Research methods for exam

Question 1

What is thematic analysis?

Answer 1

A technique used when analysing qualitative data. Themes or categories are identified and then data is organised according to these themes.

Question 2

What is the sampling method in content analysis? 3 things

Answer 2

Deciding on how to sample the data.

• If analysing the content of books, does the researcher look at every page or every fifth page (Time sampling)
• If comparing the content in various books, does the researcher select books randomly or identify certain characteristics or genres?
• If analysing ads on TV, does the researcher take not of behaviours occurring every 30 seconds (time sampling)?

Question 3

What is coding the data in content analysis?

Answer 3

What behavioural categories does the researcher use to break down the data they have. For example, researcher looks at the way men and women are portrayed in booked, create a list of behavioural categories and then count instances.

Question 4

What is method of representing data in content analysis?

Answer 4

Deciding on methods to represent the data:
Count instances = Quantitative analysis.
Describe examples in each category = Qualitative analysis.

Question 5

Give 2 strengths of content analysis.

Answer 5

• High ecological validity because it is based on observations of what people actually do - real communications, eg: books people read
• When sources can be accessed by others eg: recent newspapers, content analysis can be replicated and Tf, tested for reliability.

Question 6

Give 2 weaknesses of content analysis.

Answer 6

• Observer bias reduces the objectivity and validity of findings because different observers may interpret the behaviour categories differently.
• Culture biased, interpretation of verbal or written content will be affected by the language and culture of the observer.

Question 7

Give 1 weakness of thematic analysis.

Answer 7

-Time consuming, summarising qualitative data.

Question 8

Give 3 intentions of thematic analysis.

Answer 8

• Summarising the data
• Imposing some kind of order on the data
• To enable themes to be identified and general conclusions to be drawn.

-use the recordings to make a transcription of the interview
• use coding to initially analyse the transcripts
• review the transcriptions/codes looking for emergent themes/ideas that might be linked to later aggressive behaviour, eg family violence, parental argument, alcohol misuse.

Question 9

What is an abstract in reporting investigations?

Answer 9

First section in a psychological report that provides a brief summary of the study - includes a brief summary of aims, hypothesis, methods and results. Overview.

Question 10

What is the introduction in reporting investigations?

Answer 10

Report/journal where the researcher reviews previous research (theories and studies) to provide background information and a rationale for the current research. Leads logically to your aims.

Question 11

What is the method in reporting investigations?

Answer 11

Section of a report/journal that contains a detailed description of the methodology. Detailed enough to allow someone else to replicate the study, and includes details of the design, participants, apparatus/materials, procedure and ethical considerations.

Question 12

What are the results in reporting investigations?

Answer 12

details about what they found in their investigation. Quantitative data includes descriptive statistics (e.g. summary tables, graphs, measures of central tendency and dispersion) and inferential statistics (e.g. results of statistical tests, including calculated values and significance levels). Or qualitative, describe results…

Question 13

What is the discussion in reporting investigations?

Answer 13

researcher interprets the results of the study; makes criticism of the methodology used; considers the implications of the results for future research, and suggests real-world applications.

Question 14

What are the references in reporting investigations?

Answer 14

Full details of any sources, such as journal articles or books, that are used when writing a report. There is a set format depending on whether the information comes from a book, journal article etc. and there are different conventions for references (e.g. Harvard, APA, etc.)

Question 15

2 things to write a good questionnaire

Answer 15

• Filler questions
• Sequence for the questions
• Sampling technique
• Pilot study

Question 16

Year 1

Answer 16

1

Question 17

What is quantitative data?

Answer 17

Quantity, numerical and data which can be easily measured.

Question 18

What is qualitative data?

Answer 18

Data which cannot be counted, quality. Descriptions are observed.

Question 19

Strength and weakness of quantitative data.

Answer 19

S: Easy to analyse.
-Can draw conclusions easily
W: data may oversimplify reality.
Closed questions lead people into answers that don’t represent feelings.

Question 20

Strength and weakness of qualitative data.

Answer 20

S: provide detailed information which provides unexpected insights into thoughts and behaviours.
W: Complexity of data makes it difficult to analyse/make conclusions.

Question 21

What is primary data?

Answer 21

Information observed or collected directly from first hand experience
AND
It is gathered for the aim of your study

Question 22

What is secondary data?

Answer 22

Information used in research study that was collected by someone else
AND
for a purpose other than the current one.

Question 23

Give a strength and weakness of primary data.

Answer 23

S: control researcher has over the data - data collection can be tailored to fit aim/hypothesis.
W: lengthy Tf expensive process

Question 24

Give a strength and weakness of secondary data.

Answer 24

S: simpler to access someone else’s data / cheaper.
W: data may not fit needs of study.

Question 25

What are questionnaires? (3)

Answer 25

• A set of written questions used to collect info about a topic.
• Questions permit people to say what they think and feel
• Questions always predetermined
• Needs to be specific and objective.

Question 26

What are 2 strengths of a questionnaire?

Answer 26

• People may be more open
• Large sample obtained
• Cheap

Question 27

What are 2 weaknesses of a questionnaire?

Answer 27

• Only people who can read and write can take part.
• Cross-cultural issues
• Open questions difficult to analyse.

Question 28

What is an unstructured interview? (Self-report techniques)

Answer 28

Interview sets out the general topic they are interested in, then guided by interviewee with further questions.

Question 29

What is a structured interview? (Self-report techniques)

Answer 29

Predetermined questions, essentially a questionnaire delivered face to face. No deviation from questions.

Question 30

What is a strength and a weakness of an unstructured interview?

Answer 30

S: can have more in depth responses with open questions, detailed data.
W: more difficult to turn into data. Time consuming

Question 31

What is a strength and a weakness of an structured interview?

Answer 31

S: can be easily repeated because questions are standardised. Easier to analyse, answers are more predictable.
W: if the interviewer acts different occasions. Get less detailed, in depth responses.

Question 32

What is a self-report technique?

Answer 32

Ask people questions about their experiences and/or beliefs. A questionnaire can be delivered in written form or in real-time, which makes it an interview.

Question 33

Strength of self-report technique.

Answer 33

All self-report techniques allow access to what people think and feel, to their experience / attitudes.

Question 34

2 limitations of self report technique.

Answer 34

• People may not supply truthful answers, may answer in a social desirable way (social desirability bias).
• Sometimes people don’t know simply what they think / feel so they make their answer up and thus their answers lack validity.
• Sample of people in any study using self-report may lack representativeness - data cannot be generalised.