Research methods year 2 Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

What are correlations

A

A mathematical technique in which a researcher investigates an association between two variables, called co variables

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are correlation coefficients

A

A number between -1 and +1 that represents the direction and strength of a relationship between co variables plotted on a scattergram

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are case studies

A

-Detailed analysis of an unusual individual or event e.g London riots
-Can also be typical behaviours
-May involve a case history
-Qualitative (interviews) and quantitative (psychological tests)
-Tend to be longitudional

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Evaluate case studies

A

-Insight into unusual cases e.g HM may provide understanding of normal function
-Generate hypotheses for future study
-Generalisations from small sample is a problem and conclusions based off subjective interpretation of the researcher, plus subjective data from participants

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is a content analysis

A

-Form of observation in which communication is studied indirectly
-Coding and quantitative data: data must be categorised into meaningful units (and then analysed by converting words, etc)
-Thematic analysis and qualitative data: Recurrent ideas (themes) that keep “cropping up” in the communication are identified and described

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Evaluate Content analysis

A

-Fewer ethical issues
-High external validity
-Flexible approach because it can be adapted
-Information may be studied out of context and be subjective
-Reflexivity aims to address the issues of bias

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is reliability

A

Any measurement should produce the same result unless the thing has measured is changed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Name the ways of assessing reliability

A

-Test retest
-Inter observer reliability
-Measuring reliability

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are test retests

A

The same test is administered to the same person on a different occasion and results are compared

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is inter observer reliability

A

Observers compare data done in a pilot study or at end of actual study to make sure behavioural categories are consistently applied

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How do you measure reliability

A

Two sets of scores at least +.80 to be reliable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How do you improve reliability in questionnaires

A

If a questionnaire has a low test retest reliability, same items may need to be changed to closed questions as these are less ambiguous

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How do you improve reliability in interviews

A

-Should avoid questions that are leading or ambiguous
-Ensure interviewers are trained

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How do you improve reliability in observations

A

-Behavioural categories should be properly operationalised
-More training may be needed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

How do you improve reliability in experiments

A

Standardised procedures ensures consistency when testing different participants

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is validity

A

Whether a test, scale, etc produces a legitimate result which represents behaviour in the real world

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Name the types of validity

A

-Internal and external validity
-Ecological validity
-Temporal validity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is internal and external validity

A

Whether something measures what it was designed to measure and whether the findings can be generalised externally

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is ecological validity

A

-Extent to which findings can be generalised from one setting to another
-Mundane realism of a task may affect ecological validity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is temporal validity

A

-Whether findings from a study holds true over time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are the two ways of assessing validity

A

-Face validity
-Concurrent validity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is face validity

A

Does a test measure what it is supposed to “on the face of it?”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is concurrent validity

A

The extent to which a psychological measure relates to an existing similar measure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

How do you improve validity in experimental research

A

-Use of a control group
-Standardised procedures
-Single and double bind procedures

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

How do you improve validity in questionnaires

A

Use of line scales and anonymity to reduce social desirability bias

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

How do you improve validity in observations

A

-Use of covert observations so behaviour is more authentic
-Use well defined behavioural categories

27
Q

How do you improve validity in qualitative research

A

Depth and detail may increase validity but further enhanced through triangulation

28
Q

What is triangulation

A

Using a number of different sources as evidence

29
Q

What is a statistical test

A

Determing whether we can accept or reject the null hypothesis

30
Q

What is the first decision on a statistical test

A

Difference or correlation: Correlation includes a test of association (chi squared)

31
Q

What is the second decision on a statistical test

A

Experimental design: related (repeated measures or matched pairs) or unrelated (independent groups)

32
Q

What is the third decision on a statistical test

A

Decide the different levels of measurement:
-Nominal data
-Ordinal data
-Interval data

33
Q

What is a nominal data

A

Data represented in the form of categories e.g how man students like psychology or don’t like psychology in your test

34
Q

What is ordinal data

A

-Ordinal data, but unequal intervals
-Can be placed in rank order e.g rating your liking of psychology on a 1-10 scale

