scientific inquiry and research methods Flashcards
scientific methodologies
scientific methodologies are the specific techniques used to collect and analyse date.
types of scientific methologies
- case study
- classification and identification
- controlled experiment
- correlational study
- fieldwork
- literature review
- modelling
- product, process or system development
- simulation
case study
examining a real or hypothetical situation and conduct an in-depth analysis of causes
and consequences in the real world’ as opposed to in a lab setting. For this reason, case studies
generate rich information and can provide insights into rare or uncommon conditions within the
population, though they can be quite time-consuming.
classification and identification
involves sorting ideas or behaviours into sets based on similarity
in order to better understand underlying concepts or form theories.
controlled experminet
this is likely the methodology you are most familiar with as it describes
an experimental investigation into the relationship between an independent variable and dependent
variable. This should occur in a highly controlled environment to minimise extraneous variables and
ensures researchers adhere to the scientific method so that results are valid and reproducible.
Typically, a controlled experiment will consist of an experimental condition where participants are
exposed to the effects of the independent variable, and a control condition where there is no
independent variable. This allows us to compare the results from the experimental condition with
the control to assess whether the independent variable caused a change.
3 main types of controlled experiment
- between subjects design
- within subjects design
- mixed design
between subjects design
allocates participants so that they are either in the experimental
group or the control group. This can be by random allocation or matched pairings (so the
experimenter can pair participants with similar characteristics to reduce participant differences).
advantages and disadvantages of between subjects design
- Advantage: can be completed quickly so the likelihood of participants withdrawing is low.
If participants are paired up, the results are less likely to be confounded. - Disadvantage: often requires a large number of participants to ensure that participant
variation (differences) in the sample will be representative of that of the population. It can
also take a long time to find a matching pair, and one participant’s results may have to be
discarded if their partner drops out.
within subjects design
one participant is exposed to both the experimental and control
conditions of the study.
advantages and disadvantage of within subject design
- Advantage: less individual participant differences across conditions as the same person
is going through both the experimental and control condition. - Disadvantage: the order of conditions that the participant experiences may affects their
performance; one condition could allow them to practice or improve upon a skill that helps
them in the second condition, thereby affecting the results.
mixed design
this involves a combination of the above two designs. Usually, this means par-
ticipants are sorted into two groups and exposed to both conditions, but multiple measurements
are made of each participant to track results over time.
advantages and disadavtanges of mixed design
- Advantage: provides a greater amount of data and minimises the chance of order effects
- Disadvantage: typically more time-consuming, so participants may be more likely to drop
out. It also does not account for individual differences or variation between participants.
correlational study
observing variables that have not been controlled in order to examine wither
a relationship exists between them (and if so, how strong the correlation is). A positive correlation
means that two variables are related in the same direction (e.g. increased exposure to study notes
and increased memory retention) whereas a negative correlation means the relationship goes in the
opposite direction (e.g. increased time spent meditating and decreased stress levels).
fieldowrk
observing a naturalistic setting as opposed to a controlled environment like a lab. This
can make it easier to generalise results since it is more representative of ‘real life, though it also
means the variables are uncontrolled and thus we cannot draw specific conclusions about cause and
effect. One type of fieldwork you may explore in class is yarning circles which are used in First
Nations cultures to exchange ideas and reflect on information as a community.
literature review
collecting, analysing, and evaluating other research. This might be to shed light
on prior investigations or to create new ideas by synthesising existing material. Literature reviews
are useful in advancing the field of psychology but can be difficult if there is insufficient or outdated
material about a specific concept.
modelling
constructing a representation of psychological phenomena to aid understanding. This
is a useful explanatory tool as it can make complex or abstract concepts easier to grasp through
physical or conceptual simplifications.
product, process or system development
developing something that draws upon scientific
knowledge (e.g. a sleep and meditation app).
simulation
a technological representation of hypothetical cause-and-effect relationships. Simula-
tons are ideal for investigations that cannot be conducted as experiments or fieldwork because it is
too dangerous or impractical (e.g. simulating the effects of 100+ hours of sleep deprivation on the
human brain).
sampling techniques
- random sampling
- stratified sampling
- random stratified sampling
random sampling
this is a sampling procedure where every member of the population has an equal
chance of being selected to be a part of the sample in the study.