research methods-experiments Flashcards
aims
purpose of the investigation
hypotheses
statement made at the start of a study showing the relationship between the variables in a theory
experimental method
manipulating the IV to measure the DV
directional hypothesis
states the direction of the difference/relationship, when research has been done before
non directional hypothesis
doesn’t state the direction of the difference/relationship, when research hasn’t been done before
variables
something that can change in an investigation
independent variable
aspect of the experiment that is changed by the researcher or is a natural difference
dependent variable
variable measured by the researcher
operationalisation
defining variables in terms of how they can be measured
extraneous variables
variables other than the IV that can affect the DV if not controlled
confounding variables
type of extraneous variable, varies with the IV so we can’t tell if the change is due to the IV or the confounding variable
demand characteristics
cue from the researcher that may be interpreted by participants as revealing the purpose of the investigation, which may lead to the participant changing their behaviour
investigator effects
effect of the investigator’s behaviour on the dependent variable e.g gender, bias or facial cues
randomisation
use chance methods to control the effects of bias when designing the experiment and deciding the order of experimental conditions
standardisation
use the same formalised procedures and instructions for participants in a research study
experimental design
different ways the experiment can be organised relating to experimental conditions
independent group designs
participants allocated to different groups where each group represents one experimental condition
repeated measures
all participants take part in all conditions of the experiment
matched pairs design
pairs of participants are matched on some variables that can affect the dependent variable-one is assigned to condition a and one is assigned to condition b
random allocation
control participant variables in an independent groups design ensuring each participant has an equal chance of being selected
counterbalancing
control the effects of order in a repeated measures design- half the participants experience it in one order and half in the other order
laboratory experiment
experiment in a controlled environment where the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effects on the DV whilst strictly controlling variables
field experiment
experiment that takes place in a natural setting where the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effects on the DV
natural experiments
an experiment where the IV naturally occurs and they record the effect on the DV from this
quasi experiment
IV based on an existing difference between people, the DV may naturally occur or be devised by the experimenter
advantages of laboratory experiments
have high control over variables, replication can occur
disadvantages of laboratory experiments
low external validity, low mundane realism, may display demand characteristics
advantages of field experiments
higher mundane realism, high external validity
disadvantage of field experiments
less control over variables, participants may not have given consent
advantages of natural experiments
high external validity, no demand characteristics
disadvantages of natural experiments
harder to control variables, harder to replicate, the sample may be biased
advantages of quasi experiments
controlled conditions
disadvantages of quasi experiments
confounding variables
target population
large group of individuals the researcher is interested in studying
random sampling
all of the target population have an equal chance of being selected, list the population, assign them a number, use a random number generator
advantages of random sampling
free from researcher bias
disadvantages of random sampling
difficult, time consuming, people may refuse to take part
systematic sampling
every nth person is selected, sampling frame produced to organise the population and then a sampling system is nominated, eg every 3rd person
advantages of systematic sampling
free from researcher bias, representative
disadvantages of systematic sampling
difficult, time consuming
opportunity sampling
ask whoever is willing and available
advantages of opportunity sampling
convenient, saves time and money
disadvantages of opportunity sampling
specific area so hard to generalise, researcher bias
volunteer sampling
participants select themselves to be part of the study
advantages of volunteer sampling
convenient and cheap
disadvantages of volunteer sampling
likely to have a typical volunteer personality
stratified sampling
aims to represent the sub groups (strata) realistically
advantages of stratified sampling
free from researcher bias, accurately represents the population
what is the BPS code of ethics built around? (4)
respect, competence, responsibility and integrity
name the 6 ethical issues
consent, right to withdraw, protection from harm, confidentiality, deception and privacy
advantages of using independent groups
less demand characteristics, easy to compare
disadvantages of using independent groups
different variables in each group, confounding variables, less validity, time consuming
advantages of repeated measures
more controlled variables, fewer ppts so cheaper
disadvantages of repeated measures
demand characteristics- can use counterbalancing, confounding variables
advantages of using matched pairs
less demand characteristics
disadvantages of using matched pairs
never an exact match, time consuming and expensive
what is a pilot study?
small scale version of an investigation that takes place before the real thing allowing the researcher to make changes if necessary
single blind procedure
participants are not told the true aim of a study to reduce demand characteristics
double blind procedure
neither the participant or the researcher are aware of the aim of the investigation, eg in a drug trial
controlled observation
some variables are controlled by the researcher, ppts are likely to know they are being studied
participant observation
the researcher becomes a member of the group they are recording
naturalistic observation
behaviour studied in a natural situation where everything has been left as normal