research methods - study :)

Question 1

define validity

Answer 1

the extent of an assessment tool measuring what it was designed to measure

Question 2

define reliability

Answer 2

the extent of an assessment tool to measure what its designed to measure, with consistent results every time.

Question 3

identify the research steps - in order

Answer 3

1. identify the research problem
2. formulate a hypothesis
3. design the method
4. collect the data
5. analyse the data
6. interpret the results
7. report the findings

Question 4

define data

Answer 4

the observable facts that psychologists systematically (methodically) collect.

Question 5

distinguish between primary and secondary data

Answer 5

primary data - sourced first hand through fieldwork or experimentation

secondary data - other people’s previously collected data, found through journals and articles

Question 6

define subjective

Answer 6

= data collected through observations of behaviour, or information based on participant’s self-reports.

• often bias because it requires personal info (e.g. attitudes or opinions)
• difficult to statistically analyse

E.G.
- a patient describing their pain level

Question 7

define objective

Answer 7

= data collected under controlled conditions and are easily measured and compared with other data

+ often numerical (less bias)
+ can be statistically analysed
- external factors are not always taken into account = doesn’t provide reasoning behind the score

E.G.
- average height of students in a year 12 class

Question 8

what are the data collection techniques

Answer 8

• case studies,
• observational studies,
• self-reports

Question 9

What do you include in a research hypothesis?

Answer 9

= a general prediction about the cause-and-effect relationship between 2 or more variables

include:

• “it is hypothesis…”
• population
• IV and DV
• interaction between the variables (higher/lower/decrease/increase)

Question 10

Define Qualitative Data

Answer 10

= data that describes changes in the quality of behaviour - often expressed in words.

• difficult to categorise / statistically analyse because responses could take a wide variety of forms
• chance of personal, observer or researcher bias
• difficult to summarise
  + participants can be unlimited in their responses
  + participants can offer their reasoning on their responses

E.G.
- participants describing their responses to a film

Question 11

Describe Quantitative Data

Answer 11

= numbers or categories that can be statistically analysed and compared with other data.

• participants cannot elaborate on their responses
• lack of explanation for participant’s responses
  + can easily draw conclusions
  + can make comparisons with other data

Question 12

What can be concluded if the data is normally distributed

Answer 12

• 68% of the scores lie one standard deviation away from the mean
• 95% of the scores lie two standard deviations away from the mean
• 99.7% of the scores lie three standard deviations away from the mean

standard deviation =

Question 13

If the results are less than 5% / p less than 0.05 =

Answer 13

• the results are statistically significant
• less than 5% probability of the results being due to chance
• the research can accept the hypothesis

Question 14

If the results are more than 5% / p more than 0.05 =

Answer 14

• the results are not statistically significant
• more than 5% probability that the results are due to chance
• the research must reject the hypothesis

Question 15

State two features of a normal curve

Answer 15

1. symmetrical - around the mean

2. denser in the centre, less dense at the tails

Question 16

define non-experimental

Answer 16

non = doesn’t have an independent and dependent variable
- e.g. case studies, archival (past) research, surveys, correlational studies (studies the relationship between two variables)

Question 17

identify the term used for variables in a correlational study

Answer 17

= behavioural variables

Question 18

Describe positive correlation, negative correlation and zero correlation

Answer 18

positive = /
negative = \
zero = scattered points

Question 19

Describe the placebo effect

Answer 19

Placebo = a fake or false treatment used so that no participants know whether they are being exposed to the experimental condition.
- minimises the impact of the placebo effect

Placebo effect = occurs when there is a change in a participant’s behaviour due to their expectation about the treatment.

E.G.
- if an experimental group is given a pill and the control group isn’t, the participants in the experimental group may think their headache is cured simply because they received treatment.

Question 20

Describe single-blind procedure and double-blind procedure

Answer 20

single-blind procedure
= when the participant’s don’t know whether they have been assigned to the control or experimental group
- helps minimise the placebo effect, but not the experimenter effect

(experimenter effect = occurs when there is an unintentional change in participant’s behaviour, and therefore results, due to an experimenter’s influence
- e.g. unintentionally dropping hints about desired responses to support their hypothesis)

double-blind procedure
= when neither the participants nor the experimenter know which participants have been allocated to the control and experimental groups.
- involves another person knowing who is, but that person isn’t directly involved with the participants (minimises experimenter effect)