Year 13 Research Methods Flashcards
The process of peer review
1) The author submits a draft
2) This should include clear, detailed rational aims, methods, results, conclusions and full references
3) Draft sent to two or more anonymous independent reviewers
4) Scrutinised critically- problems, suggestions
5) Decision is made- accept (conditionally/unconditionally) or reject (completely/encourage revision)
Aims of peer review
1) To validate the quality and relevance of research- prevent incorrect data or unethical research from entering the public domain
2) To suggest amendments or implements for the research to the improve the report
3) To allocate funding- whether or not to award funding for a proposed research project
Reporting an investigation
1) Abstract- It is a summary of the study, covering the aims hypothesis, method, results and conclusions (including the implications of the current study). It is done last but appears first and is usually between 150-300 words.
2) Introduction (literature review)- It begins with a review of previous research, so the reader knows what past research has been done and understand the reasons for the current study. The focus of this review should lead logically to the study so the reader is convinced for the reasons for this research.
3) Method- This includes the design (with justification), participants (info about sampling methods and details of participants), materials (description of materials used), procedures (instructions used, testing environment, order of events etc), ethics (ethical issues may be mentioned and how they are dealt with).
4) Results- This includes descriptive stats (tables or graphs showing frequencies and measures of tendency), relationship to previous research (results discussed relating to other studies), consideration of methodology (flaws etc), implications for theory and applications, suggestions of addressing the possible issues in the study.
5) Referencing- This includes all the sources that were used
Features of science
To remember this, learn ‘Flying Harry POTER’:
1) Falsifiable
2) Hypothesis
3) Paradigms
4) Objective
5) Theory
6) Empirical
7) Replicability
There must be a definable subject matter or PARADIGM (general laws).
There must be a THEORY constructed from which HYPOTHESIS are derived and tested
There must be concepts that can be FALSIFIED
There must be use of EMPIRICAL methods of investigation which can be REPLICATED and produce OBJECTIVE results.
Three stage of science
Pre-science: no paradigm exists, and there is much debate about what the subject is and it’s theoretical approach.
Normal science: a generally accepted paradigm that can account for all the phenomena related to the subject, and can explain and interpret all findings.
Scientific revolution: evidence against the old paradigm reached a certain point, and there is a paradigm shift. The old paradigm is replaced by a new one.
Content analysis
A kind of observational study in which behaviour is usually observed indirectly in visual, written or verbal material. May involve either qualitative or quantitative, or both.
How to complete content analysis
1) decide on sample and familiarise yourself with data
2) create coding system and generate behavioural categories
3) record each time the behaviour is observed on behavioural checklist. This produces data at a nominal level of measurement.
4) represent data on graphs for quantitative analysis and using descriptive statistics.
Evaluation of content analysis
Strengths:
-offers a method to analyse a variety of forms of data including media and self-report methods so that insights into cultural trends and experiences can be understood.
-the material is already in the public domain, therefore there is no issue with consent
Limitations:
-the identification of suitable themes and and codes is subjective and decided by the researcher alone, meaning that conclusions lack any objectivity
-the researcher may attribute motivations to the speaker that are not intended. Both of these reduce the validity of the conclusions drawn.
Thematic analysis
A technique used when analysing qualitative data. Themes or categories are identified and then data is organised according to these themes.
How to complete thematic analysis
1) this method involves reading and rereading (familiarisation) the written transcripts carefully or using recordings to make a transcription of an interview.
2) break the data into meaningful units
3) use coding to initially analyse the transcript (looking for words which cropped up repeatedly so categorising).
4) these could then be combined to reduce the number of codes into three or four themes.
5) review the codes looking for themes
6) the themes identified can be used to support or challenge existing theories, with specific examples of data or quotes being used as supporting evidence.
Paradigm
A set of shared assumptions and agreed methods within a scientific discipline
Paradigm shift
The result of a scientific revolution: a significant change in the dominant unifying theory within a scientific discipline
Objectivity
When all sources of personal bias are minimised so as to not distort or influence the research process
Replicability
The extent to which scientific procedures and findings can be repeated by other researchers
Falsifiability
The principle that a theory cannot be considered scientific unless it admits the possibility of being proved untrue
