Research Methods - Paper 1 Flashcards
Aim
What the researcher is going to investigate
Hypothesis
What the researcher thinks will happen
N u l l hypothesis
There is no relationship between variables
Alternative hypothesis
There is a relationship between the variables
What does a hypothesis need to contain
One condition of the independent variable and one condition of the dependant variable
What type of experimental design needs the least number of participants for the same amount of data
Repeated measures
What type of experimental design is the most time-consuming
Matched pairs
What type of experimental design has order effects as a limitation
Repeated measures
What is random allocation
Refers to how experimenter’s divide and place participants into each experimental condition
Order effects
Order effects can occur when using a repeated measures design as a result of 1 participants taking part in both conditions the research I cannot see if it was a change in the independent variable that affected the dependant variable or if it was the order in which the participants did the conditions
Practise effect
Participants do better in the condition to because they practised in condition 1
Fatigue effect
Participants be worth in condition to because they are tired from condition one
What can be done to overcome order effects
Counterbalancing
What can be done to overcome order effects
Counterbalancing
Randomisation
Randomisation is the process of making something random random means having an equal chance of being selected the process is used to reduce the effects of researcher induced bias
Standardisation
Standardisation means insuring the everything within an experiment is kept consistent by keeping everything the same for all participants
Pilot study
A pilot study is a small scale study completed before a main study begins the aim of conducting a pilot study is to identify any Flaws and rectify them before conducting the main large-scale study this will ultimately save the research of time and money
Experiment
An experiment is an investigation where the independent variable is changed to see the effect on the dependant variable
Name the three types of experimental design
Repeated measures, matched pairs independent groups
What is a repeated measures design
Where participants take part in both conditions of the independent variable we compared the results of the dependant variable of the participant from both conditions
What are the positive aspects to a repeated measures design
Half the number of people needed compared to using an independent groups design. The participant are the same so you have no differences between people reduced participant variables.
What are the negative aspects to a repeated measures design
The order of conditions may affect performance. Order effects. By taking part in both conditions the participants may guess the aim of the study and so exhibit demand characteristics
What are demand characteristics
Where participants change their behaviour to give the researcher the result they expect or to purposefully contradict their aim
What is an independent groups design
Participants are randomly allocated to one condition of the independent variable one group undergoes one condition and the other group undergoes the other we then compared the performance of two groups
What are the positive aspects of an independent group design
There are no order effects because people only take part in one condition. Often the same materials can be used for the other condition (save time and money so is practical). Participant cannot work out the aim of the study because they only take part in one condition so it reduces demand characteristics
What are the negative aspects of an independent group design
The researcher cannot control the effects of participant variables (the individual differences between people for example intelligence. Participants in group a may have better memories than in group B. Double the amount of participants needed and repeated measures in order to end up with the same amount of data
What is a matched pairs design
Participants are matched based on similarity or key characteristics (for example similar ages,, intelligence) believed to have an influence on the dependant variable. The characteristics must be relevant to the area of study. One of the pair is then randomly allocated to condition a and the other condition and undertake different conditions of the independent variable
What are the positive aspects of a matched pairs design
Reduces the effect of participant variables. These are differences between people which may influence the dependant variable. Easier to cross compare results between individuals to see and assessed the impact of the independent variable.
What are the negative aspects of a matched pairs design
Time-consuming to test participants and match them based on important characteristic related to the study. Difficult to reduce all participant variables. Matches are created based on what the research think will affect the dependant variable but participants may have differences unbeknown to the researcher than influence the dependant variable
Counterbalancing
Half the participants to one condition first and the other half do the other condition first then they swap. It is used to control for order effects in a repeated measures design
What are the three types of experimental methods
Lab
Field
Natural
What are the non experimental methods
Correlation
Obsevational
Self report
Case
What is a lab experiment
Refers to a room designers specifically for the purpose of scientific investigation
Positive aspects of a lab experiment
Standardised procedures
High level of control over variables
Easy to replicate
Negative aspects of a lab experiment
Unrealistic
Low in ecological validity
Cannot be generalised
Participants may figure out the aim of the study and show demand characteristics
What is a field experiment
The setting of the experiment takes a very interesting a real world situation for the participants. However there is still an IV that is being manipulatec by the researcher and it’s affect on the DV is measured
What are the positive aspects of a field experiment
High ecological validity
Results can be generalised
Reduaced demand characteristics
What are the negative aspects of a field experiment
Les control over extreanuous variablss caidual relationships difficult to establish
Replicstion is hard
Patience ence is required
What is a natural experiment
The researcher takes advantage over a naturally occurring IV the changing IV would occour weather the researcher was present or not the DV is still measirexd
Post I’ve aspects of natural experiments
High in ecological validity
Behavoiors can be a piece to real world situations
Reduaced demand characteristics
What are the negative, aspects of a, natural experiment
Unable to reduaced the effects of extreanuous variables
Hard to establish casual relationships
Conditions cannot be replicstec
Low in reliablitlity
Cannot randomly allocate particpnets to conditions
sample bias
Why were the names of the people who took part in psychological experiments changed from subjects to participants
To show respect
The term “subject” suggests that they are powerless and unhuman
What is informed consent
Participants should, know, enough details about the study in order to give, permission to take part
Deception
Lying to owple, and decidcing them about the aim of the, study
Right to withdraw
Participants, should be given the right to withdraw themselves and their data from the study at any time
Protection from harm
Participants should not be either physically or psycolologically harmed wine pearticipafing in research
Debrifing
Participants should be told what the study was about before they leave this, is essential when you have, decieved participants
Confidentiality
Meansckeepong personal information confidential and when writing reports keeping participants, data annonoymous
Privacy
Psycolologists should not intride on participants, private life or space without their permission
What are the 4 data types
Qualitatative
Quantitative
Positive
Negative
What is qualitative data
Qualitative data is written or spoken it often describe something. It is not numerical but rich in detail and I include a reason as to why the behaviour occurred.
What is quantitative data
This is numerical data it often relates to how much how far how many or how long it doesn’t include a reason or explanation for the numerical answer given
Give an example of qualitative data
Answers given an interview, descriptions of an observation, explanations or opinions in a questionnaire.
Give examples of quantitative data
Percentage of people who obeyed the number of items recalled how long participants rated for
What is primary data
Any data that has been collected by the psychologist for the purpose of their own research or investigation it is of Direct relevance to their research aim and hypothesis
What is secondary data
Data that was originally collected by someone other than the psychologists but the psychologist will use it for their own research purposes
Give an example of primary data
From a questionnaire
Observations
Results from an experiment
Give an example of secondary data
Official statistics (prime education health)
Results from another study
Documents Diaries newspapers
What is a case study
An in-depth investigation into an individual or a group of people
Name the 6 types of observational studies
Naturalistic, controlled, overt, covert, participant, non-participant
