RM2- Sampling, Control Measures and Pilot Studies

Question 1

sampling

Answer 1

ways in which researchers select participants for their study

Question 2

target population

Answer 2

specific group of people from the whole population that you want to study

Question 3

sample

Answer 3

smaller group that you actually select from the target population to participate in the study

Question 4

name the 5 different sampling techniques

Answer 4

volunteer
systematic
opportunity
random
stratified

Question 5

volunteer sampling

Answer 5

participants put themselves forward- self select

Question 6

systematic sampling

Answer 6

pattern, every nth term
a sampling frame is produced from potential participants

Question 7

opportunity sampling

Answer 7

researcher directly asks people who are readily available to them to participate, convenience sampling

Question 8

stratified sampling

Answer 8

random sampling in each strata can be time consuming
the composition of sample reflects proportions of sub groups in the target population
percentage proportion is calculated

Question 9

random sampling

Answer 9

researcher obtains a list of the target population, participants are chosen by change to take part until enough have been chosen

Question 10

evaluate random sampling

Answer 10

representative sample
-researcher has no control
-improves population validity

time consuming
-need to make a sampling frame/ list of target population

not guaranteed for a representative sample
-some groups may not be selected
-stratified is better

Question 11

evaluate opportunity sampling

Answer 11

easy to obtain
-use convenient people

unrepresentative sample
-likely for ppts to have similar characteristics
-reducing population validity

ethical issues
-ppts may feel pressure to take part- abusive power

Question 12

evaluate volunteer sampling

Answer 12

saves time
-can advertise for a specific/ niche group of people

lacks generalisability
-self selected people
-limiting population validity

not representative
-self selected people
-limits population validity- people from a similiar background may see the same advert

Question 13

evaluate systematic sampling

Answer 13

avoids researcher bias
-no influence over who is chosen
-more representative
-increases validity

not very representative
-some groups may not be selected
-stratified is better

Question 14

evaluate stratified sampling

Answer 14

avoids researcher bias
-no influence over who is subdivided into which strata
-accurate reflection of target population
-higher representative sample

time consuming
-needs all details of all ppts in target population

not completely representative
-strata may not reflect all sub groups that exist
-complete presentation is not always possible

Question 15

control measures

Answer 15

strategies that researchers put in place in order to minimise the impact of extraneous variables

Question 16

name the 4 types of extraneous variables

Answer 16

participant variables
situational variables
demand characteristics
experimenter effects

Question 17

why is putting controls in place good for researchers?

Answer 17

-they can establish a greater cause and effect
-more confident that their manipulation of the IV has caused an effect on the DV
-results have higher internal validity

Question 18

give 4 control measures

Answer 18

counterbalancing
standardisation
randomisation
random allocation

Question 19

what is counterbalancing?

Answer 19

where the order of the conditions are mixed up
-reduces the order effects (practice and fatigue)
-one group completes A then B, other group completes B then A

Question 20

what is randomisation?

Answer 20

the organisation of materials random, they are presented to participants in a random order
-avoids systematic errors
-reduces bias as the researcher has no control over the order of items

Question 21

what is standardisation?

Answer 21

the process in which procedures used in research are kept the same (standard procedures).
-e.g. instructions are delivered by a researcher using a script or reading of a piece of paper or recording to establish standardisation

Question 22

what is random allocation?

Answer 22

once a complete list of ppts is generated, they are divided by chance into different experimental conditions
-list is worked through using a system until all ppts are place into conditions of equal amounts

Question 23

control measures for participant variables

Answer 23

-use a large sample to increase representation
-use random allocation
-use repeated measures or matched pairs design

Question 24

control measures for situational variables

Answer 24

-use a script or written instructions to help standardise procedure
-ensure all ppts are treated in the same way

Question 25

control measures for experimenter effects

Answer 25

-use a double blind technique
-use random allocation- chosen by chance, no bias or influence
-provide written instructions, no investigator present

Question 26

control measures for demand characteristics

Answer 26

-use deception (does have ethical issues)
-use an independent groups design
-use distractor questions in self report methods
-use a double blind technique

Question 27

pilot studies

Answer 27

small, trial versions of proposed studies to test their effectiveness and make improvements.

Question 28

why are pilot studies carried out?

Answer 28

carried out as a trial run
-assess the feasibility of the research
-helps to improve the validity of the research being conducted

Question 29

where can problems be identified in pilot studies?

Answer 29

-method/ design chosen
-instructions
-procedures
-materials used
-measurements to be taken

Question 30

floor effect

Answer 30

task is too hard, participants cannot score at all or they cannot complete the task
-performance is very low
-this assesses the difficulty and therefore researchers can adjust the task

Question 31

ceiling effect

Answer 31

task is too easy, all ppts virtually achieve full marks or top performances

Question 32

who are pilot studies carried out on?

Answer 32

target population that are not in the sample/ the actual ppts

Question 33

what type of credibility to pilot studies add to research?

Answer 33

scientific credibility

Question 34

why are questionnaire pilot studies important to conduct?

Answer 34

-checks that respondents understand terms in questions
-checks that emotive questions is not used which could invalidate answers
-ensure there are no leading questions- cause bias answers
-ensure it takes a reasonable amount of time, long times can affect response rate and data quality as people lose interested or not have enough time to complete it.