Research Methods - Methods and Designs Flashcards
All AS and A2 research methods on the AQA psychology specification are covered as part of this deck
Meta-analysis
Combining the findings from a number of studies on a particular topic for an overall conclusion
A positive correlation is
As one variable increases so does the other
A negative correlation is
As one variable increases the other decreases
Zero correlation is
No relationship between variables
How can we tell the strength of a correlation
How tightly packed the points are around the line of best fit or correlation coefficient
A statistical measure of the strength and direction of a linear relationship between two variables is known as..
Correlation Coefficient
Correlation Coefficient is between..
+1 and -1
A correlation coefficient of 0.1-0.3 (positive or negative) is what strength relationship?
Weak
A correlation coefficient of 0.4-0.6 (positive or negative) is what strength relationship?
Moderate
A correlation coefficient of 0.7-0.9 (positive or negative) is what strength relationship?
Strong
A correlation coefficient of 1 (positive or negative) is what strength relationship?
A perfect correlation
Name a qualitative method of data analysis
Content analysis or thematic anaylsis
In a content analysis what technique is performed on the data?
Coding
Content analysis converts qualitative data to
Quantitative data
Thematic analysis produces what type of data?
Qualitative
Lab experiment is..
IV is directly manipulated under controlled setting to measure the impact on a DV
Field experiment is
IV is directly manipulated in natural settings to measure the impact on a DV
Natural experiment is
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
a Quasi experiment is
IV is already occurring (e.g. ethnicity) and so cannot be directly manipulated - the impact on DV is measured
Strength of a lab experiment
controlled conditions increase reliability and internal validity
Weakness of a lab experiment
setting isn’t natural = behaviour isn’t natural and results lack ecological validity
strength of a field experiement
Higher ecological valdity
weakness of a field experiment
lacks control and internal validity
strength of a natural experiment
high external validity, unique study opportunity
weakness of a natural experiment
rare, less likelihood of causality
strength of a quasi experiment
unique insight free from manipulation (less demand characteristics)
weakness of a quasi experiment
cannot randomly allocate - less chance of causality (participant variables)
Naturalistic observation is
conducted in natural settings
Controlled obervation is..
conducted in controlled settings
Covert observation is..
participants are unaware they are being studied
Overt observation is…
participants are aware they are being studied
Participant observation is…
observer is part of the observed group
Non-participant observation is..
observer is not part of the observed group
1 strength and 1 weakness of naturalistic observations..
+ natural behaviour
- uncontrolled EVs
1 strength and 1 weakness of covert observations
+ Natural behaviour
- ethical issues
1 strength and 1 weakness of participant observations
+ increased insight (validity)
- loss of objectivity
Unlike experiments observations have no…
IV
Self report techniques are..
participants explain their own thoughts, feelings or behaviours (questionnaire/interview)
A questionnaire is..
A written set of questions (or items) to assess thoughts and experiences
Questionnaires can contain open questions; true or false
True
1 strength and 1 weakness of a questionnaire
+ cost effective to gather large datasets quickly and easy to analyse
- limited/socially desirable responses
An interview where there are no set questions - only the topic is set
Unstructured interview
An interview where all questions are pre-determined
Structured interview
An interview where some questions are pre-determined but researchers can ask follow up questions as needed
Semi-structured interview
1 strength and 1 weakness of a structured interview
+ Easy to replicate
- limits richness of data
1 strength and 1 weakness of an unstructured interview
+ rich in depth data
- increased bias and hard to compare/replicate
A correlation measures..
relationships
The variables in a correlation are called
Co-variables
The three outcomes of a correlational study are;
positive, negative and no correlation
Correlations cannot guarantee what..
Causation! (a relationship, not a different or affect - always could be 3rd variables)
1 strength and 1 weakness of a correlational study
+ 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
A case study is
an indepth study of one or a small group of people
Case studies can be carried out over a long period - this is called
Longitudinal research
1 strength and 1 weakness of case studies
+ 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
A content anaylsis is
used to quantify qualitative data by changing it into frequencies using coding
1 strength and 1 weakness of content analysis
+ useful, ethical, reliable (inter-rater)
- hard to establish objective coding units, loses richness of data, time consuming
Thematic analysis is
a qualitative method which identifies, analyses and reports themes (patterns) within data
1 strength and 1 weakness of thematic analysis
+ useful, check concurrent data as you apply themes to new data sets, keeps richness of data
- Subjective, time consuming
Name the experimental design: all participants take part in all conditions of the experiment and the two groups are them compared.
Repeated measures design
1 strength and 1 weakness of an independent measures deign
+ no order effects, less chance of demand characteristics
- more participant variables, more time consuming and costly
1 strength and 1 weakness of repeated measures design
+ controls for participant variables, more economical
- more chance of order effects, more chance of demand characteristics
1 strength and 1 weakness of a matched pairs design
+ controls for participant variables, reduces order effects and demand characteristics
- can never match participants exactly, time consuming/costly
In a structured observation how does the researcher record behaviour?
Using a predetermined set of behavioural categories (or behavioural checklist)
Which type of observation records behaviour continuously?
Unstructured observations
In an observation the researcher counts the number of instances a particular behaviour is displayed. This is known as…
Event sampling
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…
Time sampling
Questions for which there is no fixed choice and participants are free to answer in as much or little detail as they choose
Open questions
Questions which have a fixed set of responses determined by the question setter
Closed questions
A form of closed question where respondents indicate their agreement with a statement on a 5 point scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree)
Likert Scale
A form of closed question where respondents indicate their strength of feeling towards a statement/between two semantic opposites (e.g. happy to sad)
Rating Scale
A form of closed question where there is a list of possible options and respondents select those which apply to them
Fixed choice options
What should be avoided during question design?
- Jargon
- emotive language
- leading questions
- double barrelled questions (two questions in one)
- double negatives (I am not unhappy - agree or disagree)
