Revision Flashcards
Realism
Feelings pre exist before they show
Relativism
Things in our world are socially constructed
Credibility
The truth of the findings
Transferability
The extent to which findings can be transferred to other settings
Dependability
The extent to which the research would produce consistent findings if carried out again
Hypothesis
A statement or prediction that can be tested
Testing the hypothesis
Without bias, in a reliable manner
Internal validity
It measures what it is intended to measure
External validity
The extent to which results can be applied to other situations
Reliability
Are the same results consistently produced over time
BPS: code of ethics and conduct
Respect, competence, responsibility, integrity
Scientific method
Observe regularities, propose a theory, develop a prediction, test the prediction, evaluate the theory
Ontology
What exists
Epistemology
Knowledge of what exists
Methodology
How we can investigate what exists
Determinism
The natural order of things means events have identifiable causes
Empiricism
Theories must be based on publicly available observable evidence
Order
Events do not happen randomly therefore patterns should be identifiable
Parisimony
Explanations should be limited to what is evidenced, whilst being thorough and simple
Qualitative
Inductive approach
Quantitative
Seductive approach
Convenience sampling
Simply available to the researcher by virtue of a accessibility
Snowball sampling
Researcher makes contact with a small group who are relevant to research then used them to find more participants
Quota sampling
A sampling frame is defined in advance of data collection and the sample is chosen from the list
Variable
Anything that varies and can be measured
Independent variable
The variable which may affect the values of another variable-something you manipulate
Dependant variable
Variable which may be affected or predicted by other variables
Research design
General structure that the researcher uses in a research study
Research method
A technique for collecting data
Quantitative
behaviour, cognition, emotion.
numerical data.
Large sample
variable
Qualitative
individual case
language or behaviour itself are used as units of analysis
Small sample
Mode
Most common
Median
Middle score
Mean
Add the scores up then divide it by the number of scores you have
Random sampling
Everyone in the population has an equal chance of being selected
Experiments
Control variables
Quasi experiments
Some variables can’t control
Psychometric tests
Personality and intelligence
Comparison studies
Twin studies and cross section
Correlation
Relationship between variables
Types of surveys
Questionnaires
Interviews
Focus groups
Internet
Systematic sampling
Select every n’th person from the population
Stratified sampling
Attempt to represent overall population in your sample
Cluster sampling
An existing representative group
Response sets
Open/closed
Rating, ranking
Agree disagree
Middle alternative
Acquisition bias
People just saying yes
Order effect
People may get lazy with their answers and not think about what they are saying
Experimental design
Identified whether one variable affects another in a cause and effect sequence
Laboratory experiments
Conducted in a controlled environment (psychology lab)
Field experiments
Conducted in real life situations
One tailed
Prediction specifies direction
Two tailed
Prediction does not specify direction
Experimental hypothesis
States there is an effect of the independent variable on the dependant variable
Null hypothesis
States there is no effect of the independent variable on the dependant variable
Subject variables
All the participants did not have the same amount of sleep the night before
Situational variables
All psychology may not have the same temperature
Experimental variables
Experimenter may not behave the same towards all participants
Procedural variables
In repeated measures, first condition may make participants perform better than the others
Two main research strategies
Deductive and inductive
Inductive approach
Focus on words and meanings, goal is to develop a theory
Qualitative research
Used to gain understanding of underlying reasons, opinions and motivations
Theory
General rules that can help explain a particular behaviour or event
Within group design
Scores from the same participants repeated
Between group designs
Different participants and independent measures
Experiment
Control variables
P value
The probability of these results occurring if the null hypothesis were true
Measurement error
A discrepancy between the number we use to represent something and the value of what we’re measuring
Ratio
Similar to interval, ratios of values along the scale should be meaningful
Type 1 error
When you think the results are significant but they are insignificant
Type 2 error
When you think the results are insignificant but they are significant
Item quality
Does the question make sense?
Sample
A smaller representation of a full population
Central tendency
Methods of describing the centre for distribution
Khun’s paradigm shift
Replication- constant evaluation of the theory
Positivism
World is explained by using data to evaluate theories
Constructionism
Understand people science is not superior, research does not give facts
Objectivism
There is only one correct description of reality/ existence takes primacy over consciousness
Subjectivism
Knowledge is subjective, there is no external or objective truth
Deductive approach
Goal is theory testing focus’ on establishing a relationship between the theory and the research
Research design
General structure of research
Research method
Technique for collecting data
Participants must be aware of
Benefits m, confidentiality, anonymity, incentives, contact of details, signature
Realism issues
Cannot see all perspectives as equally valid, cannot evaluate arguments against any form of evidence
Relativism issues
Our knowledge of the world is not simply a reflection on the way the world is, research method is not objective, how can we assess if what we feel is the same as what we think we feel?
Survey advantages
Large data set Wide range of data Quick Cheap Can standardise questions Easy to analyse
Survey disadvantages
Interviewer effects Population bias Response acquiescence Poor designed questions Individual differences in understanding
Qualitative data collection
Interviews Observation Open ended questionnaire Diary method Clinical method Case studies
Large sample advantages
Less likely to be bias
Increased power
Increased likelihood of detecting an effect
Large sample size disadvantages
Can give meaningless significant result,
Can make a detention of a bad design of measurement difficult,
Small sample size advantages
Data collection is quicker
Less data to analyse
Detect subtleties in the data
Small sample size disadvantages
Reduced power
Increased chance of bias
Increased chance of non significant results
