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Psychology > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

1
Q

What is another way of saying the range?

A

standard deviation

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2
Q

What are the three types of experiment?

A

Lab, field and natural

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3
Q

What is another name for a natural experiment?

A

quasi experiment

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4
Q

Describe a lab experiment.

A

controlled environment/ IV manipulated/ DV measured.

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5
Q

Describe a field experiment.

A

natural environment/ IV manipulated/ DV measured.

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6
Q

Describe a natural (quasi) experiment.

A

researcher takes advantage of naturally occuring change in IV/ participants not randomly allocated/ IV determines which group you go into eg. male or female.

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7
Q

+VE of lab experiments.

A
  • replicable and reliable.
  • good internal validity.
  • strong cause and effect relationships.
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8
Q

-VE of lab experiments.

A
  • poor ecological validity.
  • chance of demand characteristics.
  • not everything of interest to a psychologist can be investigated using lab experimentation.
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9
Q

+VE of field experiments.

A

(opposite of lab)

  • high ecological validity.
  • low chance of demand characteristics.
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10
Q

-VE of field experiments.

A
  • less reliable as variables not controlled.
  • low internal validity.
  • generally more time consuming and expensive to run than lab experiments.
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11
Q

-VE of natural experiments.

A
  • not a true experiment as Ps aren’t randomly allocated to IV group.
  • little or no control variables, high extraneous variables so no cause and effect.
  • opportunities for natural experiments occur rarely and are often unique, so they are difficult to replicate in order to check validity of findings.
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12
Q

+VE of natural experiments.

A
  • high ecological validity
  • few demand characteristics and reduced researcher bias.
  • allows researcher to study IVs that can’t ethically be manipluated.
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13
Q

What are Russell and Burch’s 3rs?

A

The 3Rs are a widely accepted ethical framework for conducting scientific experiments using animals humanely:
Replacement - use of non-animal methods
Reduction - methods which reduce the number of animals used
Refinement - methods which improve animal welfare

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14
Q

What is the Hawthorne effect?

A

A term referring to the tendency of some people to work harder and perform better when they are participants in an experiment. Individuals may change their behavior due to the attention they are receiving from researchers rather than because of any manipulation of independent variables.

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15
Q

What are the 4 types of sampling?

A

Random, oppoprtunity, volunteer and snowball.

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16
Q

Describe random sampling.

Give some examples of ranom sampling methods.

A

*In a random sample, every member of the target population has exactly the same chance of being included in your sample.
METHODS:
*‘names from a hat’ whereby all members of a poluation are identified on slips fo paper, shuffled and then selected. All pieces of paper must be the same size and folded in the same way.
*Using a computer program: each member of a population is given a number and the program randomly generates a series of numbers.

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17
Q

Describe some problems with random sampling.

A
  • relies on all target population being available to take part if chosen.If you select someone who isn’t available you will need to replace them, and then it is no longer as random.
  • by chance your selected sample may be biased eg. sample has an above average memory.
  • it’s restricted by sample size, as it would be very costly to generate a sample using all the people in Britain for a study of British people.
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18
Q

what are some examples of non-experimental research methods?

A
  • -self reports/questionnaires/interviews
  • -observations
  • -content analysis
  • -correlations
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19
Q

what are confederates?

A

actors in an experiment.

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20
Q

Describe opportunity sampling.

A

A sample that consists of people available to the researcher.
The researcher approaches people and asks them to take part in their research.
Has a low population validity as there is a high chance there will be a biased sample.

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21
Q

Describe volunteer sampling.

A

A sample where the participants self select.
Researcher advertises study.
Low population validity as certain types of people are likely to volunteer.

22
Q

Describe snowball sampling.

A

A sample of volunteers who know another participant and share a certain variable.
Researcher recruits one participant and then asks this participant to share their details in the hope more will volunteer.
Low population validity as only certain types will volunteer.

23
Q

what is a hypothesis?

A

A precise and testable statement.

24
Q

After we write a null hypothesis we must write…?

A

any change will be down to chance.

25
Q

what are extaneous variables?

A

Things that can manipulate the behaviour of the participants and ruin the experimenter’s attempt to interpret findings.

26
Q

what is the difference between a confounding variable and an extraneous variable?

A

Extraneous variable is a general term for any variable other than the IV that might affect the DV. Where EVs are important enough to prove alternative explanations for the effects, they become confounding variables.

27
Q

Independent meausures is when..?

