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a-level pyschology (edexcel) > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

1
Q

What is the independent variable?

A

The thing we manipulate.

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2
Q

What is the dependent variable?

A

The thing we measure.

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3
Q

What is an extraneous variable?
Give two examples.

A

Any variable other than the independent variable that might potentially affect the dependent variable, therefore confusing the results.
Two examples would be participant and situational variables.

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4
Q

What is a confounding variable?

A

When the extraneous variable changes systematically with the IV.

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5
Q

What are demand characteristics?

A

When there are cues in a research situation that communicate to ppts what is expected of them and may then unconsciously affect a ppt’s behaviour.

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6
Q

What are the two types of self-reporting data?

A

Questionnaires and interviews.

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7
Q

What are questionnaires?

A

Respondents recording their own answers to predetermined questions. It is provided in written form and there is no face-to-face contact with another person.

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8
Q

Strengths for a questionnaire?

A

Respondents reveal more personal answers as they may be anonymous & record the data themselves
They are quick & easily repeated - large numbers of people can do it at the same time - quick info collected.

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9
Q

Weaknesses for a questionnaire?

A

Respondents answer questions a certain way that makes them look better as they don’t want to look foolish
If all statements in a set of statements are worded favourable/unfavourably - respondents can slip into agreeing/disagreeing with all of them.

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10
Q

What is an closed question?

A

Fixed number of possible answers. For example, yes/no questions.
They also provide quantative data.

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11
Q

What is an open question?

A

Allow the respondent to answer in any way they like.
For example, the questions begin with ‘how’ or ‘why’.
They also produce qualitative data.

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12
Q

What are ranked scale questions?

A

A kind of closed question whewre respondents are asked to give their views on a scale. For example, ‘from 1 - 10, how much do you like dogs?’ - 1 represents very negative, 10 represents very postive.

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13
Q

What are the strengths for closed questions?

A

They are easy to analyse as the data is quantitative (numbers) so conclusions can be easily drawn.
Objective answers can be made because the limited answers can easily be interpreted the same by researchers.

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14
Q

What are the weaknesses for closed questions?

A

They give a lack of detail.
Cannot express exact feelings because the researcher determined the choice of answers (limited question).
Data collection low in validity.

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15
Q

What are the strengths for open questions?

A

Provides rich detail answers as it allows people to express their answers freely.
Increases validity of data collected.
Unexpected findings - freely answered which means there can be unexpected findings that closed questions can’t obtain.

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16
Q

What are the weaknesses for open questions?

A

Difficult to draw conclusions because the answers are freely answered & not structured.
Each researcher would have different interpretations.

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17
Q

What is a structured interview?

A

Predetermined questions delivered by an interviewer.

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18
Q

What are strengths for a structured interview?

A

Can be easily repeated.
Easier to analyse.
The interviewer can provide extra information.

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19
Q

What are weaknesses for a structured interview?

A

The interviewer’s expectations can influence answers (researcher/interviewer bias)
Interviewees may feel reluctant to share info.

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20
Q

What are semi-structured interviews?

A

Some of the questions are predetermined, some are not.

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21
Q

Strengths of a semi-structured interview?

A

More detailed information can be obtained.
May access info that would not be obtained by predetermined questions.

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22
Q

Weaknesses of a semi-structured interview?

A

More affected by interviewer bias - the interviewer is making up questions on the spot and may ask leading questions.
Requires well-trained interviewers, which may be difficult to get (and makes the research more expensive).

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23
Q

What is an unstructured interview?

A

Where no questions are decied in advance.

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24
Q

Strengths of a unstructured interview?

A

(Same as semi-structured)
More detailed information can be obtained.
May access info that would not be obtained by predetermined questions.

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25
Q

Weaknesses of a unstructured interview?

A

(Same as semi-structured)
More affected by interviewer bias - the interviewer is making up questions on the spot and may ask leading questions.
Requires well-trained interviewers, which may be difficult to get (and makes the research more expensive).

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26
Q

What is random sampling?

A

A sample of ppts produced using a random technique so everyone has a chance at being selected.

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27
Q

Strengths of random sampling?

A

Unbiased, all members of the target populations have an equal chance.
It is possible to pick a sub-group in the target population which makes it easier to randomly select ppts.

28
Q

What is stratified sampling?

A

Ppts from different subgroups in the target population in proportion to the subgroup’s frequency in that group.

29
Q

Weaknesses of stratified sampling?

A

May be biased - reduces representativeness of the samples.
The method is very time-consuming so ppts selected may drop out.

30
Q

Weaknesses of random sampling?

A

It takes more time and effort than other techniques.
Random sampling is not often random as not all the ppts agree to take part.

31
Q

Strengths of volunteer sampling?

A

Convenient way of finding ppts.
May be a good way to get a specialised group of ppts.

32
Q

Strengths of stratified sampling?

A

Most representative - all subgroups are represented in proportion to the numbers in the target population.
Specific subgroups can be chosen according to the variables considered to be important by the researcher.

33
Q

Weaknesses of volunteer sampling?

A

Biased - ppts are more likely to be highly motivated or have extra time on their hands than the general population.
They may be more prone to guessing because they are more willing to participate and responding to demand characteristics.

34
Q

What is opportunity sampling?

A

A sample of ppts produced by selecting people who are most easily available at the time of the study.

35
Q

What is volunteer sampling?