35
Q

What is interval data

A

Based on numerical and public scales of measurement with units of equal size e.g length, temperature

36
Q

What is a null hypothesis

A

-No difference will be found between conditions
-Statistical tests determine whether this statement should be accepted or rejected

37
Q

What is level of significance and probability

A

-Statistical tests work on the basis of probability rather than certainty
-The sigfnificance level is the point at which researches can accept the alternative hypothesis which is usually 5% in psychology

38
Q

What is the calculated value

A

The value of a test statistic calculated for a particular data set

39
Q

What is the critical value

A

When testing a hypothesis, the numerical cut off point or boundary between acceptance and rejection of the null hypothesis

40
Q

What are type 1 errors

A

-Incorrect rejection of a true null hypothesis
-More likely if significance level is too lenient e.g 10%
-An optimistic error

41
Q

What are type 2 errors

A

-Incorrect acceptance of a false null hypothesis
-More likely if significance levels are too stringent e.g 1%
-A pessimistic error

42
Q

Name the different types of statistical tests

A

-Mann Whitney U
-Wilcoxon T
-Unrelated T test
-Related T test
-Spearman’s rho
-Pearson’s r
-Chi Squared
-Sign test

43
Q

What measure of central tendency and measure of dispersion is used for nominal data

A

-Mode
-No measure of dispersion

44
Q

What measure of central tendency and measure of dispersion is used for ordinal data

A

-Median
-Range

45
Q

What measure of central tendency and measure of dispersion is used for interval data

A

-Mean
-Standard deviation

46
Q

What are non parametric tests

A

-Mann Whitney U
-Wilcoxon T

47
Q

What is the Mann Whitney U test

A

-Test of difference between two sets of data
-Unrelated design
-Ordinal data

48
Q

What is a Wilcoxon T test

A

-Test of difference between two sets of data
-Related design
-Ordinal data

49
Q

What are parametric tests

A

-Unrelated t test
-Related t test
-Pearson’s r
-Data drawn from a population with an expected normal distribution and both data sets have a homogeneity of variance

50
Q

What are unrelated t tests

A

-Test of difference between two data
-Unrelated design
-Interval data

51
Q

What are related t tests

A

-Test of difference between two sets of data
-Related design
-Interval data
-parametric tests

52
Q

What are tests of correlation

A

-Spearman’s rho
-Pearson’s r

53
Q

What are Spearman’s rho tests

A

-Test of correlation between co variables
-Ordinal data

54
Q

What are Pearson’s r tests

A

-Tests of correlation between co variables
-Interval data
-Parametric test

55
Q

What are chi squared tests

A

-Test of difference between two sets of data or association between co variables
-Data is independent
-nominal data

56
Q

What is the rule of R

A

Tests with the letter “r” in their name are those where the calculated value must be equal to or more than the critical value

57
Q

What is referencing

A

-List of sources (journals, articles, books, web sources)
-Generally order is:
Author
Data
Title
Volume/page number/published/source

58
Q

name the features of science

A

-Paradigms and Paradigm shifts
-Theory construction and hypothesis testing
-Falsifiability
-Replicability
-Objectivity and the empirical method

59
Q

What are paradigms and paradigm shifts

A

Scientific subjects have a shared set of assumptions (Kuhn) and a scientific revolution occurs when there is a paradigm shift

60
Q

What is theory construction and hypothesis testing

A

Theory construction occurs through gathering evidence from direct observation. A theory should produce a testable hypothesis, thus permitting the validity of the theory to be tested

61
Q

What is falsifibiability

A

Scientific theories must hold themselves up for hypothesis testing and the possibility of being proven false

62
Q

What is replicability

A

If a scientific theory is to be trusted (valid), its findings must be shown to be repeatable across time and context. The methods used should also be repeatable ie replicable

63
Q

What is objectivity and the empirical method

A

Scientists must minimise all sources of personal bias and gather evidence through direct observation and expertise

64
Q

What are Co-Variables

A