Research Methods P1 Flashcards

1
Q

What are the different types of experiments?

A
  1. Laboratory
  2. Field
  3. Quasi
  4. Natural
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2
Q

What are the characteristics of a laboratory experiment?

A
  • Controlled environment
  • Researcher directly manipulated IV
  • Standardised procedure
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3
Q

What are the characteristics of a field experiment?

A
  • Real world setting
  • Researcher directly manipulates IV
  • Random allocation
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4
Q

What are the characteristics of a quasi experiment?

A
  • No control over IV (naturally occurring)
  • Researcher puts tasks in place to measure DV
  • Some control over EV
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5
Q

What are the characteristics of a natural experiment?

A
  • No control over IV (naturally occurring)
  • DV naturally occurring
  • Little control over EV
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6
Q

What is validity?

A

Accuracy of research findings

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7
Q

What is internal validity?

A

Research accurately measuring what it claims to do

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8
Q

What is external validity?

A

Research findings be accurately generalised beyond study

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9
Q

What are the characteristics of internal validity?

A
  • Investigator effect present
  • Results obtained through manipulation of IV
  • Strict control over EV
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10
Q

What are the characteristics of ecological validity?

A
  • Mundane realism
  • Environment = important
  • Elect natural behaviours
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11
Q

What are the characteristics of population validity?

A
  • Age
  • Sex
  • Cultural background
  • Religious beliefs
  • SES
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12
Q

What are the characteristics of temporal validity?

A
  • Changed attitudes
  • Political context
  • Findings relevant today
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13
Q

What is reliability?

A

How consistent results likely to be

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14
Q

Evaluate laboratory experiments

A

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

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15
Q

Evaluate field experiments

A

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

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16
Q

Evaluate quasi experiments

A

P= Low IV
E= Can’t randomly allocate
E= Participant variables confound results

Lab= easily replicable
Field= high EV

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17
Q

Evaluate natural experiments

A
  1. Investigate impractical/ unethical experiments
  2. EV high
  3. Demand characteristics reduced
  4. No random allocation
  5. No control over environment
  6. Ethical guidelines (unaware)
  7. Impossible to replicate
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18
Q

What is a variable?

A

Anything in a research study can vary

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19
Q

What is the independent variable?

A

Variable that’s changed

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20
Q

What is the dependent variable?

A

Variable that’s measured

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21
Q

What is an operationalised variable?

A

Defining precisely how you intend to measure the DV + alter conditions of IV

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22
Q

What is an extraneous variable?

A

Extra to the IV which might impact the DV

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23
Q

What are the types of extraneous variables?

A
  1. Participant variables
  2. Situational variables
  3. Experimenter effect
  4. Demand characteristics
24
Q

What are participant variables?

A

Aspects of a pps background that affect results
- Age, gender, identity

25
Q

How do we control participant variables?

A

Random allocation:
1. List of pps generated
2. Pps divided by chance
3. List worked through using system

26
Q

What are situational variables?

A

Alter pps behaviour sources of random error
- Lighting, temp, time

27
Q

How do we control situational variables?

A

Standardised procedure:
1. Repeating same for each group

28
Q

What are experimenter effects?

A

Unintentional actions by researchers that influence outcome
- Interaction

29
Q

How do we control experimenter effects

A

Double blind:
1. Neither pps nor conductor of study know the aim

30
Q

What are demand characteristics?

A

Cues that encourage pps to conform researchers expectations
- Materials/ experimental setting

31
Q

How do we control demand characteristics?

A

Double bind:
Neither pps nor conductor of study know the aim

32
Q

What is a confounding variable?

A

Form of extraneous variable that has not been controlled

33
Q

Why is a confounding variable hard to control?

A

It varies systematically with the independent variable

34
Q

What is a research aim?

A

Identifies the purpose of the investigation

35
Q

What is an operationalised hypothesis?

A

Precise, testable statement about the expected outcome of research

36
Q

What must a hypothesis always have?

A
  • Predictive statement
  • Refer to conditions of IV being investigated
  • Refer to operationalised DV
37
Q

What is a null hypothesis?

A

Statement that the researcher will not find any results of statistical significance

  • No difference between the DV for each condition of your IV + any difference due to chance
38
Q

What is a non directional hypothesis?

A

Unsure of the likely outcome of findings but will be a difference

  • There will be a significant difference between…
39
Q

What is a directional hypothesis?

A

Good idea of what the results are likely to be in a study

  • Uses MORE/LESS
40
Q

What is order effect?

A

If pps repeat then have a change in condition the 2nd performance becomes affected

41
Q

What is an experimental design?

A

How pps are organised into conditions of IV

42
Q

What are the 3 experimental designs?

A
  1. Independent group
  2. Repeated measures
  3. Matched pairs
43
Q

What is the independent measures design and why is it used?

A

Different pps take part in each condition of IV
- Not influenced by order effect
- Reduce demand characteristic

44
Q

What is a repeated measures design and why is it used?

A

Same pps take place in each condition of IV
- Study change in something
- Minimise affect of participant variables
- Difficult to get large sample

45
Q

What is counterbalancing?

A

Doing condition A or B first then swap
AB/BA

46
Q

What is a matched pairs design and why is it used?

A

Pps matched on key variables and split into different conditions
- Minimise participant variables
- No influence on order effects

47
Q

What are the strengths of independent groups?

A
  • Reduce demand characteristics
  • Not influenced by order effects
48
Q

What are the weaknesses of independent groups?

A
  • Different pps for each can give different results
  • Participant variables
  • Hard to study change
  • Reduce internal validity
49
Q

What are the strengths of repeated measures?

A
  • Minimise effect of participant variables
  • Increase internal validity
50
Q

What are the weaknesses of repeated measures?

A
  • Order effects
  • Difficult to get large sample
  • Demand characteristics
51
Q

What are the strengths of matched pairs?

A
  • Minimise participant variables
  • No order effects
  • Demand characteristics
52
Q

What are the weaknesses of matched pairs?

A
  • Hard/ time consuming to match people
  • Hard to find exact match
53
Q

Evaluate independent groups

A

P= Findings valid
E= No order effects as only 1 condition
E= No fatigue improves internal validity

P= More valid
E= Reduce demand characteristics
E= Increase internal validity

P= validity affected
E= Participant variables
E= Variation between groups to less valid conclusions

54
Q

Evaluate repeated measures

A

P= More valid
E= Participant variables controlled
E= Pps acts as own control + special features

P= Validity affected
E= Demand characteristics
E= Respond invalidly

P= Validity affected
E= Order effects likely
E= Pps fatigued

55
Q

Evaluate matched pair design

A

P= Improve internal validity
E= Make 1 list of words
E= Reduces confounding variables

P= Order effects reduced
E= 1 condition
E= Increase validity

P= Improve validity
E= Pair pps by similar characteristics
E= Reduces participant variables

P= Matching can be difficult
E= Ask pps questions to pair
E= Participant variables never controlled