Terms

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

a broad statement on the purpose of the research, what the researcher intends to investigate

Question 2

what is an alternative hypothesis?

Answer 2

a testable statement that research intends to accept or reject, can be directional or non-directional

Question 3

what is a directional hypothesis?

Answer 3

A hypothesis that suggests there will be a difference/relationship between variables, where the IV will affect the DV in one specific direction/outcome

Question 4

what is a non-directional hypothesis?

Answer 4

A hypothesis that suggests there will be a difference/relationship between variables, the IV will affect the DV, but does not state a specific direction/outcome for results

Question 5

what is a null hypothesis?

Answer 5

A hypothesis that suggests there will be no difference/relationship between variables, any that does occur does so by chance e.g. alcohol will have no effect on reaction time

Question 6

what is an independent variable?

Answer 6

The variable the psychologist manipulates and controls to see how it affects behaviour

Question 7

what is a dependent variable?

Answer 7

The variable which is measured (usually the participants’ behaviour) by the psychologist.

Question 8

what are co-variables?

Answer 8

the two variables being measured in a correlational research

Question 9

what does operationalisation of variables mean?

Answer 9

ensuring variables are in a form that can be easily tested

Question 10

what are confounding variables?

Answer 10

Variables in a study that are not being measured or manipulated by the researcher, that affect SOME participants’ behaviours but not others, having negative consequences for validity

Question 11

what are extraneous variables?

Answer 11

Variables in a study that are not being measured or manipulated by the researcher but affect the results (DV) of ALL participants’ behaviour equally

Question 12

Outline the main features of an experiment

Answer 12

• measures cause and effect relationships
• pps are randomly allocated to conditions
• researcher retains control over research variables
• equal treatment of pps, except in relation to the IV

Question 13

what is a quasi experiment?

Answer 13

a research method where the researcher has no directly manipulated the IV

Question 14

Strengths and weaknesses of Quasi experiment:

Answer 14

STRENGTHS:
- more practical and ethical in most cases
- can take place in a lab, which has high control

WEAKNESSES:
- difficult to recruit pps
- less control over other variables

Question 15

what are participant observations?

Answer 15

A research method where the researcher takes on the role of a participant whilst observing other participants’ behaviour around them

Question 16

strengths and weaknesses of participant observations:

Answer 16

+ less chance of demand characteristics
+ enables research of people who would otherwise be difficult to observe

• observer bias
• data may rely on memory as difficult to take notes during observation

Question 17

what are non-participant observations?

Answer 17

A research method where the researcher watches and records participants’ behaviour without interfering in any way (from a distance

Question 18

strengths and weaknesses of non-participant observations:

Answer 18

+ less chance of observer bias
+ researcher can see how ppts behave rather than relying on self reports

• observer bias
• unethical

Question 19

what is a content analysis?

Answer 19

A research method which involves exploration of behaviour to see what categories, codes or themes emerge, and tallying each time material fits a theme. It converts qualitative data into quantitative data so that it can be more easily compared

Question 20

Strengths and weaknesses of content analysis:

Answer 20

+ involves secondary data so very few ethical issues
+ high ecological validity as they are based on real communications
+ can easily be replicated

• open to research bias
• written content can be misinterpreted

Question 21

what is a structured interview?

Answer 21

A research method that includes standardised questions (like in a questionnaire), which are known as an interview schedule, and are usually asked face to face

Question 22

Evaluation of structured interviews:

Answer 22

+ requires less interviewing skill, can be done by non-professional interviewers
+ easily to analyse as answers are pre-determined
+ can be easily repeated
+ quantitative data can be collected

• questions may be interpreted differently by the pps
• ppts may be restricted in their answers

Question 23

what are semi-structured interviews?

Answer 23

combines a pre-determined set of open questions with the opportunity for the interviewer to explore particular themes or responses further

Question 24

Evaluation of semi-structured interviews:

Answer 24

+ in-depth qualitative data can be collected
+ information can be accessed that might not be revealed by pre-determined questions

• interviewer bias
• reliability may be affected
• more difficult to analyse the data

Question 25

what is a questionnaire?

Answer 25

A research method that includes a list of written questions, which generate closed and/or open answers. These can be used in person, on-line or through other methods e.g. postal

Question 26

Evaluation of questionnaires:

Answer 26

+ easy to repeat
+ can access a wide range of ppl
+ more willing to reveal personal info
+ cheap

• filled by people willing to fill the questions meaning sample likely to be biased

Question 27

what is a correlational study?

Answer 27

A research method which involves a comparing two continuous variables (co-variables) to see if there is an association/relationship between them

Question 28

evaluation of correlation studies:

Answer 28

+ shows both direction and strength of a relationship which can help make predictions about behaviour
+ can be used when experiments inappropriate

• difficult to establish cause and effect
• does not show how or why co-variables are related