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Psych - A2 & AS > Research Methods AS > Flashcards

Research Methods AS Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the four main types of experiments?

A
  1. Lab
  2. Field
  3. Natural
  4. Quasi
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2
Q

What is a lab study? Give two advantages and disadvantages.

A

Research carried out in a controlled, artificial setting - IV is manipulated.
S: 1) high control 2) Ease of replication
W: 1) lack of ecological validity 2) risk of demand characteristics

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3
Q

What is a natural study? Give two advantages and disadvantages.

A

A study measuring variables that aren’t manipulated - IV is naturally occurring.
S: 1) Ethical 2) Ecologically valid
W: 1) Participant allocation - extraneous variables may have affect 2) Rarity of events occurring 3) Cause & effect can’t be determined

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4
Q

What is a field study? Give two advantages and disadvantages.

A

Research carried out in natural environment - IV is manipulated.
S: 1) Ecologically valid 2) Low demand characteristics
W: 1) Less control 2) Unethical - distress, debrief issue, no consent

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5
Q

What is a quasi study? Give two advantages and disadvantages.

A

A natural experiment carried out in a lab setting - IV naturally occurring.
S: 1) High control 2) Ease of replication
W: 1) lack of ecological validity 2) risk of demand characteristics

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6
Q

What are the three main experimental designs?

A
  1. Independent measures
  2. Repeated measures
  3. Matched pair design
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7
Q

Describe independent measures design. Give 2 advantages and disadvantages

A

Different pps are used in each condition - half do condition A, other half do condition B. DV is compared between groups.
S: 1) No order effects 2) Lower risk of demand characteristics
W: 1) Individual differences 2) Twice as many pps needed

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8
Q

Describe repeated measures design. Give 2 advantages and disadvantages.

A

Same pps used in both conditions, DV compared.
S: 1) No individual differences 2) Fewer pps needed
W: 1) Risk of order effects 2) Risk of demand characteristics

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9
Q

Describe matched pairs design. Give 2 advantages and disadvantages.

A

Pps in one condition matched on certain variables (age, gender, intelligence etc) to pps in other condition
S: 1) No order effects 2) Participant variables reduced
W: 1) Twice as many pps required 2) Time-consuming - difficult to match people

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10
Q

How can extraneous variables be reduced in experimental designs?

A

Random allocation - each pp has an equal chance of being in one condition

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11
Q

How can order effects be reduced in experimental designs?

A

Counterbalancing - Half the pps do condition 1 and half do condition 2, then swap

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12
Q

What is the difference between correlations and experiments?

A
  1. There’s no manipulation of variables in correlations - they’re simply measured to look for a relationship.
  2. In correlations, they may be intervening variables that influence the effect on the DV
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13
Q

State four strengths of using correlations

A
  1. No ethical issues
  2. Quick and cheap to carry out - no need for controlled environment
  3. Can provide a tool for further study - often the starting point to detect patterns
  4. Useful tool for research - provides precise measure of how two variables are related
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14
Q

State three weaknesses of using correlations

A
  1. Don’t show cause and effect - only a relationship
  2. Could be a third (intervening) variable
  3. Research is often exaggerated - can have negative effects for some groups of people e.g. correlations of types of people who commit crimes
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15
Q

What are the main types of observation techniques?

A
  1. Naturalistic
  2. Controlled
  3. Participant
  4. Non-participant
  5. Disclosed/overt
  6. Undisclosed/covert
  7. Structured
  8. Unstructured`
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16
Q

Describe a naturalistic observation technique. Give 2 advantages and disadvantages.

A

Refers to observing people in their natural environment - no manipulation.
S: 1) Ecologically valid 2) Less chance of demand characteristics
W: 1) Ethical issues - consent, debrief 2) Risk of observer bias

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17
Q

Describe a controlled observation technique. Give 2 advantages and disadvantages.

A

Refers to observing people in a controlled environment - manipulation.
S: 1) High control 2) Can obtain lots of complex data - form reliable results
W: 1) Risk of demand characteristics 2) Low ecological validity

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18
Q

Describe a participant observation technique. Give 2 advantages and disadvantages.

A

Refers to the observer joining in and observing them-self, as well as others - take notes or use CCTV.
S: 1) More detailed data 2) Observer will have a better understanding of the group dynamic
W: 1) Risk of observer bias 2) Retrospective data - rely on memory

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19
Q

Describe a non-participant observation technique. Give 2 advantages and disadvantages.

