Research methods (experiments)

Question 1

Define the independent variable

Answer 1

variable that changes or is manipulated to see if it has effect on the DV

Question 2

Define the dependent variable

Answer 2

variable researcher measures to see if it has effect on the IV

Question 3

Define operationalisation

Answer 3

to be specific and clear when defining the IV and DV making it easier to measure

Question 4

Define the aim

Answer 4

general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate

Question 5

Define a directional hypothesis

Answer 5

researcher predicts the direction they think the result will go in, so what difference they expect to find between the two conditions/co-variables

eg: ppts who drink a 75cl can of redbull will have significantly faster reaction times on a hazard perception than ppts who drink 75cl of water

Question 6

Define a non-directional hypothesis

Answer 6

researcher does not predict the direction that they think the results will go in, they just say there will be a difference

eg: there will be a significant difference in reaction times on hazard perception test between ppts who drink 75cl of redbull and ppts who drink 75cl of water

Question 7

Define null hypothesis

Answer 7

states that the results gained were due to chance and not the independent variable that the researcher change/manipulated

eg: there will be no difference in reaction times on a hazard perception test between ppts who drink 75cl of redbull and ppts who drink 75cl of water

Question 8

what is meant by a pilot study (2 marks)

Answer 8

a small scale scale trial run of a research before the real main scale research [1] takes place to identify any problems and amend them [2]

Question 9

what are the aims of a pilot study (3-4 marks)

Answer 9

1) check standard procedures and general design
2) check the amount of time time given to ppts is enough to complete the task (link to scenario, what is the task?)
3) for questionnaire or interview to make sure the questions are clear
4) for observations check coding systems and behavior categories are understood, check observer / camera in good position to see behaviors
5) extraneous variables can be identified and possibly eliminated (link give an example)
6) ask the ppts to discuss their experiences of the experiment
7) any problems can be identified and adjusted before the main study

Question 10

Describe and give 1 strength and limitation of a LAB experiment

Answer 10

• conducted in a lab which is a highly controlled environment where the researcher manipulates the IV and measures the effect on the DV

Strength - High in reliability as the
experiment can be easily repeated in the same conditions to check for consistent results.

Weakness - Lacks ecological validity as its carried out in an artificial environment (context) therefore it is difficult to generalise the findings (context) beyond the setting of the study , lowering external validity

Question 11

Describe and give 1 strength and limitation of a FIELD experiment

Answer 11

• experiment which takes place in a natural environment such as an office or school where the researcher manipulates the IV and measures effect on the DV

Strength - high eco val, in real life setting, easier to generalise findings beyond study to other similar settings, increasing ext val

weakness - low in reliability as the environment is natural (context), it is difficult to repeat with exactly the same conditions to check for consistent results

Question 12

Describe and give 1 strength and limitation of a NATURAL experiment

Answer 12

• the researcher takes advantage of a naturally occurring IV (event). This is a natural experiment because the variable would have changed even if the experimenter was not interested.

strength -high eco val, in real life setting, easier to generalise findings beyond study to other similar settings, increasing ext val

weakness - low control over extraneous variables, take place in natural environment (context). Therefore it is difficult to establish cause and effect between the IV and DV lowering internal validity

Question 13

Describe and give 1 strength and limitation of a QUASI experiment

Answer 13

• an experiment which has an IV based on an existing individual difference between people which the researcher has not manipulated eg: age or gender and researcher measures the effect on the DV

strength - can be in controlled or natural

weakness - sample bias as the sample being studied have unique characteristics which may mean it is difficult to generalise to the target population (context) decreasing the external validity of the study

Question 14

Describe an independent groups design

Answer 14

• ppts take part in 1 condition
• ppts recruited->split equal groups->diff group given each condition

Question 15

Describe a repeated measures design

Answer 15

• all ppts take part in all conditions
• ppts do 1 condition->after some time do another condtion->task should be different but matched on difficulty / measuring same thing

Question 16

Describe a matched pairs design

Answer 16

-> choose variable to match ppt on (IQ,age)
->test ppt on variable
->match ppt w same scores
->randomly allocate each to one condition

Question 17

define an extraneous variable

Answer 17

Unwanted extra variables other than the IV (1 mark) that could have an effect of the DV, this would lower the internal validity of the study ( 2nd mark)

Question 18

define a Confounding variables

Answer 18

This is when an extraneous variable is not controlled for and it DOES affect the DV and so it becomes a confounding variable.

