1.2 Planning And Conducting Research

Question 1

Define research aim

Answer 1

An aim identifies the purpose of the investigation.

It is what the experimenter is trying to find out from the investigation.

Question 2

Define research question

Answer 2

The question in which the researcher is asking and trying to find out from the experiment.

The researcher creates an aim depending on the research question.

Question 3

Define null hypotheses

Answer 3

A hypothesis which states there will be no relationship between the two variables being studied.

Question 4

Define alternative hypotheses

Answer 4

States that there is a relationship between the two variables being studied.

Question 5

Define one-tailed hypotheses

Answer 5

(Directional)

States that the independent variable will have an effect on the dependent variable.

E.g. “The IV will reduce the DV”

Question 6

Define two-tailed hypotheses

Answer 6

(Non-directional)

States that the independent variable will have an effect on the dependent variable however it doesn’t state which effect will be made.

E.g. “The IV will change the DV in some way”

Question 7

Define target population

Answer 7

This is the group of people that the researcher aims for the research to generalise to.

Question 8

Define target sample

Answer 8

This is a group of people drawn from the target population to take part in the actual study.

Question 9

Define random sampling

Answer 9

This is when the target population is selected randomly (e.g. Out of a hat) to take part in the study.

Question 10

Advantages and disadvantages of random sampling

Answer 10

Advantages -
It should represent the target population.

Disadvantages -
Takes a long time to do.

Question 11

Define snow-ball sampling

Answer 11

This is used when a researcher needs a specific type of sample that could be hard to find. The researcher will ask someone from the sample to to find similar people to them who are likely to have similar characteristics.

Question 12

Advantages and disadvantages of snow-ball sampling

Answer 12

Advantages -
It allows the researcher to have access to populations that may be harder to reach.
Cheap and easy.

Disadvantages -
The researcher has little control over the sample.

Question 13

Define opportunity sampling

Answer 13

This is when participants are able to take part in the study as they are available to.

Based on convenience.

Question 14

Advantages and disadvantages of opportunity sampling

Answer 14

Advantages -
Quick and easy to find participants.

Disadvantages -
It may not represent the target population.

Question 15

Define self-selected sample

Answer 15

This is when participants are in recruited due to volunteering to take part.

Question 16

Advantages and disadvantages of self-selected sample

Answer 16

Advantages -
Quick and easy.

Disadvantages-
May not represent the target population.

Question 17

Which sample is the most representative?

Answer 17

Random sampling.

Question 18

Describe independent groups design

Answer 18

There are independent groups which produce independent results which are then compared.

Question 19

Advantages and disadvantages of independent groups design

Answer 19

Advantages -
It can avoid order effects because both groups only do the experiment once.

Disadvantages -
Participant variables may affect the results as different groups of people experience the experiment conditions.

Question 20

Describe repeated measures design

Answer 20

The same group of participants take part in and experience both conditions.

Question 21

Advantages and disadvantages of repeated measures design

Answer 21

Advantages -
Less people are needed for the study to take place.
Participant variables are significantly reduced.

Disadvantages -
Order effects may affect the results as the participants would have already experienced one condition.

Question 22

Describe counterbalancing

Answer 22

Counterbalancing is when the two groups are split into two and they both experience both conditions.

Question 23

Advantages and disadvantages of counterbalancing

Answer 23

Advantages -
Although order effects occur, they occur in both groups so they balance each other out.

Question 24

Describe matched participant design

Answer 24

The researcher would spend a lot of time collecting two groups of participants who are as similar as possible. This could include characteristics such as age, gender, intelligence etc.

One member of one pair will be assigned to one group and the other will be assigned to the opposite group.

Question 25

Advantages and disadvantages of matched participant design

Answer 25

Advantages -
Participant variables are significantly reduced.

Disadvantages -
It is very time consuming.

Question 26

What is an independent variable?

Answer 26

The variable that the experimenter manipulated to see if it has an effect on the dependent variable.

Question 27

What is a dependent variable?

Answer 27

This is the variable that the experimenter measures after making changes to the independent variable.

Question 28

What does operationalise mean?

Answer 28

Changing variables into measurable factors.

Question 29

Why is it important to operationalise variables?

Answer 29

It could be very difficult for other researchers to carry out similar procedures as they wouldn’t know how to measure or control the variables.

It would make it harder to compare the findings of similar studies.

Question 30

What are extraneous variables?

Answer 30

Any variable (apart from the IV) that could affect the results in a study.