A

Refers to when the observer doesn’t take part.
S: 1) Less observer bias 2) Ecologically valid
W: 1) Observer may not have in-depth understanding of group dynamic 2) Observer effect - may influence pps behaviour

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20
Q

Describe a disclosed/overt observation technique. Give 2 advantages and disadvantages.

A

Refers to the observer’s identity being known by pps.
S: 1) Ethical - consent taken 2) Can take in-depth notes during observation
W: 1) Risk of demand characteristics 2) Risk of observer bias

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21
Q

Describe a undisclosed/covert observation technique. Give 2 advantages and disadvantages.

A

Refers to the observer’s identity being concealed.
S: 1) Less chance of demand characteristics 2) Observer can get in-depth understanding of group/observation
W: 1) Ethical issues - consent 2) Observer can’t take notes during study - has to record or recall

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22
Q

Describe a structured observation technique. Give 2 advantages and disadvantages.

A

Refers to when the observer has a set checklist for behaviour
S: 1) Easier to gain relevant data 2) Allows for quantitative data to be produced quickly - can be quantified easily
W: 1) Only useful for small scale observations 2) Lack of representation of all valid behaviours

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23
Q

Describe an unstructured observation technique. Give 2 advantages and disadvantages.

A

Refers to the observer recording everything without a checklist.
S: 1) Qualitative data produced - more descriptive 2)Unexpected behaviours can be recorded
W: 1) Difficult to conclude - detailed data 2) Hard to replicate results for correlation

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24
Q

What are the ways of organising observations?

A
  1. Recording data - notes or video/audio recording
  2. Categorising data - define the behaviours being observed, operationalise behaviour
  3. Rating behaviour - rating scale or coding system
  4. Sampling behaviour - event sampling or time sampling
  5. Inter-rater reliability - can be used to overcome observer bias
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25
Q

What methods can be used for higher control in experiments?

A

Randomisation - use of chance to control for effects of bias
Standardisation - pps in same conditions with same procedures to increase reliability

26
Q

What are the two main self-report methods?

A

Questionnaires & Interviews

27
Q

State 3 advantages and disadvantages of questionnaires.

A 
Advantages: 
1) Cheap 
2) Can obtain large sample 
3) Can be time efficient - no researcher needed
Disadvantages: 
1) Low response rate usually 
2) Risk of lying - Social desirability bias, demand characteristics
3) Questions may be misunderstood
28
Q

What factors need to be considered when designing a questionnaire?

A
  1. Type of data - open or closed questions
  2. Ambiguity
  3. Double barrelled questions
  4. Leading questions
  5. Complexity - clear English, defined specialist terms
  6. Ethical - informed consent, confidentiality
29
Q

What are the four main types of interview?

A
  1. Structured/Formal
  2. Unstructured/Informal
  3. Semi-structured
  4. Clinical
30
Q

Describe a structured interview. Give an advantage and disadvantage.

A

Set questions with closed answers for all participants.
S: Quick
W: Not enough detail - limited analysis

31
Q

Describe an unstructured interview. Give an advantage and disadvantage.

A

Casual interview w/out set questions - open questions.
S: Pps more likely to be honest due to feeling comfortable
W: Pps may go off topic - won’t get data needed

32
Q

Describe a semi-structured interview. Give an advantage and disadvantage.

A

Some open and closed questions e.g. job interviews.
S: Lots of data obtained
W: Risk of interviewer bias

33
Q

Describe a clinical interview. Give an advantage and disadvantage.

A

Questions are based on previous answers given e.g. doctor’s appt.
S: Get relevant and detailed understanding of participant
W: Questioning may be too intense

34
Q

What factors need to be considered when designing an interview?

A
  1. How structured the interview is
  2. Ensure questions aren’t asked twice
  3. Behaviour of interviewer could affect participants reaction
35
Q

State three advantages and disadvantages of interviews.

A

Advantages:
1) Deals well with complicated or sensitive issues
2) Interviewer can clarify any misunderstood questions
3) Can gain detailed information
Disadvantages:
1) Risk of social desirability bias
2) Risk of interview effects
3) Training is needed to be an interviewer

36
Q

Define a hypothesis

A

A precise, detailed statement about the expected outcome that needs to be fully operationalised

37
Q

What is an alternative hypothesis?