Question 19

what are Investigator effects + its control

Answer 19

• researcher’s behaviour/characteristics either consciously or unconsciously influences the outcome of the research.
• eg: the researcher’s gender or tone of voice may influence how the participant responds in the research
• standardised instructions
• ensure same gender as ppts

Question 20

how to avoid bias in study

Answer 20

• randomisation
• standardisation

Question 21

how to avoid individual differences in study

Answer 21

Random allocation
1) write names on piece of paper
2) put paper in hat
3) randomly pick names out of hat to pick conditions

Question 22

how to avoid order effects

Answer 22

Counterbalancing (ABBA) method
1. Half the Ppts complete condition A then
condition B.
2. The other half complete condition B first
then condition A.
3. Order effects are balance

Question 23

Describe a str + wkn of random sampling

Answer 23

• Every person in the target population has an equal chance of being selected.

str -
- very fair everyone has equal chance of selection
- less chance of bias
- unlike opportunity less representative as ppts there in moment are selected

wkn -
- time consuming + not guaranteed ppts
- unlike volunteer where ppts are self selected

Question 24

Describe a str + wkn of systematic sampling

Answer 24

• a system is applied to select ppts

str -
- avoids researcher bias, researcher has no influence over who is chosen to take part(context)
- objective once system to select established
wkn -
- not representative not everyone has chance picked
- diff to generalise to target pop (context)

Question 25

Describe a str + wkn of stratified sampling

Answer 25

• makeup of sample reflects the proportions of certain subgroups in target population

str -
- most representative, reflects makeup of target pop in correct proportion, findings can be generalised to target pop
-However not perfect; strata cant reflect differences of ppl
wkn -
- very time consuming
- takes time working out proportions of ppt needed (context)
- not guaranteed ppt would consent

Question 26

Describe a str + wkn of opportunity sampling

Answer 26

• being there in the moment and getting ppt
  str -
• very quick and easy, less money required as you choose in the moment (context)
• unlike random which takes long to identify every1
  wkn -
• not be representative of target pop as ppts present same time, place doing same things (context)
• therefore may have similar personalities

Question 27

Describe a str + wkn of volunteer sampling

Answer 27

• ppts volunteer themselves to be ppts
• eg; placing advert wait for replies

str - more likely to consent, come forward themselves unlike random
wkn - sample may be bias as certain type of personalities (extrovert) will volunteer therefore difficult to generalise to the target population

Question 28

define reliability

Answer 28

ability to repeat a study in similar conditions to gain consistent results

Question 29

describe test re-test

Answer 29

1. Participants are given a task or measure to complete (CONTEXT)
2. The same participants are then given the same task (CONTEXT) after a time delay e.g. two weeks.
3. Correlate the results from each test (CONTEXT) using stats test.
4. A strong positive correlation of above +0.8 shows high reliability

Question 30

what is face validity

Answer 30

• independent psychologist in same field looks at the experimental conditions (questions – if a questionnaire, behaviour categories – if an observation)
• if measure what they intend to measure (CONTEXT).
• If the researcher says ‘yes’ then research has face validity

Question 31

what is concurrent validity

Answer 31

A way of assessing validity by comparing the results of the new test (CONTEXT) with the results from another similar test which has already been established for its validity, using a stats test. If results from both tests (CONTEXT) are similar then we can assume the test is valid. The correlation of the two results gained from an appropriate stats test should exceed +.8