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PSYCHOLOGY (paper 2) > research methods - em1 > Flashcards

research methods - em1 Flashcards

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1
Q

what do all experiments have?

A

an independent variable, a dependent variable, conditions

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2
Q

define variable

A

things that can be changed or altered

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3
Q

define independent variable

A

the variable that is manipulated to observe its effects

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4
Q

define dependent variable

A

the variable that is measured and affected by the IV

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5
Q

define operationalisation

A

clearly specifying/turning abstract concepts into measurable observations

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6
Q

define hypothesis

A

a testable statement about the relationship between the variables that are going to be studied

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7
Q

what is a directional/one-tailed hypothesis?-

A

states the direction of the difference/relationship between variables, used when there is previous research to suggest a direction

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8
Q

define non-directional/two-tailed hypothesis

A

predicts that a difference will exist between variables without predicting the exact difference

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9
Q

define target population

A

the group that the researcher draws the sample from & attempt to generalise the findings to

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10
Q

define sampling bias

A

when a sample is mainly made up of one particular type of person

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11
Q

define sample

A

a group of people that are drawn from the target population to take part in an experiment

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12
Q

define representative sample

A

a sample that closely matches the target population

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13
Q

define generalise

A

applying results to a wider population beyond the research participants

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14
Q

what are the methods of random sampling?

A

-pull names from a hat
-random name generator

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15
Q

advantages of random sampling

A

-everyone in the population has an equal chance of being chosen
-free from researcher bias (researcher has no input into who is chosen)
↳ sample is representative & generalisable

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16
Q

disadvantages of random sampling

A

-it’s time consuming & dificult to ensure that everyone in the population has an equal chance of being chosen
-people who are picked may be unwilling to take part

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17
Q

what is systematic sampling?

A

when a predetermined system is used to select participants
(eg: every nth person)

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18
Q

strengths of systematic sampling

A

-no researcher bias (researcher has no input into who’s chosen)

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19
Q

weaknesses of systematic sampling

A

-sample may not be representative
↳ each participant may have similar characteristics

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20
Q

what is stratified sampling?

A

-strata are identified
-subgroups are represented in proportion their occurrence within the population

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21
Q

strengths of stratified sampling

A

-this is the only sampling technique that will give a fully representative sample
↳ results can be generalised

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22
Q

weaknesses of stratified sampling

A

-difficult to identify each strata in the target population

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23
Q

what is opportunity sampling?

A

anyone who’s willing and available to take part in the study at the time is chosen

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24
Q

strengths of opportunity sampling

A

-quick and easy
-no researcher bias

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25
Q

weaknesses of opportunity sampling

A

-not representative

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26
Q

what is volunteer sampling?

A

ask people to take part/participants respond to an advert

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27
Q

strengths of volunteer sampling

A

-low effort
-little researcher bias

28
Q

weaknesses of volunteer sampling

A

-non representative sample (usually only particular types of people volunteer)

29
Q

define order effects

A

refers to how the order of tasks could influence the outcome

30
Q

define random allocation

A

allocating participants to experimental conditions randomly

31
Q

define participant variables
(+ examples)

A

individual differences between the participants may affect the dependent variable

(age, IQ)

32
Q

define demand characteristics

A

a cue that makes participants aware of a study’s purpose & causes them to change their behaviour to match what they think is expected (please you/screw you effect)

33
Q

define counterbalancing

A

controls for order effects in a repeated measures design:

the participant sample is divided in half, with one half completing the two conditions in one order and the other half completing the conditions in the reverse order

34
Q

what are independent groups?

A

different groups are used in each condition of the experiment

35
Q

strengths of independent groups

A

no order effects
less demand characteristics

36
Q

weaknesses of independent groups
(+ control)

A

-participant variables
CONTROL: random allocation

-need more participants

37
Q

what is a repeated measures design?

A

participants are one group and participate in all study conditions

38
Q

strengths of a repeated measures design

A

-no participant variables
-fewer participants are required as they take part in all conditions

39
Q

weaknesses of a repeated measures design (+ control)

A

-order effects (eg: fatigue)
CONTROL: counterbalancing

-demand characteristics

40
Q

what is a matched pairs design?

A

-participants are paired from the sample based on similar characteristics
(eg: age & IQ)
-one member goes in condition A and the other goes in condition B

41
Q

strengths of a matched pairs design

A

-no participant variables
-no order effects

42
Q

weaknesses of a matched pairs design

A

-time consuming
-impossible unless identical twins are used

43
Q

define extraneous variables

A

variables that could affect the DV

44
Q

define confounding variables

A

extraneous variables that are important enough to change the DV

45
Q

define systematic error

A

affect the scores of one condition differently than the other

46
Q

define random error

A

spread randomly across the scores of both conditions

47
Q

define situational variables
(+ examples)

A

factors connected to the research situation that could affect the DV

(eg: temp, noise)

48
Q

define investigator effects

A

the experimenter unconsciously conveys to participants how they should behave, they could give unintentional clues about what the experiment is about

49
Q

what do confounding variables lead to?

A

mistaken conclusions about what has affected the DV

50
Q

when does an extraneous variable become a confounding variable?

A

if it is not controlled for at the start of the study

51
Q

how can demand characteristics be controlled?

A

by not letting the participants guess the aim of the research
↳ single‐blind experimental
technique / independent groups

52
Q

what is a single blind experimenter technique?

A

-only the researcher knows the true aim of the experiment
-a measure of deception has been used so that the participants cannot easily guess the aim

53
Q

examples of possible cues resulting in demand characteristics:

A

-the instructions
-what the participant may already have heard about the study (for example, from other participants)
-the way the participant is approached initially and asked to volunteer
-the setting of the study

54
Q

define standardisation

A

the procedures used in research are kept the same

55
Q

why is standardisation important?

A

1) if all elements of a procedure are the same, then the methods will be sensitive to any change in performance, then changes in data can be linked to the I.V

2) the results will be replicable, which
means that data reflects a meaningful pattern and was not a chance result

56
Q

what is a pilot study?

A

a small-scale trial run which is done before the main study to identify any problems or confusions

57
Q

are the results from a pilot study included in a final analysis?

A

no

58
Q

why is it sensible to do a pilot study?

A

to find any possible errors in the methodology and to modify it for the actual investigation

59
Q

should a pilot study use the same participants as the main study?

A

no

60
Q

what should a pilot study establish?

A

-whether the design works
-whether participants understand the
instructions and the debrief
-whether the task is too easy or hard

61
Q

how do you control situational variables?

A

standardisation

62
Q

how do you control participant variables?

A

random allocation or matched pairs design

63
Q

how do you control investigator effects?

A

single blind research

64
Q

how do you control order effects?

A

-use an independent groups/matched pairs design
-counterbalance

65
Q

what is experimental design?

A

the way participants are allocated to experimental groups.

66
Q

types of experimental design:

A

repeated measures, independent groups, and matched pairs

PSYCHOLOGY (paper 2) (16 decks)

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