Research Methods P2

Question 1

What is sampling?

Answer 1

Various ways in which researches select pps for study

Question 2

What is the target population?

Answer 2

Specific group of people from whole population you want to study

Question 3

What is a sample?

Answer 3

Smaller group you actually select from target population to participate in the study

Question 4

What is volunteer sampling?

Answer 4

• Pps not directly asked
• Self select to take part

e.g. Placing advert in newspaper

Question 5

What is systematic sampling?

Answer 5

• Sample frame produced
• Choose nth person until sample size met

e.g. List alphabetically then every 5th person

Question 6

What is opportunity sampling?

Answer 6

• Researcher asks who readily available

e.g. Directly asks student in group

Question 7

What is stratified sampling?

Answer 7

• Composition reflects proportion of subgroups
• Strata identified the % proportion calculated
• Random sampling done on each strata

e.g. 60% male 40% female= 6:4

Question 8

What is random sampling?

Answer 8

• Obtain lists then chosen by chance

e.g. Random computer generator

Question 9

Evaluate random sampling

Answer 9

P= Representative
E= No control over who selected
E= Improve population validity

P= Difficult + time consuming
E= Need list of target population
E= Not time effective

P= Not guaranteed representative sample
E= Groups over represented
E= Less representative than stratified

Question 10

Evaluate opportunity sampling

Answer 10

P= Easy to obtain
E= Uses anyone readily available
E= Sample not identified prior

P= Unrepresentative
E= Pps readily available
E= Pps share similar background reducing population validity

P= Ethical issues
E= Readily available
E= Pps feel pressured

Question 11

Evaluate volunteer sampling

Answer 11

P= Locates particularly niche group
E= Advertise for specific group
E= Same time gathering sample

P= Lacks generalisability
E= Uses people who put themselves forward
E= Limits population validity

P= Not representative
E= Self selected pps
E= Limits population variables

Question 12

Evaluate systematic sampling

Answer 12

P= Avoid researcher bias
E= No influence over whos chosen
E= More representative sample

P= Don’t guarantee representative sample
E= Groups over/under represented
E= Better to use stratified

Question 13

Evaluate stratified sampling

Answer 13

P= Avoid researcher bias
E= No influence over who chosen
E= Representative sample

P= Time consuming
E= Need details from target population
E= Takes time to get all details

P= Not completely representative
E= Strata cant reflect all subgroups
E= Representation of target population not possible

Question 14

What is counterbalancing?

Answer 14

The order of the conditions is mixed up

Question 15

What is the purpose of counterbalancing?

Answer 15

Order effects are now equal across both conditions

Question 16

What is randomisation?

Answer 16

Tasks presented to pps in random order

Question 17

What is the purpose of randomisation?

Answer 17

Avoids systematic errors
Reduces bias as researcher has no control over order of items

Question 18

What is standardisation?

Answer 18

Process in which procedures used in research are kept the same

Question 19

What is random allocation?

Answer 19

1. List of pps
2. Pps divided by chance into conditions
3. Done with each person until pps number is equal

Question 20

How do you control against participant variables?

Answer 20

• Use large sample
• Random allocation
• Repeated measures/ matched pair design

Question 21

How do you control against situation variables?

Answer 21

• Standardised procedure
• Use script/ written instructions

Question 22

How do you control against experimenter effects?

Answer 22

• Double blind
• Random allocation
• Provide written instruction

Question 23

How do you control against demand characteristics?

Answer 23

• Deception
• Independent group design
• Distractor questions
• Double blind