Research Methods - Biological Flashcards
Outline the rational and aim of your study
Rational = 2D:4D digit ratio has been linked to pre-natal exposure to testosterone
Aim = to see whether there was a correlation between 2D:4D digit ratio (cm) and self reported aggression levels on a scale of 1-10
Describe your sample and the sampling method you used for your study
Our sample consisted of 13 (m=1 f=12) Caucasian participants aged 16-17 all livid in Bristol in the UK and were privately educated in the same school. The sampling method was opportunistic, as we asked pupils in a psychology class to take part.
What was your research/alternative/experimental hypothesis for the study you conducted?
There will be a significant relationship (correlation) between 2D:4D digit ratio (cm) and self reported aggression on a scale out of 10, where 0=no aggression and 10= high aggression
What was your null hypothesis for your study?
There will be no significant relationship (correlation) between 2D:4D digit ratio (cm) and self reported aggression on a scale out of 10. Where 0= no aggression and 10= high aggression. Any relationship will be due to chance.
What were your operationalised variables?
Levels of aggression as measured by self-reported score out of 10 based on the the past month where…
2D:4D digit ratio as calculated by dividing the length (cm) of the ring finger of the right hand. A longer index finger will result in a ration higher than 1.
Outline 2 methodical strengths of your experiment
We considered the ethical implications and gained informed consent by telling our participants the full aim of the study therefore ensuring there was no deception and all participants were aware of what they were consenting to.
We used a reliable method to gain the digit ratio as the results were standardised. All participants measured their own fingers from crease to tip using a ruler and dividing the index finger by the ring finger. Therefore it is reliable as it can be replicated.
What inferential test did you use to analyse your data?
We used spearman’s rho because the test was on correlation to see if digit ratio related to self reported aggression.
Our data was ordinal level and above as we used ratios based on the measurements of all participants fingers.
The design was repeated measures as we correlated pairs of data, with measurements of the 2 variables take from each participant.
Outline one weakness of your practical
One weakness was our method take take measurements of finger length as each participant took a measurement using a rigid 2D ruler of their finger lengths. This could have been inaccurate and they only took a single measurement which could have been erroneous or subjective and this was not checked. The reliability and validity can therefore be criticised as the data may not have been accurate.
Describe how you would overcome the weakness outlined
Could have taken scanned images of the hands to enable a more accurate measurement of finger length (cm).
Could have measured 3 times and calculated the mean average.
Could have used a blind procedure with 4 disinterested colleagues to measure the finger length to eliminate bias or subjectivity and give inter-rated reliability.
