Research Methods P1 Flashcards
What are the different types of experiments?
- Laboratory
- Field
- Quasi
- Natural
What are the characteristics of a laboratory experiment?
- Controlled environment
- Researcher directly manipulated IV
- Standardised procedure
What are the characteristics of a field experiment?
- Real world setting
- Researcher directly manipulates IV
- Random allocation
What are the characteristics of a quasi experiment?
- No control over IV (naturally occurring)
- Researcher puts tasks in place to measure DV
- Some control over EV
What are the characteristics of a natural experiment?
- No control over IV (naturally occurring)
- DV naturally occurring
- Little control over EV
What is validity?
Accuracy of research findings
What is internal validity?
Research accurately measuring what it claims to do
What is external validity?
Research findings be accurately generalised beyond study
What are the characteristics of internal validity?
- Investigator effect present
- Results obtained through manipulation of IV
- Strict control over EV
What are the characteristics of ecological validity?
- Mundane realism
- Environment = important
- Elect natural behaviours
What are the characteristics of population validity?
- Age
- Sex
- Cultural background
- Religious beliefs
- SES
What are the characteristics of temporal validity?
- Changed attitudes
- Political context
- Findings relevant today
What is reliability?
How consistent results likely to be
Evaluate laboratory experiments
P= High in reliability
E= Standardised procedure (EV limited)
E= Easily replicated
P= High IV
E= Control over EV to establish C + E
E= Know change in DV due to IV
P= Low ecological validity
E= Unnatural setting
E= Behave unnatural
P= Low IV
E= Demand characteristics
E= Behaviour not accurate
Evaluate field experiments
P= High ecological validity
E= Natural setting
E= Natural behaviour
P= High IV
E= Demand characteristics not present
E= Behaviour more realistic
P= Low reliability
E= Use standardised procedure
E= Hard to replicate
P= Low IV
E= No control over EV
E= Hard to establish C + E
P= Ethical issues
E= Not aware of observation
E= Need to give informed consent
Evaluate quasi experiments
P= Low IV
E= Can’t randomly allocate
E= Participant variables confound results
Lab= easily replicable
Field= high EV
Evaluate natural experiments
- Investigate impractical/ unethical experiments
- EV high
- Demand characteristics reduced
- No random allocation
- No control over environment
- Ethical guidelines (unaware)
- Impossible to replicate
What is a variable?
Anything in a research study can vary
What is the independent variable?
Variable that’s changed
What is the dependent variable?
Variable that’s measured
What is an operationalised variable?
Defining precisely how you intend to measure the DV + alter conditions of IV
What is an extraneous variable?
Extra to the IV which might impact the DV