Research Methods - Data analysis, interpretation and reporting

Question 1

Significance level most often used in Psychology

Answer 1

P<0.05

Question 2

Determination that the results are significantly strong to reject the null hypothesis

Answer 2

Significance

Question 3

The likelihood that certain events will occur

Answer 3

Probability

Question 4

The value a test statistic must reach in order to consider the result significant

Answer 4

Critical value

Question 5

The value of a statistic that is calculated for a particular data set (outcome of the stats test)

Answer 5

Calculated value

Question 6

(False-positive) occurs if an investigator falsely rejects a null hypothesis that is actually true in the population

Answer 6

Type I error

Question 7

(False-negative) occurs if an investigator fails to reject a null hypothesis that is actually false in the population

Answer 7

Type II error

Question 8

Decreasing the probability of a type I error increases…

Answer 8

the probability of a type II error

Question 9

How to decrease the likelihood of a Type I error

Answer 9

Use a smaller significance level (P<0.01)

Question 10

How to decrease the likelihood of a Type II error

Answer 10

Increase the sample size in the study

Question 11

Choose the test: Difference, nominal data, Independent Measures

Answer 11

Chi Squared (x2)

Question 12

Choose the test: Difference, at least ordinal data, independent measures

Answer 12

Mann Whitney U (U)

Question 13

Choose the test: difference, interval/ratio data that is normally distributed, Independent measures design

Answer 13

Unrelated t-test (R)

Question 14

Choose the test: difference, nominal data, repeated measures

Answer 14

Sign test (S)

Question 15

Choose the test: difference, at least ordinal data, repeated measures design

Answer 15

Wilcoxon t test (T)

Question 16

Choose the test: difference, internal/ration data that is normally distributed, repeated measures deign

Answer 16

Related t-test (R)

Question 17

Choose the test: Correlation, nominal data

Answer 17

Chi Squared (x2)

Question 18

Choose the test: correlation, at least ordinal data

Answer 18

Spearman’s Rho (Rs)

Question 19

Choose the test: Correlation, interval/ratio data that is normally distributed

Answer 19

Pearson’s product moment

Question 20

Sign test: should the calculated value be greater than or less than for significance?

Answer 20

Equal to or less than

Question 21

Mann Whitney U: should the calculated value be greater than or less than for significance?

Answer 21

Equal to or less than

Question 22

Wilcoxon: should the calculated value be greater than or less than for significance?

Answer 22

Equal to or less than

Question 23

Chi Squared: should the calculated value be greater than or less than for significance?

Answer 23

Equal to or greater than

Question 24

Unrelated t test: should the calculated value be greater than or less than for significance?

Answer 24

Equal to or greater than

Question 25

Related t test: should the calculated value be greater than or less than for significance?

Answer 25

Equal to or greater than

Question 26

Spearman's Rho: should the calculated value be greater than or less than for significance?

Answer 26

Equal to or greater than

Question 27

Pearson's Product moment: should the calculated value be greater than or less than for significance?

Answer 27

Equal to or greater than

Question 28

Which inferential statistic do I have to calculate by hand?

Answer 28

Sign test

Question 29

Examples of descriptive statistics

Answer 29

Central tendency, measures of dispersion, charts and graphs

Question 30

Measures of central tendency show what

Answer 30

The average of a set of data (mean, median or mode)

Question 31

The mean is..

Answer 31

found by adding all scores and dividing by the number of scores - the arithmetic average

Question 32

The median is..

Answer 32

The central/middle value (once all data is in order)

Question 33

The mode is...

Answer 33

The most frequently occurring value

Question 34

Strength of the mean

Answer 34

Most representative as it uses all the data scores

Question 35

Weakness of the mean

Answer 35

Easily distorted by outliers

Question 36

Strength of the median

Answer 36

Unaffected by extreme scores/outliers

Question 37

Weakness of the median

Answer 37

Less sensitive (ignores extreme values that may be important!)

Question 38

Strength of the mode

Answer 38

easy to calculate

Question 39

Weakness of the mode

Answer 39

Crude, not very useful, doesn't represent all the data, might me more than one!

Question 40

Measures of dispersion show..

Answer 40

The spread of data (range or standard deviation)

Question 41

The range is

Answer 41

overall data spread. Biggest value minus the smallest value

Question 42

Strength of the range

Answer 42

Easy to calcuate

Question 43

Weakness of the range

Answer 43

Doesn't take into account all data, extreme values only

Question 44

The standard deviation is

Answer 44

a measure of the average deviation from the mean

Question 45

How do you calculate standard deviation?

Answer 45

Step 1: Find the mean. Step 2: For each data point, find the square of its distance to the mean. Step 3: Sum the values from Step 2. Step 4: Divide by the number of data points. Step 5: Take the square root.

Question 46

What type of graph should I use to represent the strength and direction of a correlation?

Answer 46

Scatter graph/Scattergram

Question 47

When plotting a scatter gram which co-variable goes on the X axis?

Answer 47

It doesn't matter!

Question 48

What type of graph represents the frequency of each variable by the height of its spaced columns and is only used with Discrete data?

