Research Methods P123

Question 1

What is a lab experiment?

Answer 1

. allow measurements to be made in highly controlled settings whilst deliberately controlling one variable
. can establish clear cause and effect
. high internal validity
. use standardised procedures so replicable and reliable

. p’s can respond to demand characteristics
. low ecological validity

Question 2

what is internal validity?

Answer 2

. whether the experiment measures what it claims to

Question 3

what is ecological validity?

Answer 3

. whether the experiment is applicable to real life

Question 4

what is a field experiment?

Answer 4

. done in natural everyday settings, IV is manipulated and DV is measured
. higher ecological validity
. less artificial so findings can be generalised to life
. less likely to respond to demand c’s

. not possible to eliminate extraneous variables
. more difficult to establish direct cause and effect
. difficult to replicate due to lack of control

Question 5

what is a natural experiment?

Answer 5

. done in a natural setting, IV not changed therefore not a true experiment, good for unethical or impractical research
. high ecological validity
. less likely to display demand characteristics

. cannot eliminate extraneous variables
. more difficult to establish cause and effect
. difficult to replicate due to lack of control

Question 6

what is a quasi experiment?

Answer 6

. IV based on existing difference, not classed as real experiments due to this
. can have same strengths as lab or field/natural

.groups tested may also differ in other ways
. becomes a confounding variable
. can have same weaknesses of lab experiments

Question 7

what is a confounding variable?

Answer 7

. an extraneous variable that has affected the studies results

Question 8

what is a naturalistic observation?

Answer 8

. carried out in a natural setting, can be covert or overt
. high ecological validity
. allows researchers to study unmanipulated behaviour

. cannot control extraneous variables
. difficult to replicate due to environment changing

Question 9

what is a controlled observation?

Answer 9

. take place in controlled lab conditions
. easy to replicate so reliable
. less extraneous variables

.more demand characteristics
. lack ecological validity

Question 10

what is a covert observation?

Answer 10

. done secretly, p’s unaware they’re being observed
. no demand characteristics
. allows to explore secretive behaviour e.g. criminal

. ethical issues (consent)
. might be difficult to record without being noticed

Question 11

what is an overt observation?

Answer 11

. an observation that’s done openly
. researcher can find more information out
. fewer ethical issues

. observer effects can lead to demand characteristics
. might be difficult to recruit p’s okay with observation

Question 12

what is a participant observation?

Answer 12

. observer gets involved, covert or overt
. fuller understanding of group behaviour
. behaviour of p’s more natural

. becomes difficult to step back and be objective
. difficult to record without being spotted (if covert)

Question 13

what is a non-participant observation

Answer 13

. where a researcher follows a group without engaging
. no interference with behaviour
. able to remain objective

. might not fully understand actions of the group
. presence of observer can change behaviour of group

Question 14

what are behavioural categories in observations?

Answer 14

. where a checklist is used every time a behaviour takes place
. makes data easier to quantify
. objective, easy to replicate

. lack of inter observer reliability
. researchers require training, high cost

.can use time sampling or event sampling

Question 15

what is time sampling?

Answer 15

. involves observing at preestablished time frames
. effective in reducing amount of observations
. may miss key behaviours

Question 16

what is event sampling?

Answer 16

. observer followed preestablished behaviours and records each time one occurs
. useful when an event is infrequent so may be missed with time sampling

Question 17

what is an open question?

Answer 17

. qualitative
. no set answer so p’s free to express thoughts and ideas

. qualitative so in depth with fuller understanding
. very time consuming to draw conclusions from

Question 18

what is a closed question?

Answer 18

. quantitative
. pre determined answers

. easy to analyse and draw conclusions
. lacks deep meaning

Question 19

what is a Likert scale

Answer 19

. indicates strength of agreement

Question 20

what is a rating scale?

Answer 20

. indicates strength of a feeling

Question 21

what is a fixed choice question?

Answer 21

. answer is a tick box for different options

Question 22

what is a structured interview?

Answer 22

. q’s all predetermined, quantitative
. easy to replicate for reliability
. can explain q’s that aren’t understood

. p’s often lie for social desirability
. interviewer effect

Question 23

what is an unstructured interview?

