Research Methods Year 1 (unfinished)

Question 1

What is an Experimental/Alternate hypothesis?

Answer 1

A clear, precise, testable statement which includes named variables and a prediction of outcome.

Question 2

What is a null hypothesis?

Answer 2

A statement which predicts no relationship between the variables and that any effect is coincidental.

Question 3

What is an independent variable?

Answer 3

Things that are manipulated or changed by the psychologist.

Question 4

What is a dependent variable?

Answer 4

The thing that changes as a result of the independent variable and therefore what is measured by the psychologist.

Question 5

What does operationalised mean?

Answer 5

The term used to describe how a variable is clearly defined by the researcher and the unit in which the variable is measured which is most appropriate for the context.

Question 6

What is a directional/one-tailed hypothesis?

Answer 6

This predicts the direction in which the change is expected to occur. For example, it will include words such as increase/decrease or higher/lower.

Question 7

What is a non-directional/two-tailed hypothesis?

Answer 7

This predicts change and does not specify a direction. For example, it will include words such as effect or change.

Question 8

Name the 4 types of experiment.

Answer 8

• Field
• Laboratory
• Natural
• Quasi

Question 9

What is a field experiment? Give an advantage and a disadvantage for them.

Answer 9

They carry out research in a natural environment.
+ High Ecological Validity
+ Reduced Demand Characteristics
- No control of the variables
- Difficult to replicate

Question 10

What is a laboratory experiment? Give an advantage and a disadvantage for them.

Answer 10

This experiment takes place in a highly controlled environment.
+ Complete control over variables
+ Able to use technical equipment
- Lack of Ecological Validity
- Demand Characteristics

Question 11

What is a natural experiment? Give an advantage and a disadvantage for them.

Answer 11

The cause is something which has already happened out of the control of the researcher and the aftermath of the event is what is being researched.
+ Able to research the impact of rare events such as natural disasters
+ Real life relevance
- No control over variables
- Often get a sampling bias due to the event being localised to a specific area.

Question 12

What is a quasi experiment? Give an advantage and a disadvantage for them.

Answer 12

The researcher does not directly control the independent variable in this situation. They simply exploit naturally occurring differences.
+ Reduction of demand characteristics
+ Lack of direct intervention
- No control over variables
- Often get a biased sample

Question 13

Name the 3 most common extraneous variables.

Answer 13

• Demand Characteristics
• Social Desirability
• Investigator Effect

Question 14

What are demand characteristics?

Answer 14

A subtle cue which makes the participants aware of what the researcher expects to find or how the participants are expected to behave. This can alter the outcome of an experiment as participants will often change their behaviour to conform to the experimenters expectations.

Question 15

What is social desirability?

Answer 15

Occurs when a participant changes their behaviour in order to look good. They will want to be portrayed in the most socially acceptable and best possible way so will act according to their beliefs about what this involves.

Question 16

What is the investigator effect?

Answer 16

This is also known as researcher bias and occurs when the researcher in some way influences the outcome of the study. This could be because of what they say or do but could also be due to their expectations of the research.

Question 17

What are extraneous variables?

Answer 17

Other factors apart from the independent variable that can affect the outcome of an experiment.

Question 18

What are situational variables and how do you control them?

Answer 18

Outside influences on the experiment such as weather, time of day, noise etc. They can be controlled through standardisation. This means that the researcher must attempt to make every part of the study not being tested as identical as possible for each participant.

Question 19

What is an order effect?

Answer 19

These occur when a participant is asked to undertake an activity more than once. Examples of this would be boredom, practice and fatigue.

Question 20

How do you reduce order effects?

Answer 20

This can be done in 2 ways.
1) Through counterbalancing - This is where the researcher changes the order of the tasks for each participant or uses the ABBA technique.
2) Through randomisation - This is where the order of the tasks is decided based on a random method of selection.

Question 21

What are participant variables?

Answer 21

These are individual differences between participants. Little can be done to control these however they can be reduced though careful sampling and selection of participants.

Question 22

What are the 3 types of experimental design?

Answer 22

• Repeated Measures
• Independent Measures
• Matched Pairs

Question 23

What is a repeated measures design? Give an advantage and a disadvantage for it.

Answer 23

This involves using the same participants in each condition of the experiment.
+ Controls for individual differences
+ Fewer participants needed
- Order Effect

Question 24

What is an independent measures design? Give an advantage and a disadvantage for it.

Answer 24

Involves using different participants for each condition of the experiment.
+ Removed order effect
- Individual differences
- More participants needed

Question 25

What is a matched pairs design? Give an advantage and a disadvantage for it.

Answer 25

Involves using different it similar participants in each condition. This could be by using twins or matching any important characteristics which might affect performance between participants.
+ Controls for individual differences to an extent
+ Controls for order effect
- Difficult to match characteristics
- Time consuming and expensive