Research Methods - Methods and Designs Flashcards

All AS and A2 research methods on the AQA psychology specification are covered as part of this deck

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

Meta-analysis

A

Combining the findings from a number of studies on a particular topic for an overall conclusion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

A positive correlation is

A

As one variable increases so does the other

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

A negative correlation is

A

As one variable increases the other decreases

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Zero correlation is

A

No relationship between variables

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How can we tell the strength of a correlation

A

How tightly packed the points are around the line of best fit or correlation coefficient

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

A statistical measure of the strength and direction of a linear relationship between two variables is known as..

A

Correlation Coefficient

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Correlation Coefficient is between..

A

+1 and -1

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

A correlation coefficient of 0.1-0.3 (positive or negative) is what strength relationship?

A

Weak

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

A correlation coefficient of 0.4-0.6 (positive or negative) is what strength relationship?

A

Moderate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

A correlation coefficient of 0.7-0.9 (positive or negative) is what strength relationship?

A

Strong

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

A correlation coefficient of 1 (positive or negative) is what strength relationship?

A

A perfect correlation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Name a qualitative method of data analysis

A

Content analysis or thematic anaylsis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

In a content analysis what technique is performed on the data?

A

Coding

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Content analysis converts qualitative data to

A

Quantitative data

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Thematic analysis produces what type of data?

A

Qualitative

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Lab experiment is..

A

IV is directly manipulated under controlled setting to measure the impact on a DV

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Field experiment is

A

IV is directly manipulated in natural settings to measure the impact on a DV

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Natural experiment is

A

The CHANGE in an IV is natural and would have occurred without the presence of the researcher (e.g. before and after a natural disaster - no direct manipulation by a researcher) DV is measured

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

a Quasi experiment is

A

IV is already occurring (e.g. ethnicity) and so cannot be directly manipulated - the impact on DV is measured

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Strength of a lab experiment

A

controlled conditions increase reliability and internal validity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Weakness of a lab experiment

A

setting isn’t natural = behaviour isn’t natural and results lack ecological validity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

strength of a field experiement

A

Higher ecological valdity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

weakness of a field experiment

A

lacks control and internal validity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

strength of a natural experiment

A

high external validity, unique study opportunity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

weakness of a natural experiment

A

rare, less likelihood of causality

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

strength of a quasi experiment

A

unique insight free from manipulation (less demand characteristics)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

weakness of a quasi experiment

A

cannot randomly allocate - less chance of causality (participant variables)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Naturalistic observation is

A

conducted in natural settings

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Controlled obervation is..

A

conducted in controlled settings

30
Q

Covert observation is..

A

participants are unaware they are being studied

31
Q

Overt observation is…

A

participants are aware they are being studied

32
Q

Participant observation is…

A

observer is part of the observed group

33
Q

Non-participant observation is..

A

observer is not part of the observed group

34
Q

1 strength and 1 weakness of naturalistic observations..

A

+ natural behaviour
- uncontrolled EVs

35
Q

1 strength and 1 weakness of covert observations

A

+ Natural behaviour
- ethical issues

36
Q

1 strength and 1 weakness of participant observations

A

+ increased insight (validity)
- loss of objectivity

37
Q

Unlike experiments observations have no…

A

IV

38
Q

Self report techniques are..

A

participants explain their own thoughts, feelings or behaviours (questionnaire/interview)

39
Q

A questionnaire is..

A

A written set of questions (or items) to assess thoughts and experiences

40
Q

Questionnaires can contain open questions; true or false

A

True

41
Q

1 strength and 1 weakness of a questionnaire

A

+ cost effective to gather large datasets quickly and easy to analyse
- limited/socially desirable responses

42
Q

An interview where there are no set questions - only the topic is set

A

Unstructured interview

43
Q

An interview where all questions are pre-determined

A

Structured interview

44
Q

An interview where some questions are pre-determined but researchers can ask follow up questions as needed

A

Semi-structured interview

45
Q

1 strength and 1 weakness of a structured interview

A

+ Easy to replicate
- limits richness of data

46
Q

1 strength and 1 weakness of an unstructured interview

A

+ rich in depth data
- increased bias and hard to compare/replicate

47
Q

A correlation measures..

A

relationships

48
Q

The variables in a correlation are called

A

Co-variables

49
Q

The three outcomes of a correlational study are;

A

positive, negative and no correlation

50
Q

Correlations cannot guarantee what..

A

Causation! (a relationship, not a different or affect - always could be 3rd variables)

51
Q

1 strength and 1 weakness of a correlational study

A

+ starting point for future research, quick and easy as uses secondary data often
- is not causation, always a risk of 3rd variables, can be misused

52
Q

A case study is

A

an indepth study of one or a small group of people

53
Q

Case studies can be carried out over a long period - this is called

A

Longitudinal research

54
Q

1 strength and 1 weakness of case studies

A

+ in depth, can be longitudinal and use lots of measures to understand the individual so can check for concurrent validity
- cannot be replicated, many EVs, subjective

55
Q

A content anaylsis is

A

used to quantify qualitative data by changing it into frequencies using coding

56
Q

1 strength and 1 weakness of content analysis

A

+ useful, ethical, reliable (inter-rater)
- hard to establish objective coding units, loses richness of data, time consuming

57
Q

Thematic analysis is

A

a qualitative method which identifies, analyses and reports themes (patterns) within data

58
Q

1 strength and 1 weakness of thematic analysis

A

+ useful, check concurrent data as you apply themes to new data sets, keeps richness of data
- Subjective, time consuming

59
Q

Name the experimental design: all participants take part in all conditions of the experiment and the two groups are them compared.

A

Repeated measures design

60
Q

1 strength and 1 weakness of an independent measures deign

A

+ no order effects, less chance of demand characteristics
- more participant variables, more time consuming and costly

61
Q

1 strength and 1 weakness of repeated measures design

A

+ controls for participant variables, more economical
- more chance of order effects, more chance of demand characteristics

62
Q

1 strength and 1 weakness of a matched pairs design

A

+ controls for participant variables, reduces order effects and demand characteristics
- can never match participants exactly, time consuming/costly

63
Q

In a structured observation how does the researcher record behaviour?

A

Using a predetermined set of behavioural categories (or behavioural checklist)

64
Q

Which type of observation records behaviour continuously?

A

Unstructured observations

65
Q

In an observation the researcher counts the number of instances a particular behaviour is displayed. This is known as…

A

Event sampling

66
Q

In an observation the researcher records what behaviour is occurring a pre-established intervals of time (e.g. every 10 seconds). This is known as…

A

Time sampling

67
Q

Questions for which there is no fixed choice and participants are free to answer in as much or little detail as they choose

A

Open questions

68
Q

Questions which have a fixed set of responses determined by the question setter

A

Closed questions

69
Q

A form of closed question where respondents indicate their agreement with a statement on a 5 point scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree)

A

Likert Scale

70
Q

A form of closed question where respondents indicate their strength of feeling towards a statement/between two semantic opposites (e.g. happy to sad)

A

Rating Scale

71
Q

A form of closed question where there is a list of possible options and respondents select those which apply to them

A

Fixed choice options

72
Q

What should be avoided during question design?

A
  • Jargon
  • emotive language
  • leading questions
  • double barrelled questions (two questions in one)
  • double negatives (I am not unhappy - agree or disagree)