Answer 23

. closer to a themed conversation, qualitative
. rich data with deep meaning
. can steer interview towards topics

. not standardised so difficult to replicate, unreliable
. difficult to analyse and draw conclusions

Question 24

what requirements should self report research meet?

Answer 24

. filler questions
. mix of open and closed
. sequence of q’s starting easy
. clear and not leading

Question 25

what is a pilot study?

Answer 25

. carried out on a small group of people to find problems with research so it can be fixed before actual study . saves time and money

Question 26

what is a correlational study?

Answer 26

. variables not controlled . no IV or DV . just looks for a relationship between two co-variables . often used when research wouldn't be ethical/practical . use existing data . shown on a scattergram .allows relationship to be examined when experiment may not be possible . can be a good starting point for further research . not possible to establish cause and effect due to no control of v . correlation does not equal causation

Question 27

describe positive correlation?

Answer 27

. high score on one variable and high score on the other variable . 📈 line goes in this direction

Question 28

describe negative correlation?

Answer 28

. high score on one variable and low score on the other . 📉 line looks like this

Question 29

describe no correlation?

Answer 29

. scores on one variable are not connected to scores on the other . dots will be random on scattergram

Question 30

what is operationalisation?

Answer 30

. making sure the variable being measured is clearly defined in a form that's easily measured

Question 31

what is an aim?

Answer 31

. a general statement about the purpose of a study, contains the variables being tested

Question 32

what is a hypothesis and what are the 4 types?

Answer 32

. a prediction of what will happen in the study, must be fully operationalised with clear IV and DV . directional - given if aware of past research so you anticipate a similar outcome . non-directional - given if unaware of past research, doesn't predict the way the results will go . alternative (experimental) hypothesis - states that IV will affect DV, is non directional . Null hypothesis - always given, predicts Iv wont affect DV

Question 33

what happens in hypothesis for correlations?

Answer 33

. looks for a relationship between two co-variables so 'difference' replaced with correlation or relationship . in a directional it will state either positive or negative . in non direct it doesn't state positive or negative

Question 34

what is opportunity sampling?

Answer 34

. askes whoever is most easily available and willing . convenient and easy to obtain large sample . likely to be biased, may select p's who support hypothesis . likely unrepresentative and lacks population validity

Question 35

what is self selecting sampling?

Answer 35

. advertising for volunteers . p's will be motivated to take part . may take study more seriously than randoms . less representative because depends on who volunteers

Question 36

what is systematic sampling?

Answer 36

. selecting nth person on a list . selection isn't biased . p may refuse to participate . may end up with unrepresentative sample

Question 37

what is random sampling?

Answer 37

. every member of target population has equal chance of being selected . avoids bias so has population validity . p's may not be available/refuse . could end up with unrepresentative sample

Question 38

what is stratified sampling?

Answer 38

. sample perfectly matches target population on a smaller scale . most representative sample so can be generalised . very complex and time consuming

Question 39

what is repeated measures design and what are the advantages and disadvantages?

Answer 39

. same ps used in each condition . S reduces amount of total p's . S no unbalanced groups inc validity . W order effects - could be better second time due to practice, may be tired/bored

Question 40

what is independant groups design and what are the advantages and disadvantages?

Answer 40

. different p's used in both conditions . S no order effects so results more valid . S demand characteristics, less aware of aims as first time seeing experiment . W requires more participants . W unbalanced groups - may have individual differences that could be cofounding

Question 41

what is matched pairs design and what are the strengths and weaknesses?

Answer 41

. diff p,s in each condition but each p in group a paired with p in group b, paired based on key characteristics. . S eliminates unbalanced group so less confounding variables . S demand characteristics first time p experiences condition . W requires more ps . is itme consuming and difficult to achieve

Question 42

what is primary data

Answer 42

. collected first hand by researcher specifically to test own hypothesis .S ensures research is sirectly focused so suits aim . W costs more time and moneya s requires new data to be colected

Question 43

what is secondary data

Answer 43

. not personally collected but used in research . Stakes less time and money as already exists . cannot be certain secondary sources achieved through sound research techniques

Question 44

What is investigator effect

Answer 44

. Unwonted influence of the investigator on the research outcome, can be subconscious

Question 45

What is meta analysis

Answer 45

. When loads of stories are put together a joint conclusion of produce . Maybe price of publication bias, researchers may not select all relevant studies and just use one for support hypothesis