Research Methods Sub sctn 1

Question 1

4 experimental methods

Answer 1

-Lab experiments
-Field experiments
-Natural experiments
-Quasi Experiment

Question 2

non-experimental methods

Answer 2

-correlation
-observation
-self report: questionnaire and interview
-Case studies
-content analysis

Question 3

what is a lab experiment

Answer 3

-in controlled environment = lab
-IV controlled to see how manipulates DV

Question 4

Evaluate lab experiment

Answer 4

(+) Control over extraneous variables
(-) Demand characteristics
(-) low ecological validity

Question 5

what is a field experiment

Answer 5

-Not set in a lab
set in outside world
-IV controlled

Question 6

evaluate field experiment

Answer 6

(+) higher ecological validity
(+) lower demand characteristics
(-)Less control overt extraneous variables

Question 7

what is a natural experiment

Answer 7

-Usually happens in real world
-IV not manipulated, happens naturally

Question 8

evaluate natural experiment

Answer 8

(+) higher ecological validity
(+) lower demand characteristics
(-)Less control overt extraneous variables

Question 9

what is a Quasi experiment

Answer 9

-Almost an experiment
-IV happens naturally, not manipulated by anyone

Eg: age, personality

Question 10

evaluate quasi experiment

Answer 10

(+) usually takes place in controlled conditions
(-)Random allocation not possible- confounding variables may arise

Question 11

What are correlations

Answer 11

-Relationship between 2 sets of data
- uses co-variables
positive, negative, no correlation
-correlation coefficient can be -1 to 0 to 1
-Displayed on scatter graph

Question 12

Evaluate correlations

Answer 12

(+) Identifies relationship, [provide] way for new research
(+)uses quantitative data, so easy to measure, summaries

(-) cannot infer direction of cause and effect
(-)other variables may mediate between the relationship, (e.g smoking, drinking = stress)
(-)correlation does not = causation

Question 13

what are interviews

Answer 13

-p.p asked question face to face

Question 14

what type of questions can be asked and what type of interviews can be

Answer 14

-can be open or closed but usually open to maximize info gained

can be Structured = pre organised questions

unstructured = no pre organised, as psychologist knows what topic theyre interested in and make up q’s as they go along.

Question 15

evaluate interviews

Answer 15

(+)Rich, detailed data, in depth
(+) can be standardized and replicated
(+)build rapport with p.p
(+) Researcher present so can clarify q’s give prods

(-) SDB
(-) interviewer bias

Question 16

what are questionairres

Answer 16

-set of questions designed to collect info about a specific topic
-done on paper or online
-p.p answer themselves

Question 17

what are open and closed questions

Answer 17

open = Explain…. describe ….
Provide own answer

Closed = a range of answers which p.p select = tick boxes , Likert scales

Question 18

what to do and not to do when making a questionnaire

Answer 18

Do = -relevant q’s - Clear - Filler questions to reduce Demand characteristics
Don’t = -2 questions in one - use leading questions
-use unambiguous language

Question 19

Evaluate questionnaire

Answer 19

(+) Collect info from large group
(+) standardised
(+)Can access peoples thoughts from own P.O.V
(+) confidential

(-)SDB
(-)Questions can be interpreted differently
(-) Researcher is not present

Question 20

What are observations

Answer 20

-Watching + recording behaviour

Question 21

what are the ytypes of observation

Answer 21

naturalistic vs Controlled

Overt vs Covert

participant vs non-participant

Question 22

how is behaviour recorded during observations

Answer 22

via behaviour category sytems
= tally expected behaviours

Question 23

what are the different types of behaviors and how are they sampled

Answer 23

Discontinuous = Event sampling = sample every time it happens

Continuous = Time sampling = choose time interval and count each time the behavior is being shown at each interval

Question 24

what is a covert observatiom

Answer 24

-p.p unaware that their behaviour is the focus of the study
-Done in secret

Question 25

evauluate observations

Answer 25

(+) inter rater reliability can be checked
(+) can be ecologically valid

(-) Observer bias = researcher sees what they want to see rather than actual behavior
(-)Practical issues = BCS is hard to make mutually exclusive + clear
|Attention issues, time issues , ethic issues

Question 26

What are case studies

Methods used:

Answer 26

-1 person or small group

-longitudinal

-unique behaviour

Methods used:
-observations
-questionnaire
-interview
-tests
-content analysis

Question 27

evaluate case studies

Answer 27

(+) Rich, detailed
(+) Allows psychologist to study behaviour that is usually unethical to manipulate

(-)Limited sample so can’t generalise
(-)Susceptible to researcher bias = because of time and effort devoted to one person

Question 28

What is content analysis (not the procedure)

Answer 28

-Analyses qualitative data
-acquired through media
-Indirect observation
-involves counting / tallying

Question 29

procedure of content analysis

Answer 29

1)observe small section of media you are interested in (e.g 5 mins of a film clip)
2) Use this to decide behaviour categories to code entire data
3)Read/watch data
4)tTally in behaviour categories while watching/reading media
5)Compare + draw conclusions
-Describe findings quantitatively or qualitatively

Question 30

Evaluate content analysis

Answer 30

(+) high ecological validity
(+)Can be replicated to test reliability
(+)Can check inter-rater reliability
(-)Observer bias
(-)behaviour systems may be faulty causing invalid results

Question 31

waht is a meta analysis

Answer 31

-Collection of studies on same topic
-findings combined, conclusions drawn

Question 32

evauluate meta analysis

Answer 32

(+)Large sample so generalisable
(-) Stuudies may have different levels of control / different procedures

Question 33

what is a pilot study

Answer 33

-small scale study to ‘check factors’ such as:
-ethics
-procedures are feasible
-materials are of high quality
-Materials are effective
-variables operationalised effectively

Issues can then be rectifies before real thing

Question 34

How to calculate inter rater reliability (procedure)

Answer 34

0)At least 2 observers
1)Ensure you have same behaviour coding systems
2)carry out observations independently
3) calculate % similarity (large no. / smaller no. x 100)
4) If you get 80% + , you have IRR
5)Plot observation score on a scattergraph
6)positive correlation = IRR
7) Use of stats test to find coefficient