RESEARCH METHODS: STEP 1 / STEP 2 / STEP 3 Flashcards
RESEARCH METHODS: STEP 1 - IDENTIFY THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
- AIM
- The aim of the experiment was to investigate if…
- AIM: testable general research question
RESEARCH METHODS: STEP 2 - FORMULATE A HYPOTHESIS
- DEFINITION: HYPOTHESIS
Research Hypothesis
- A clear statement that predicts how changes in the IV will effect the DV
- An educated guess
- A testable statement about the relationship between two or more variables
RESEARCH METHODS: STEP 2 - FORMULATE A HYPOTHESIS
* NEED TO INCLUDE: Direction/Prediction, Population, IV and DV
- DEFINITION: IV
- DEFINITION: DV
If ……. then……
IV (Independent variable)
- The variable that is systematically manipulated
- In order to assess its effect on the participants’ responses
DV (Dependent variable)
- The variable that is being measured
- Shows the effects of the IV
RESEARCH METHODS: STEP 2 - FORMULATE A HYPOTHESIS
- OPERATIONALISED VARIABLES
- Make sure they are measurable or testable
- Describing exactly HOW that variable is manipulated and / or measured
- If….. then…..
RESEARCH METHODS: STEP 3 - DESIGN THE METHOD
- DEFINITION: POPULATION
- DEFINITION: SAMPLE
- DEFINITION: PARTICIPANTS
Population
- A particular group who has one more characteristics in common
Sample
- A subset of the larger group (the population) chosen for the study. It is ALWAYS smaller than the population and therefore should be representative to the population
Participants
- A person / individual who takes part in a study
- A group of people that partake in a study
RESEARCH METHODS: STEP 3 - DESIGN THE METHOD
- PARTICIPANT SELECTION + SAMPLING OPTION
- Convenience sampling
- Random sampling
- Random stratified sampling
Convenience sampling
- Also known as an opportunistic sample
- The selection of participants who are readily available without employing random sampling
- Not every participant in the population has an equal chance of being selected for the study
Random sampling
- When every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected as a participant in the study
- The selection of one participant doesn’t affect the selection of others
- Ensures that the sample is REPRESENTATIVE of the population
Random stratified sampling
- When the population is divided into DISTINCT groups (strata)
- Then, random samples of proportionate size are DRAWN from within each of the STRATA
RESEARCH METHODS: STEP 3 - DESIGN THE METHOD
- STRENGTHS (Convenience, Random, Random stratified)
RANDOM:
- Ensures that the sample is representative of the population
- Equal chance of selection
CONVEINECE
- Quick, Easy, Cheap (Most common method)
RANDOM STRATIFIED
- Eliminates the effect of the variable on which the sample is stratified
RESEARCH METHODS: STEP 3 - DESIGN THE METHOD
- LIMITATIONS (Convenience, Random, Random stratified)
RANDOM
- Time consuming
- May end up with an unrepresentative sample
- Equal
CONVEINECE
- Bias in sample (Because it is not random)
RANDOM STRATIFIED
- Time consuming
- Expensive
RESEARCH METHODS: STEP 3 - DESIGN THE METHOD
- PARTICIPANT ALLOCATION
- NOTE: need to make sure that the Experimental and Control groups are as similar as possible in personal characteristics and are treated as similarly as possible
- Involves allocating the participants of the sample into different groups involved in the research study
- EXPERIMENTAL Group = Exposed to the IV
- CONTROL Group = Doesn’t receive the IV but provides a standard against which the Experimental Group’s performance is measured
RESEARCH METHODS: STEP 3 - DESIGN THE METHOD
- EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS
- Independent Groups Design
- Repeated Measures Design
- Matched - Participants Design
Independent Groups Design:
- Participants are randomly allocated to the control and experimental groups
- Also known as Between-participants designs
Repeated Measures Design:
- Each participant from the sample is in the control and and Experimental Groups
- All participants are exposed to ALL levels of the IV
Matched - Participants Design:
- Involves pairs of participants
- Similar in key characteristics that can influence the IV
- Randomly allocated one to each of the control and experimental groups
RESEARCH METHODS: STEP 3 - DESIGN THE METHOD
- STRENGTHS (Independent Groups Design, Repeated Measures Design, Matched - Participants Design)
INDPENDENT GD
- No order effects
- Participant attrition is LESS common
REPEATED MD
- EV and CV are minimized (the same participant is being used in both conditions)
- Participant characteristics are kept constant
MATCHED PD
- Participants in the EX and CO are very similar on the key characteristics of the study
- participant attrition is LESS common
RESEARCH METHODS: STEP 3 - DESIGN THE METHOD
- LIMITATIONS (Independent Groups Design, Repeated Measures Design, Matched - Participants Design)
INDPENDENT GD
- LESS control over participant characteristics
REPEATED MD
- Order effect occurs
- Time consuming
- Participants are likely to drop out before the experiment is completed
MATCHED PD
- Doesn’t match on all human characteristics (Difficult to compare results)
- IF Attrition occurs = loss of two sets of data, not just one
- Pre-testing often needs to occur = time consuming
RESEARCH METHODS: STEP 3 - DESIGN THE METHOD
- Case Studies
Case studies (+) = Suited to investigate sensitive and complex issues
Case studies (-) = Researcher bias could be a problem
Case studies (-) = Risk of participant expectancy (Since participants and researcher interact with each other for long periods)
CASE STUDIES
- Are an in-depth investigation
- Often over a long period of time
- Data is typically gathered from a variety of sources
RESEARCH METHODS: STEP 3 - DESIGN THE METHOD
* Observational Studies NA O (+) = Highly realistic NA O (-) = Lack of ability to control the IV
CO O (+) = Control over environment enables more accuracy in observations CO O (-) = Participant behavior may be changed by the environment
OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES
NATURALISTIC OB
- Observation of voluntary behaviors
- Occurring within the subject’s natural environment
CONTROLLED OB
- Observation of voluntary behaviors within a structured environment (i.e. Laboratory)
RESEARCH METHODS: STEP 3 - DESIGN THE METHOD
- Longitudinal Studies
LS (+) = Less interference of personal characteristics (Investigates how conditions progress where the same person is being investigated)
LS (-) = Time consuming
LS (-) = High drop out rate
LONGITUDINAL STUDIES
- Same participants are investigated over a long period of time
- Often involves a form of repeated measures Design