scientific investigation skills

Question 1

what is the definition of psychology

Answer 1

psychology is the systematic study of thoughts, feelings and behaviour

Question 2

what is the biopsychosocial model

Answer 2

biological (changes in the body)

psychological (changes in emotion, thinking, perception)

social (changes in relationships, interactions)

Question 3

what is a population

Answer 3

population is the large group of research interest from which a smaller group, called a sample is taken

Question 4

what is a sample

Answer 4

a sample is a small group which is selected from the larger group of the population.

sample size should be at least 30 to be representative of the population or the square root of the population.

Question 5

what are the limitations of the sample being representative of the population

Answer 5

• sample composition bias such as gender, age, culture, race.
• sample too small so sample is not representative of population as too many participant features are missing

Question 6

what is a hypothesis

Answer 6

a prediction of the outcome of a research investigation

Question 7

what is the IV

Answer 7

independent variable: starting variable of interest

manipulated by the experimenter.

Question 8

what is the DV

Answer 8

dependent variable: variable that changes as a result of the change in the IV

Question 9

what is the control group

Answer 9

where the IV is not manipulated at all to see the effect of this (placebo) eg) no drug given

Question 10

what is the experimental group

Answer 10

the presence of the experimental condition

eg) drug given before memory test

Question 11

what is validity?

Answer 11

a test is valid if it is measuring what it is supposed to measure: no bias

Question 12

what is reliability?

Answer 12

similar results are obtained each time the test is carried out. It is reduced with poor sample size and composition.

Question 13

what are the 3 types of research designs

Answer 13

experimental, observational and qualitative

experimental design: the IV is manipulated purposely by the experimenter

observational design: the IV is not manipulated. The IV is naturally occurring.

Question 14

what are the 3 advantages of an experimental design

Answer 14

1. high causality: only the change in the IV causes the change in the DV
2. ability to replicate the research effectively: because of the control over the manipulated IV.
3. high internal validity: (truly testing the required variable) because of the good control over the manipulated IV.

Question 15

what are 3 disadvantages of an experimental design

Answer 15

1. lower external validity: as artificial lab conditions (external validity occurs if the results gained within the research are similar to what would occur in real life conditions)
2. unethical: for certain topics
3. impractical: for certain topics

Question 16

what are 3 advantages of an observational design

Answer 16

1. high external validity: IV is not manipulated and naturally occurring
2. ethical: the researcher is not causing any harm to subjects due to the IV naturally occurring
3. practical: as the IV is pre existing

Question 17

what are 3 disadvantages of an observational design

Answer 17

1. low causality: no control over the IV as it is not manipulated, no random allocation, less control
2. lower ability to replicate
3. lower internal validity