research methods - study :) Flashcards
define validity
the extent of an assessment tool measuring what it was designed to measure
define reliability
the extent of an assessment tool to measure what its designed to measure, with consistent results every time.
identify the research steps - in order
- identify the research problem
- formulate a hypothesis
- design the method
- collect the data
- analyse the data
- interpret the results
- report the findings
define data
the observable facts that psychologists systematically (methodically) collect.
distinguish between primary and secondary data
primary data - sourced first hand through fieldwork or experimentation
secondary data - other people’s previously collected data, found through journals and articles
define subjective
= 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
define objective
= 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
what are the data collection techniques
- case studies,
- observational studies,
- self-reports
What do you include in a research hypothesis?
= 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)
Define Qualitative Data
= 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
Describe Quantitative Data
= 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
What can be concluded if the data is normally distributed
- 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 =
If the results are less than 5% / p less than 0.05 =
- the results are statistically significant
- less than 5% probability of the results being due to chance
- the research can accept the hypothesis
If the results are more than 5% / p more than 0.05 =
- the results are not statistically significant
- more than 5% probability that the results are due to chance
- the research must reject the hypothesis
State two features of a normal curve
- symmetrical - around the mean
2. denser in the centre, less dense at the tails
define non-experimental
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)
identify the term used for variables in a correlational study
= behavioural variables
Describe positive correlation, negative correlation and zero correlation
positive = / negative = \ zero = scattered points
Describe the placebo effect
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.
Describe single-blind procedure and double-blind procedure
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)
