RMs Flashcards
Operationalising Variables
Operational variables (or operationalizing definitions) refer to how you will define and measure a specific variable as it is used in your study. This enables another psychologist to replicate your research and is essential in establishing reliability (achieving consistency in the results).
Questionairre
A set of written questions (sometimes called items) used to access a persons’ thoughts/experiences
Strengths of questionnaires
+ Cost effective
+ Can gather large amounts of data quickly
+ Can be completed without the researcher being present
Single-blind review
- usual form of peer review
- involves the names of reviewers not being revealed to the researcher
Weaknesses of questionnaires
- Can produce response bias
- P.ps may misunderstand the question or read it incorrectly
- Demand Characteristics / Social Desirability may occur
Open review
the reviewers and the researcher being known to each other
Double-blind review
both the reviewers and the researcher are anonymous
Questionnaire construction
Aims, length, previous questionnaires, question formation, pilot study, measurement scale
Advantages & Disadvantages of an Open Question
+ Get more information
+ Produces qualitative data - depth and detail
- People can miss them out as they can’t be bothered to answer them
- Harder to analyse
Closed Question
Questions with a fixed answer/ the choice of response is determined by the question setter.
Advantages & Disadvantages of a Closed Question
+ People have to same perception of the Q&A
+ Quick and easy to answer
+ Quantitative data is easier to analyse
- Not detailed or in depth answers
- Don’t find out the meaning behind the answer
Interview
A live encounter (face to face or on the phone) where one person asks a set of questions to assess an interviewees thoughts/experiences. They can be structured, semi structured or unstructured.
Structured Interview
Made up of pre-determined questions and are asked in a fixed order. Basically like a questionnaire but conducted face to face.
Unstructured Interview
Works like a conversation. There are no set questions. There is a general aim that a certain topic will be discussed and interaction tends to be free flowing.
Semi-structured Interview
There is a list of questions that have been worked out in advance but interviewers are also free to ask follow up questions when they feel it is appropriate.
Strengths & Weaknesses of Structured Interview
+ Straight forward to replicate
+ Reduces differences between interviews
+ Easier to analyse
+ Get answers you’re looking for
- Get less information as P.ps can’t deviate from the point
- Don’t find out people’s worldwide views
Strengths & Weaknesses of Unstructured Interview
+ Can get more detailed answers as people can elaborate
+ More flexible as you can gain insight
- Not easy to replicate
- Not easy to analyse as you get irrelevant information
- Experimenter effects can occur
Design of interviews
Gender and age, ethnicity, personal characteristics and adopted role
Leading Questions
Encourages P.ps to give a particular answer e.g don’t you think…?
Ambiguity
Questions which can be interpreted in various ways. They can mean different things to different people.
Loaded Questions
They are questions which contain emotive language which is likely to produce an emotional reaction in the respondent.
Double-barreled Questions
They contain two options within a single question.
Aim
A general statement that the researcher intends to investigate.
Hypothesis
A detailed statement which is clear, precise and testable that states the relationship between variables being tested.
Directional Hypothesis
The researcher makes it clear what difference is anticipated between the 2 conditions or groups.
(One tailed).
Non-directional Hypothesis
Simply states that there is a difference but not what the difference will be.
Null Hypothesis
There will be no relationship between the 2 variables.
Meta-analysis
A particular form of research method that uses secondary data. Data from a large number of studies which have involved the same research question and method are combined.
Qualitative Data
Data that describes meaning and experiences which is expresses in words e.g. case studies, interviews and observations.
Primary Data
Information that has been obtained first hand by the researcher. It is also known as field research.
Secondary Data
Information that has already been collected by previous researchers. It is also known as ‘desk research’ and can be found in journal articles, books or websites.
Ethical issues
the rules governing the conduct of researchers in investigations
Informed Consent
Participants should be told what they are letting themselves in for. Only then they are in a position to give informed consent. If under 16 consent must be obtained from their parents.
Deception
Information is withheld from participants: they misled about the purpose of the study and what will happen during it.
Right to Withdraw
Participants should be told this at the start of the research. No attempt should be made to encourage them to remain.
Protection from harm
Participants should not be put through anything they wouldn’t normally be expected to.
adequate briefing/ debriefing
all relevant details of a study should be explained to participants before and afterwards
Observational research
observations are only made in public places where people might expect to be observed by strangers
incentives to take part
participants should not be offered bribes or promised rewards for their participation
Variable
Any “thing” that can vary or change with in an investigation. They are generally in experiments to determine if changes in one result in changes to another.
