Research Module 1 1st year

Question 1

What is research?

Answer 1

Research is the search for knowledge to establish facts

Question 2

Why do we need to conduct research in psychology?

Answer 2

To gather information
Draw conclusions
To analyse an area of interest
and to add on previously existing theories

Question 3

What might a psychologist research?

Answer 3

Development
personality
learning
culture
evolution
gender etccc

Question 4

Before the research is conducted a hypothesis must be given. Give examples

Answer 4

A hypothesis is what the researcher expects to happen or find from the research.

Ex: males will be more affected by learning disorders.

Test anxiety decreases as a result of effective study habits

Question 5

Research methods in psychology can be divided into 2 main categories. Mention them

Answer 5

Quantitative and Qualitative Methodology

Question 6

Before conducting a research study, the researcher needs to present the participant/s with an information sheet. What does this sheet include?

Answer 6

The sheet includes who is going to participate in the study and why the study is being done.

Who is going to see and listen to the recording and data? Pointing to the participant’s duties.

Who will participate in the study etc.

Explaining the terms of confidentiality

The participant can withdraw at any time of the research

If the participant agrees with all the terms he or she has to sign the consent form

Question 7

What is the main difference between quantitative and qualitative methodology?

Answer 7

How one collects the data and how one analyses the data

Question 8

How does a researcher know which methodology is best to use?

Answer 8

It depends upon the subject being studied.

For example if generalisations to the entire population will take place,the researcher would opt for a QUANTITATIVE method.

If the researcher is more interested in the subjective experience of people or the meaning behind the experience, the researcher would opt for a QUALITATIVE methodology

Question 9

What is quantitative research?

Answer 9

This type of methodology gathers information which is NUMERICAL form.

Quantitative methodology assumes that objectivity is key to coming up with a conclusion that can help generalise the behaviour

Question 10

How is Quantitative data measured?

Answer 10

By nominal, Likert or rating scales

Nominal data: total number of
Rating scales: ex: how much do you enjoy going to Paceville ex: from 1-5
Likert scales: mothers should stay at home : strongly agree,agree,netural etc

Question 11

Give some advantages and disadvantages of Quantitative methodology

Answer 11

Advantages: can generalise (predictive power)

allows to measure data

very precise in terms of measurement

shows the relationship between independent and dependent variables

Disadvantages:

A large sample of the population must be studied

Individual differences are not appreciated

may oversimplify the complexity of human nature

Question 12

Mention some research tools used when quantitative methodology is used. (Data collection tools)

Answer 12

Experiments
Surveys/questionnaires (structured interviews)
Structured observations
Correlational studies

Question 13

What is validity and reliability?

Answer 13

Validity: refers to the extent to which a test measures what it claims to measure
Reliability: refers to the consistency of a measure. A study is considered reliable if we get the same results at different times

The higher the validity and reliability levels, the safer it is to generalize the results to the entire population

Question 14

What is a qualitative methodology?

Answer 14

It gathers information which is not in numerical form but focuses on descriptive data.

It aims to focus on the meaning people attach to their experiences. There is no need to obtain a large sample of the population.

No generalisations.

People are often chosen because of their experiences.

Question 15

What are the main data collection tools in qualitative methodology?

Answer 15

Semi-structured or unstructured interviews
Unstructured or semi-structured observations
case-studies

Question 16

Give me some advantages and disadvantages of qualitative methodology.

Answer 16

Advantages:

gains detailed and rich information

Useful for studies at an individual level

Gives results that are more true to life

It goes in-depth about how people feel or think

Disadvantages:

very time-consuming

Does not allow for generalisations

Difficult to analyse

It gives a subjective view of its study and its participants

Question 17

True or false.
In qualitative methodology, we are interested in validity and reliability

Answer 17

False

In qualitative, we are much more focused on the meaning behind an experience to construct a theory

Question 18

What do we use when quantitative and qualitative methodologies are used?

Answer 18

Triangulation.

Triangulation is done by using different approaches to obtain data in the same study.

Question 19

How many types of triangulation are there?

Answer 19

4

Data: use data from different sources or at different times
Research: different researchers to increase credibility
Theoretical: the use of multiple perspectives to interpret the results of a study
methodological: Sing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies

When triangulation is used it increases credibility and trustworthiness

Question 20

What is a sample?

Answer 20

A sample is a subset of the population being studied. The sample represents the larger population. This is a way how to gather information without having to measure the entire population.

Question 21

True or false.
When we want to get a large sample and generalize it to the entire population, its qualitative methodology

Answer 21

FALSE

QUANTITATIVE

Question 22

How can we classify sampling techniques?

Answer 22

Probability and non-probability sampling

Question 23

Which methodology is used for probability and non-probability sampling?

Answer 23

Probability sampling: Quantitative (representative of the entire population)

Non-probability sampling : Qualitative

Question 24

What are the different types of probability sampling?

Answer 24

Probability: random and stratified

Question 25

What are the different types of non-probability sampling?

Answer 25

Non-probability: purposive
snowball
convenience
cluster
volunteer
quota

Question 26

Which sampling techniques give the population an equal chance of being chosen?

Answer 26

Random and stratified

Question 27

Which sampling techniques do NOT give an equal chance of being chosen?

Answer 27

All the non-probability samples

Question 28

How is random sampling carried out? (Probability sampling and quantitative methodology)

Answer 28

A random sample is when a subset of individuals are chosen randomly from a population. Researchers obviously cannot obtain data from every single person in a population, so a sample is taken to represent the larger group. This can be done by writing down all the names of the participants if the group is small enough,or if the group is too large a random computer generator is used to choose the sample. However, there might be a problem in this type of sampling technique because not everyone might be willing or wanting to participate, so this could cause a bias especially when dealing with a sensitive topic.

Question 29

Give some advantages and disadvantages of random sampling.

Answer 29

Advantages: avoids bias if everyone is willing to participate, gives participants an equal opportunity to be chosen, and can be used with a large sample population.

Disadvantages: does not offer proportionality.
There might be a sampling bias if not everyone is willing to participate.

Question 30

What is stratified sampling?

Answer 30

This type of sampling techinque is done when the researcher wants to highlight certain characteristics of the topic being studied.

It is done by dividing the population into strata and then taking a random sample from each.

Question 31

Give some advantages and disadvantages of stratified sampling

Answer 31

Advantages: offers proportionality,,
strengthens accuracy, and its more representative of the entire population

Disadvantages:

The proportion of the strata must be known and accurate to work properly

Accurate data population data may not be available and it could be hard to identify people’s age or background

Question 32

What is cluster sampling?

Answer 32

Used when it is impossible to gather all participants from a target population, especially if they are scattered geographically.

Cluster sampling works by dividing the population into many small subdivisions (called clusters) then a random sample is taken. This is useful when the members of the population are scattered geographically.

Question 33

Give some advantages and disadvantages of cluster sampling

Answer 33

Advantages: cheaper, quicker and easier
The researcher can also increase his sample size since the population chosen is more accessible

Disadvantages: part of the population is excluded from taking part,

Question 34

What is convenience sampling?