A

States that there is a relationship between the two variables (not manipulated) being studied - it states that the results are significant in terms of supporting the theory being investigated.

38
Q

What is a null hypothesis?

A

States that there is no relationship between the two variables being studied - it states results are due to chance and are not significant in terms of supporting the idea being investigated.

39
Q

What is an experimental hypothesis?

A

States that there is a relationship between the two variables (IV manipulated) being studied - it states that the results are significant in terms of supporting the theory being investigated.

40
Q

What is a one-tailed (directional) hypothesis?

A

A hypothesis in which a specific prediction is made - states which variable will affect which

41
Q

What is a two-tailed (non-directional) hypothesis?

A

A hypothesis in which a relationship is predicted, but the direction isn’t specific

42
Q

What is the difference between confounding and extraneous variables?

A

Confounding - Nonsense variables interfering with measuring of DV e.g. time of day, weather
Extraneous - Variables that directly affect the dependent variable e.g. individual differences, demand characteristics

43
Q

What is the purpose of a pilot study?

A

To do a trial of the study on a few pps of the target population to identify any possible errors, such as ambiguity, floor effects or ceiling effects.

44
Q

What are 6 different sampling methods?

A
  1. Random
  2. Stratified
  3. Systematic
  4. Snowball
  5. Volunteer
  6. Opportunity
45
Q

Describe random sampling and give two advantages and disadvantages

A

Each person has an equal chance.
S: 1) Fair selection 2) Eliminated sampling bias
W: 1) Not always representative - sampling error 2) Impractical is sample is large

46
Q

Describe opportunity sampling and give two advantages and disadvantages

A

Pps are chosen on availability there and then.
S: 1) Quick & easy to do 2) Useful in pilot studies - obtain sample w/out randomisation complication
W: 1) Subject to bias selection 2) May not be representative

47
Q

Describe volunteer sampling and give two advantages and disadvantages

A

Pps volunteer to participate.
S: 1) Ethical - informed consent 2) Can be a large sample to choose from
W: 1) Only certain type of people will volunteer
2) Advertising method needs to be accessible for all people

48
Q

Describe systematic sampling and give two advantages and one disadvantage

A

Choose subjects in systematic way - every nth person chosen.
S: 1) Easy to do 2) Removes selection bias
W: 1) May not be representative

49
Q

Describe stratified sampling and give two advantages and one disadvantage

A

Pps chosen according to proportion in target population.
S: 1) Very representative of target population 2) Reduces selection bias
W: 1) Difficult to do

50
Q

Describe snowball sampling and give two advantages and disadvantages

A

Pps recommend others with similar traits of interest.
S: 1) Quick method 2) Allows researcher to reach hard-to-reach populations
W: 1) Sampling bias 2) Researcher has little control over pps

51
Q

Define peer review

A

The process by which psychological research papers are subjected to independent scrutiny by other psychologists

52
Q

What three factors do peer reviews assess?

A

Validity, significance and originality

53
Q

What are the three main purposes of peer review?

A
  1. Allocation of research funding
  2. Publication of research in scientific journals and books
  3. Assess research rating of university departments
54
Q

Why is peer review necessary?

A
  1. Increases probability that weaknesses are identified and addressed
  2. Helps prevent publishing irrelevant findings or unacceptable interpretations
  3. Ensures published research can be taken seriously
55
Q

What are some criticisms of peer review?

A
  1. Isn’t always possible to find appropriate expert
  2. Anonymity - relationships between peers may interfere with objectivity
  3. Publication bias - may favour research that proves their hypothesis
  4. Preserving status quo - favour research supporting existing research
56
Q

How are peer review and the internet related?

A

Information widely available online - need to maintain the quality

57
Q

What are the four ethical principles researchers should adhere to at all times?

A

Respect, competence, responsibility and integrity

58
Q

What are the main five ethical issues?

A
  1. Deception - active and passive
  2. Protection from physical/psychological harm
  3. Confidentiality
  4. Informed consent
  5. Privacy
59
Q

What are the methods to deal with ethical issues?

A
  1. Debriefing
  2. Right to withdraw
  3. Counselling
  4. Anonymity
60
Q

What are the methods to deal with no informed consent?

A

Presumptive consent - consent from similar group of people, assumed actual pps will be willing
Prior general consent - pps agree to be deceived without knowing when (could affect future behaviour)
Retrospective consent - asking for consent after having taken part

Psych - A2 & AS (11 decks)

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