Unit 1 Flashcards
What is a research aim ?
The concept that the researcher wants to investigate.
What is a research question ?
an actual question for example “are females more likely to use auditory communication than males when using a mobile phone?
What is the self selecting sampling method ?
When people volunteer to take part in the study, often through adverts or posters.
What is opportunity sampling method ?
A sample of the most readily available participants
What is the Random sampling method ?
Where each member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected.
What is the snowball sampling method ?
When participants are asked to contact family and friends to also take part in the study.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the self selecting sampling method?
Strengths - .Ethical as they volunteered .Easy as participants turn up Weaknesses - .Biased based on who volunteers .Possible Tim end cost of the advertising process.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Random sampling method?
Strengths -
.Representative of the target population
Weaknesses -
.Can still be biased from who choses to take part out of those selected.
.Can be difficult
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Opportunity sampling method?
Strengths -
.Quick to gather participants
.Very easy as no advertising or selection process required
Weaknesses -
.Biased based on where you go and who is available
.Less ethical as participants may feel more obliged to take part
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Snowball sampling method?
Strengths -
.Easy as only requires finding a few participants before they recruit the rest
.relatively cheep as no advertising
Weaknesses -
.Biased as all participants likely to know each other and therefore have many similarities
.May not get enough participants
What are unstructured observations ?
Non focused, general observation of a range of behaviours going on.
What are structured observations ?
Specific behaviour categories, defined through the development of a coding frame.
What is a naturalistic observation ?
observation in a natural environment
What is a Controlled observation ?
observation on a controlled laboratory setting
What is participant observation ?
Researchers are involved with those that are being observed.
What is non participant observation ?
Researchers stand apart and look from the outside at what there observing.
What is a covert observation ?
An observation where the participant does not know they are being observed.
What is an overt observation ?
An observation where the participant does know they are being observed.
What is event sampling?
The observer keeps count of each time a pre determined behaviour occurs.
What is time sampling?
The period of observation is broken up into a series of time intervals, and records of behaviour are related to such time intervals.
What is researcher / observer bias?
This occurs when a researcher is expecting to see a particular behaviour, and subconsciously may be biased ad record the data inaccurately.
What is researcher / observer effect?
If the people being observed are aware of the observation they may change their behaviour.
Whta is a laboratory experiment?
Iv is manipulated by the researcher and experiment is carried out in controlled conditions in a laboratory.
Whta is a Field experiment?
Iv is manipulated by the researcher but this time the experiment is carried out using participants in their normal surroundings.
What is a Quasi experiment?
Iv is naturally occurring not manipulated by the researcher.
What is repeated measures design ?
Using the same people in both conditions
What is independent measures design ?
Using different people in each condition
What is Matched groups design ?
Using different people in each conjoint but matching participant based on certain characteristics to reduce individual differences being a factor.
What are participants extraneous variables?
Characteristics of the individual participant that may effect the result
What are situational extraneous variables?
Any features of the research situation which could influence the result
What are demand characteristics?
Where participants may act in a way they consider expected of them, skewing the data of the study.
What is an alternative hypothesis ?
A hypothesis that predicts the IV will effect the DV
What is a null hypothesis?
A hypothesis that predicts there will be no effect and that any effect will be due to chance.
What is a two tailed hypothesis ?
It predicts the the Iv will gave a significant effect on the Dv, but it does not predict the direction that it will go in.