A

A sample of ppts produced by asking people who are willing to take part.

36
Q

Strengths of opportunity sampling?

A

Most convenient technique - take little preparation.
May be the only technique available as the whole target population cannot be listed.

37
Q

Weaknesses of opportunity sampling?

A

Biased - sample is drawn from a specific part of the target population which is not likely to be representative.
Ppts may refuse to take part.
The final sample may be more likely to respond to demand characteristics.

38
Q

What is quantative data?

A

Information in numbers.

39
Q

What are the different types of quantative data?

A

Mean, median,mode, range (measures of central tendency), standard deviation.

40
Q

Strengths of quantative data?

A

Easier to analyse
More objective - measurements are always the same, no matter what.
No bias.

41
Q

Weaknesses of quantative data?

A

May not express ppt’s thoughts or feelings as the answers provided are fixed.
Oversimplifies reality.
Can be seen as reductionist - reducing the human experience to quantites.

42
Q

What is qualitative data?

A

Information in words or pictures; non-numerical.

43
Q

Strenghths of qualitative data?

A

It represents the true complexity of human behaviour.
Provides rich details of how people think and behave - more validity
Can be seen as holistic - thoughts and behaviour are not reduced down to numbers

44
Q

Weaknesses of qualitative data?

A

More difficult to detect patterns and draw conclusions.
Interpeting what people means can be subjective.

45
Q

What is validity?

A

Refers to the ‘trueness’ or ‘legitimacy’ of the data collected.

46
Q

What is internal validity and what can it be affected by?

A

Concerns whether a test (questionnaire) does assess what it intended to assess.
Can be affected by social desirablity bias and leading questions.

47
Q

What is ecological validity and what can it be affected by?

A

Concerns the extent to which the findings from a questionnaire or interview can be generalised beyond the particular study.
It can be affected if the study is not representative/not generalisable to the wider population.

48
Q

What is predictive validity?

A

Concerns the extent to which a test score is actually related to the behaviour you want to measure.
Therefore, the test score can forecast performance on another measure.

49
Q

What is reliablity?

A

Refers to the consistency of measurements.

50
Q

What is inter-interviewer reliabilty?
How can it be assessed?

A

When more thsn one interviewer is used to collect data for a research study.
Low reliablity may be caused if researchers behave differently.

Can be assessed by comparing the results from two interviewers questioning the same person.

51
Q

What is test-retest reliablity?

A

A measure of whether something varies from one time to another/consistent over time. The same questionnaire is given to see if all results are the same.

52
Q

What is a repeated measures design?

A

When each ppt takes part in every condition being tested. Each conditiom represents one level of the independent variable.

53
Q

Strengths of a repeated measures design?

A

Good control of participant variables because the same person is tested twice.
Fewer ppts are needed - makes the conclusion more dependable because there is more data.

54
Q

Weaknesses of a repeated measures design?

A

Order effects are produced - a ppt’s may be better on the second test due to experience (practice effect) or perform worse because of tiredness (fatigue effect).
Ppts may guess the purpose of the experiment as they do both conditions which may make the research aims obvious.

55
Q

What is an independent groups design?

A

Different ppts are allocated to two or more experimental groups representing different levels of the independent variable.

There may be a control group.

56
Q

Strengths of an independent groups design?

A

Avoids order effects because the ppt is only tested once.
Avoids the ppts guessing the aims of the experiment.

57
Q

Weaknesses of an independent groups design?

A

There is no control of ppts variables.
Needs more ppts than a repeated measures design.
For example, f you have 20 ppts, 10 will go into each group so you are left with 10 items in the final analysis.

58
Q

What is a matched pairs design?

A

Ppts who are similar on key variables are paired up i.e one member of the pair is in Group A and the other is in Group B.
This means there are two groups of ppts.
Each group is given one level of the independent variable.

59
Q

Strengths of an matched pairs design?

A

Controls for ppt variables because of the matching.
Avoids order effects - it is like an independent groups design.

60
Q

Weaknesses of a matched pairs design?

A

Very time consuming; to match ppts on key variables.
May not control all ppts variables because you know you can only match on variables known to be relevant. (it could be other variables that are important)

61
Q

When does a Type 1 error occur?

A

Occurs when a researcher rejects a null hypothesis that is true.

62
Q

When does a Type 2 error occur?

A

Occurs when a researcher accepts a null hypothesis that is not true.

63
Q

What are the strengths of a case study?

A

Can be used to investigate instances of human behaviour and experience that are rare or cases which could not possibly be created in research labs.

Provides an in-depth data because of the complex interaction of many factors can be studied, in contrast with experiments where variables are held constant.

64
Q

What are the weaknesses of a case study?

A

Difficult to generalise from individual cases as each one has unique characteristics.

Often necessary to use recollection of past events as part of a case study.

May be unreliable because people’s memories are inaccurate.

Researchers may lack objectivity as they get to know the case - bias

Ethical issues - confidentiality and anonymity.

65
Q

What is thematic analysis?

A

A method for analysing qualitative data that involves identifying and reporting patterns within the material to be analysed.

The material to be analysed might be a diary, TV advertisements, or interview transcripts.

66
Q

Strength of thematic analysis?

A

It provides in-depth information – it is a flexible data analysis method.

67
Q

Weakness of thematic analysis?

A

The results may be due to investigator bias, reducing the validity of findings.

a-level pyschology (edexcel) (13 decks)

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