Research methods key terms (paper 2) Flashcards

1
Q

Research methods?

A

The process by which information or data is collected usually for the purpose of testing a hypothesis and/or a theory.

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2
Q

Case studies?

A

An in-depth investigation, description and analysis of a single individual, group, institution or event.

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3
Q

Content analysis?

A

A research technique that enables the indirect study of behaviour by examining communications that people produce. e.g. texts, emails, TV and etc.

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4
Q

Coding?

A

The stage of a content analysis in which the communication to be studied is analysed by identifying each instance of the chosen categories.

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5
Q

Thematic analysis?

A

An inductive and qualitative approach to analyse that involves identifying implicit or explicit ideas within the data.

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6
Q

Reliability?

A

Refers to how consistent a measuring device is - and this includes psychological tests or observations which assess behaviour.

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7
Q

Test-retest reliability?

A

A methods of assessing reliability of a questionnaire or psycholigical test by assessing the same person on two separate occasions. This shows to what extent the test produces the same answers.

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8
Q

Inter-observer reliability?

A

The extent to which there is agreement between two or more observers involved in observations of a behaviour. This is measured by correlating the observations of two or more observers.

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9
Q

Validity?

A

The extent to which an observed effect is genuine - does it measure what it was supposed to measure, and can it be generalised beyond the research setting within which it was found.

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10
Q

Face validity?

A

A basic form of validity in which a measure is scrutinised to determine whether it appears to measure what it is supposed to measure - for instance, does a test for anxiety look like it measures anxiety.

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11
Q

Concurrent validity?

A

The extent to which a psychological measure relates to an existing similar measure.

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12
Q

Ecological validity?

A

The extent to which findings from a research study can be generalised to other settings and situations. A form of external validity.

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13
Q

Temporal validity?

A

The extent to which findings from a research study can be generalised to other historical times and eras. A form of external validity.

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14
Q

Statistical tests?

A

Used in psychology to determine whether a significant difference or correlation exists.

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15
Q

Sign test?

A

A statistical test for a difference in scores between related items. Data should be nominal level or better.

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16
Q

Levels of measurement?

A

Quantitative data can be classifies into types or levels of measurement, such as nominal, ordinal and interval.

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17
Q

Spearman’s rho?

A

A test for a correlation when data is at least ordinal level.

18
Q

Pearsons r?

A

A parametric test for a correlation when data is at interval level.

19
Q

Wilcoxon?

A

A test for a difference between two sets of scores. Data should be at least ordinal level using a related design.

20
Q

Mann-whitney?

A

A test for a difference between two sets of scores. Data should be at least ordinal level using an unrelated design.

21
Q

Related t-test?

A

A parametric test for a difference between two sets of scores. Data must be interval level with a related design.

22
Q

Unrelated t-test?

A

A parametric test for a difference between two sets of scores. Data must be interval level with an unrelated design.

23
Q

Chi-squared?

A

A test for an association between two variables or conditions. Data should be nominal level using an unrelated design.

24
Q

Probability?

A

A measure of the likehood that a particular event will occur where 0 indicates a statistical impossibility and 1 statistical certainty.

25
Significance?
A statistical term that tells us how sure we are that a difference or correlation exists.
26
Critical value?
When testing a hypothesis, the numerical boundary or cut-off point between acceptance and rejection of the null hypothesis.
27
Type I error?
The incorrect rejection of a true null hypothesis (a false positive).
28
Type II error?
The failure to reject a false null hypothesis (a false negative)
29
Abstract?
The key details of the research report.
30
Introduction?
A look at past research on a similar topic. Includes the aims and hypothesis of current investigation.
31
Results?
A description of what the researcher found, including descriptive and inferential statistics.
32
Discussion?
A consideration of what the results of a research study tells us in terms of psychological theory.
33
References?
List of sources that are referred to or quoted in the article and their full details.
34
Objectivity?
All sources of personal bias are minimised so as not to distort or influence the research process.
35
Empirical method?
Scientific approaches that are based on the gathering of evidence through direct observation and experience.
36
Replicability?
The extent to which scientific procedures and findings can be repeated by other researchers.
37
Falsifiability?
The principle that a theory cannot be considered scientific unless it admits the possibility of being proved untrue.
38
Theory construction?
The process of developing an explanation for the causes of behaviour by systematically gathering evidence and then organising this into a coherent account.
39
Hypothesis testing?
A key feature of a theory is that it should produce statements which can then be tested.
40
Paradigm?
A set of shared assumptions and agreed methods within a scientific discipline.
41
Paradigm shift?
The results of a scientific revolution when there is a significant change in the dominant unifying theory within a scientific discipline.