled experiment conducted outside of a lab study

The IV is still manipulated by the experimenter
Therefore causal relationships can still be found

Tender to have lower internal validity because more difficult to control variables

Tend to have greater external validity because there is greater mundane realism

Question 24

What are the characteristics of a natural experiment?

Answer 24

A research method in which the experimenter has not manipulated the IV (would vary even if researcher wasn’t interested)

The researcher records effect of IV on the DV

direct manipulation therefore causal conclusions can only be tentatively drawn

Question 25

What are the characteristics of a quasi experiment?

Answer 25

The IV is not something that varies but just something that exists

Researcher records effects of quasi IV on the DV

Lack of manipulation of IV means causal conclusions can only be tentatively drawn

E.g. Gender, Locus of control

Question 26

What problems can arise with experiments?

Answer 26

Demand characteristics: a cue that makes Ps unconsciously aware of the aims of the study or helps P work out what the researcher expects to find

Investigator effect: anything an investigator does that has an effect on the Ps performance in the study other than what was intended
Includes direct (consequence of investigator interacting) or indirect (consequence of design)
They are cues from investigator that encourage certain behaviour

Question 27

Define bias

Answer 27

A systematic distortion

Question 28

Define generalisation

Answer 28

Applying findings of a particular study to a whole population

Question 29

What are the characteristics of an opportunity sample?

Answer 29

A sample of Ps produced by selecting people who are most easily available at the time

Strengths:
Not time consuming

Limitations:
Inevitably bias because sample is drawn from small part of population

Question 30

What are the characteristics of a random sample?

Answer 30

A sample of Ps produced by using a random technique such that every member of pop has an equal chance of being chosen

Strengths:
Unbiased because all members of pop have equal chance of being chosen

Limitations:
Need to have list of all members of target population & then contact them (time consuming)

Question 31

What are the characteristics of a stratified sample?

Answer 31

A sample of Ps produced by identifying sub groups, Ps are selected in proportion to their occurrence in population

Strengths:
Likely to be more representative than other methods because there is a proportional & randomly selected representation of groups

Limitations:
Very time consuming identifying sub groups

Question 32

What are the characteristics of a systematic sample?

Answer 32

A sample obtained by selecting every nth person.
Use predetermined system such as 6th, 10th, 12th

Strength:
Unbiased - ps selected using objective system

Limitations:
Not truly unbiased - could still get one type of person (not generalisable)

Question 33

What are the characteristics of a volunteer sample?

Answer 33

A sample of Ps that rely solely on volunteers to make up the sample

Strengths:
Gives access to variety of Ps which may make sample more representative

Limitations:
May get response from one type of person (volunteer bias)