A

participants only sit one condition fo research.

28
Q

repeated measures is when…?

A

participants sit all conditions of research.

29
Q

matched pairs is when…?

A

participants from the first condition are matched as closely as possible to participants from the second condition.

30
Q

describe correlation.

A

Used to show the strengh of a relationship between two co-variables.
A scattergraph is used.

31
Q

What are the +VE and -VE of correlations?

A

+VE shows the direction of the relationship
only way we can ethically test certain things
-VE doesn’t tell us cause and effect.

32
Q

What are the +VE and -VE of the independent measures design?

A

+VE no order effects like boredom or practise.

-VE individual differences

33
Q

What are the +VE and -VE of the repeated measures design?

A

+VE no individual difference
-VE order effects
however—
+VE order effects can be reduced using counterbalancing.

34
Q

Is a correlation a research meothod or an analysis technique?

A

An analysis technique.

35
Q

What is the correlation coefficient?

A

The number generated which shows the strength of the correlation.

36
Q

What Swedish band should you remember to help you understand counterbalancing?

A

ABBA

37
Q

Describe event and time sampling.

A

Event: specific behaviours are recorded every time they occur.
Time: the behaviour of each participant is recorded at fixed intervals.

38
Q

What is an unstructured observation?

A

The researcher uses direct observation to record behaviours as they occur; there is no predetermined plan about what will be observed.

39
Q

What is an observation schedule?

A

Usually a structured form or grid that is completed in line with the researchers’ instructions or guidance by an observer.

40
Q

What is inter-observed reliability?

A

or inter-coder reliability; the degree to which 2 observers record the same data (or in some cases, draw the same conclusions) in the same circumstances. Lack of reliability in observations can indicate that observers are missing important details, that they are not categorizing observations in the same way, or that what appeared to be similar circumstances are actually not. Reliability is critical when design decisions are being made based on observations, and critical for allowing researchers to effectively communicate about their findings.

41
Q

What are the +VEs and -VEs of naturalistic observations?

A

+VEs:
High ecological valdity.
Ps don’t know they are being observed so no chance of Hawthorne effect.

-VEs:
No control over extraneous and confounding variables.
P unaware they are being observed, which raises ethical issues eg. lack of informed consent.
P may distrust pyschologists in the future.

42
Q

Name 6 types of observation.

A

Naturalistic, controlled, participant, non-participant, disclosed (overt) and non-disclosed.

43
Q

+VEs of participant observation.

A
  • -High Ecological validity.
  • -Rich qualitative data can be yeilded by the research.
  • -Easier to understand what the observees’ behaviour actually means.
  • -A relationship based on trust can be established between the observees and the observer.
44
Q

-VEs of participant observation.

A
  • -Researcher has to rely on memory-unreliable
  • -Observer becomes too emotionally involved, meaning the observations can become subjective rather than objective.
  • -The presence of the observed may change the group dynamics.
45
Q

+VEs of non-participant observation.

A
  • -observees may be realise they are being watched, so their behaviour will not change.
  • -Observer may be less objective as they are less emotionally involved.
  • -Observer can make observations as they occur making them more reliable in terms of memory.
46
Q

-VEs of non-participant observation.

A
  • -The actual meaning of the behaviour may not be clear from a distance.
  • -A relationship is not formed between the observer and the observee so they may be less trust.
47
Q

What are participant variables?

A

A participant variable is any characteristic of individual participants. They act as extraneous variables only if the independent measures design is used. When a repeated measures design is used, participant variables are controlled.

48
Q

What are participant effects?

A

Participant effects may occur because Ps actively seek cues about how to behave, because they want to help or because they are unsure about what is expected. Examples of participants effects are the Hawthorne effect and social desirability bias.

49
Q

How can an experimenter deal with participant effects?

A

Researchers can use of single blind design, where the participant doesn’t know the true aims of the study.
Another strategy is to make the experimental task sufficiently engaging so that the participant pays attention to the task and not the fact they are bieng observed. This is called experimental realism.

50
Q

What is a double blind study?

A

Neither the participant nor the experimenter are aware of the research aims and other important details and thus have no expectations.

51
Q

Describe Investigator/ experimenter effects.

A

Anything that the experimenter does which has an effect on a P’s performance in a study, other than what was intended. This included direct effects (as a consequence of the experimenter interacting with the P) and indirect effects (as a consequence of the investigator designing the study). This is called the investigator experimental design effect.

Psychology (7 decks)

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