Independent Variable - IV
An aspect of the experimental situation that is manipulated by the researcher or changes naturally so the effect on the DV can be measured.
Dependent Variable - DV
The variable that is measured by the researcher. Any result/change on the DV should be caused by the change in the IV.
Operationalising Variables
The process of devising a way of measuring a variable. It is a clear statement of what the variable is.
Lab Experiment
An experiment that takes place in a controlled environment where the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV while maintaining strict control of extraneous variables.
The Criteria for a Lab Experiment
1) The IV is manipulated by the researcher to produce a change in the DV
2) All other variables that might influence the results i.e. extraneous variables are held constant or eliminated
3) Participants are randomly allocated to a condition.
Advantages of a Lab Experiment
+ Can establish cause and effect
+ Few if any extraneous variables
+Easy to replicate
+High internal validity
Disadvantages of a Lab Experiment
- Lacks ecological / external validity
- Demand characteristics can occur
- Behaviour in a lab is often different
- Experimenter effects can occur
Reliability
the extent to which a test or measurement produces consistent results
Validity
the extent to which results accurately measure what they are supposed to measure
Internal validity
concerns whether results are due to manipulation of the IV and have not been affected by confounding variables
External validity
refers to the extent to which an experimental effect (results) can be generalized to other settings
Face validity
assessing validity and involves the extent to which items look like what a test claims to measure
Concurrent validity
assesses validity by correlating scores on a test with another test known to be valid
The scientific process
Popper- a means of acquiring knowledge based on observable, measurable evidence
Replicability
being able to repeat a study to check the validity of the results
Objectivity
observations made without bias
Falsification
that scientific statements are capable of being proven wrong
Inductive phase
observations yield information that is used to formulate theories as explanations
Deductive phase
Predictions made from theories, in the form of testable hypotheses, are tested and yield data that is analysed, leading to theory adjustment
Paradigm shifts
revolutionary changes in scientific assumptions
Predictive validity
predicting how well a test predicts future behaviour
Temporal validity
assesses to what degree research findings remain true over time
Field Experiment
An experiment that takes place in a natural setting where the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV.
Advantages of a Field Experiment
+ More ecologically/externally valid
+ Fewer demand characteristics
+Replication can occur to some extent
+ Fewer experimenter effects
Disadvantages of a Field Experiment
- Chance of extraneous variables
- More time consuming
- Ethical issues (informed consent)
- Need a skilled researcher
Natural Experiment
An experiment where the change in the IV is not caused by the researcher as it would have happened if the researcher wasn’t there. The researcher records the effect on the DV.
Advantages of a Natural Experiment
+ No demand characteristics
+ No researcher effects
+ Fewer ethical issues
+ Allows P.ps who wouldn’t normally be tested to take part.
Disadvantages of a Natural Experiment
- Lack of control (extraneous variables)
- Short term behaviour may be displayed
- No random allocation can create confounding variables
- Harder to replicate
Quasi Experiment
The IV has not been determined by anyone the variables simply exist e.g. being old or young.
Extraneous Variables
Any variable apart from the IV which can effect the DV if not controlled. However they can be maintained or eliminated.
Confounding Variables
A variable apart from the IV which can effect the DV. However it can’t be controlled.
Control Condition
The IV isn’t changed and provides a baseline measure. the condition is in a repeated measures design that provides a baseline measure of behaviour.
Experimental Condition
Where you manipulate the IV. The condition is in a repeated measures design containing the IV as distinct from control.
Baseline Measure
Result established from control condition when no manipulation of IV occurs. Allows comparisons to be made.
Random Allocation
People are chosen randomly e.g. names from a hat meaning there’s an equal chance of being selected.
Ecological Validity
How methods can be applied to real life settings.
External Validity
How valid results are outside of a research setting.
Demand Characteristics
Any cue from the researcher or research situation that can be interpreted by participants as revealing the purpose of the investigation leading them to changing their behaviour.
Experimenter Effects
Where the experimenter changes a persons views usually sub-consciously through body language.
Experimental Methods
The type of experiment you do.
Experimental Designs
How you carry the experiment out.
Independent Groups Design
Each participant either does the control condition OR the experimental condition.