Research Methods P2 Flashcards
What is sampling?
Various ways in which researches select pps for study
What is the target population?
Specific group of people from whole population you want to study
What is a sample?
Smaller group you actually select from target population to participate in the study
What is volunteer sampling?
- Pps not directly asked
- Self select to take part
e.g. Placing advert in newspaper
What is systematic sampling?
- Sample frame produced
- Choose nth person until sample size met
e.g. List alphabetically then every 5th person
What is opportunity sampling?
- Researcher asks who readily available
e.g. Directly asks student in group
What is stratified sampling?
- Composition reflects proportion of subgroups
- Strata identified the % proportion calculated
- Random sampling done on each strata
e.g. 60% male 40% female= 6:4
What is random sampling?
- Obtain lists then chosen by chance
e.g. Random computer generator
Evaluate random sampling
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
Evaluate opportunity sampling
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
Evaluate volunteer sampling
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
Evaluate systematic sampling
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
Evaluate stratified sampling
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
What is counterbalancing?
The order of the conditions is mixed up
What is the purpose of counterbalancing?
Order effects are now equal across both conditions
What is randomisation?
Tasks presented to pps in random order
What is the purpose of randomisation?
Avoids systematic errors
Reduces bias as researcher has no control over order of items
What is standardisation?
Process in which procedures used in research are kept the same
What is random allocation?
- List of pps
- Pps divided by chance into conditions
- Done with each person until pps number is equal
How do you control against participant variables?
- Use large sample
- Random allocation
- Repeated measures/ matched pair design
How do you control against situation variables?
- Standardised procedure
- Use script/ written instructions
How do you control against experimenter effects?
- Double blind
- Random allocation
- Provide written instruction
How do you control against demand characteristics?
- Deception
- Independent group design
- Distractor questions
- Double blind
What is a pilot study?
Trial run to assess feasibility of the research
- Helps to improve validity