Answer 48

Bar Chart

Question 49

When plotting a bar chart which variable goes on the X axis?

Answer 49

The categories (the IV)

Question 50

What type of graph displays continuous data and uses the height and width of touching bars to show frequency?

Answer 50

Histogram

Question 51

The X axis of a histogram must start at..

Answer 51

True 0

Question 52

What does the Y axis of a histogram represent?

Answer 52

the frequency

Question 53

A summary table would display...

Answer 53

Raw data

Question 54

A normal distribution graph looks like...

Answer 54

a Bell curve, symetrical

Question 55

In a normal distribution the mean, median and mode are

Answer 55

The same (at the highest peak of the curve)

Question 56

In a normal distribution the tails of the curve never touch what?

Answer 56

The X axis (they are never 0)

Question 57

A distribution curve that is not symmetrical is known as..

Answer 57

a Skewed distribution

Question 58

In a positively skewed distribution the curve leans..

Answer 58

towards the Y axis

Question 59

In a positively skewed distribution, the longer tail is on the left or right?

Answer 59

The right

Question 60

In a negatively skewed distribution the curve leans..

Answer 60

away from the Y axis

Question 61

In a negatively skewed distribution, the longer tail is on the left or right?

Answer 61

left

Question 62

In a skewed distribution curve, the measures of central tendency appear in what order (starting at the top of the curve working down the tail)?

Answer 62

Mode, median, mean

Question 63

In a normal distribution curve - what percentage of people appear within 1 standard deviation of the mean (either side)?

Answer 63

68%

Question 64

In a normal distribution curve - what percentage of people appear within 2 standard deviations of the mean (either side)?

Answer 64

95%

Question 65

In a normal distribution curve - what percentage of people appear within 3 standard deviations of the mean (either side)?

Answer 65

99.7%

Question 66

DV Data which is in rank order (ranked or rated)

Answer 66

Ordinal data

Question 67

DV data which is categorical

Answer 67

Nominal data

Question 68

DV data which is measured in fixed units with equal distance between points on the scale or set intervals

Answer 68

Interval data

Question 69

Which variable determined the level of data in a study?

Answer 69

Dependent variable

Question 70

Name the term: refers to the view that gathering data and evidence from experience (sensory information) is central to the scientific method, rather than simply relying upon our own viewpoints.

Answer 70

empiricism

Question 71

Name the section of a report: A brief summary (150 – 200 words) of the key points of the study that appears at the start of the report

Answer 71

Abstract

Question 72

Name the section of a report: Background to the research area and rationale (why the study was conducted). The background will include a literature review of relevant past studies and theories,

Answer 72

Introduction

Question 73

Name the section of a report: Describes how the study was carried out in sufficient detail for someone else to be able to replicate it.

Answer 73

Method

Question 74

Name the section of a report: Summarises the findings of the research clearly and accurately. There is normally a section on descriptive statistics and also inferential statistics.

Answer 74

Results

Question 75

Name the section of a report: This section explains what the results mean and is broken down into several sections including looking at modifications and implications for further research

Answer 75

Discusson

Question 76

Name the section of a report: Information on sources of information used in the report shown in alphabetical order.

Answer 76

References

Question 77

Name the section of a report: Copies of materials that are not suited to any other section of the report

Answer 77

Appendices

Question 78

What method of referencing is used

Answer 78

Harvard

Question 79

Outline how an end of test reference should be written

Answer 79

* Author surname then comma and initial followed by full stop * Publication year in brackets * Article title with no capitals apart from the first word and full stop at end * Journal title in italics with a comma * Volume & issue (in brackets) followed by comma * Page numbers with hyphen in between and full stop at end

Question 80

What information goes in an in text reference?

Answer 80

Surname of researchers, year of publication (pages numbers only if its a direct quote)

Question 81

If there are two or more researcher in the reference how do we link their names?

Answer 81

&

Question 82

If there are three or more researchers in the reference use

Answer 82

et al.

Question 83

What are the purposes of referencing?

Answer 83

* To avoid plagiarism. * Provide a theoretical framework for the topic. * To acknowledge direct quotes. * To provide evidence to support arguments. * So that readers can check how much preparation has gone into your work and can find extra information

Question 84

When conducted research is assessed by others who specialise in the same field to ensure high quality this is known as

Answer 84

Peer Review

Question 85

When does peer review happen?

Answer 85

Before research can become part of a journal

Question 86

What are the aims of peer review?

Answer 86

- Allocate funding decisions - Validate quality and relevance of research (looking for fraud also) - Suggest amendments and improvements

Question 87

Anonymity in peer review can be a problem, why?

Answer 87

Using this to criticise rival research

Question 88

Publication bias in peer review can be a problem, why?

Answer 88

Tendency to only want significant findings, ground-breaking research otherwise we see the file drawer phenomenon

Question 89

Why might someone bury groundbreaking research in the process of peer review

Answer 89

It challenges the status quo

Question 90

We must consider the impact of psychological research on what factor that represents financial sustainability?

Answer 90

The economy