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PYSCHOLOGY > research methods 1 > Flashcards

research methods 1 Flashcards

1
Q

what do all experiments have?

A

an independent variable, a dependent variable, two conditions

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2
Q

define variable

A

things that can be changed or altered

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3
Q

define independent variable

A

the variable that is manipulated to observe its effects

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4
Q

define dependent variable

A

the variable that is measured and affected by the IV

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5
Q

define operationalisation

A

clearly specifying/turning abstract concepts into measurable observations

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6
Q

define hypothesis

A

a d testable statement about the relationship between the variables that are going to be studied

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7
Q

define directional/one-tailed hypothesis

A

states the direction of the difference/relationship between variables, used when there is previous research to suggest a direction

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8
Q

define non-directional/two-tailed hypothesis

A

predicts that a difference will exist between two or more variables without predicting the exact difference

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9
Q

define target population

A

the group that the researcher draws the sample from & want to be able to generalise the findings to

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10
Q

define sampling bias

A

when a sampling is comprised mainly on one particular type of person

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11
Q

define sample

A

a group of people that are drawn from the target population to take part in an experiment

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12
Q

define representative sample

A

a sample that closely matches the target population

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13
Q

define generalise

A

applying results to a wider population beyond the research participants

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14
Q

what is the process of random sampling

A

-pull names from a hat
-random name generator

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15
Q

advantages of random sampling

A

-everyone in the population has an equal chance of being chosen
-free from researcher bias (researcher has no input into who is chosen)
↳ sample is representative & generalisable

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16
Q

disadvantages of random sampling

A

-it’s time consuming & dificult to ensure that everyone in the population has an equal chance of being chosen
-people who are picked may be unwilling to take part

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17
Q

what is systematic sampling?

A

when a predetermined system is used to select participants
(eg: every nth person)

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18
Q

strengths of systematic sampling

A

-no researcher bias (researcher has no input into who’s chosen)

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19
Q

weaknesses of systematic sampling

A

-sample may not be representative
↳ each participant may have similar characteristics

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20
Q

what is stratified sampling?

A

-look at strata
-subgroups are represented in proportion their occurrence within the population

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21
Q

strengths of stratified sampling

A

-this is the only sampling technique that will give a fully representative sample
↳ results can be generalised

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22
Q

weaknesses of stratified sampling

A

-difficult to identify each strata in the target population

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23
Q

what is opportunity sampling?

A

anyone who’s willing and available to take part in the study at the time is chosen

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24
Q

strengths of opportunity sampling

A

-quick an easy
-no researcher bias

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25
Q

weaknesses of opportunity sampling

A

-not representative

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26
Q

what is volunteer sampling?

A

ask people to take part/participants respond to an advert

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27
Q

strengths of volunteer sampling

A

-low effort
-little researcher bias

28
Q

weaknesses of volunteer sampling

A

-non representative sample (usually only particular types of people volunteer)

29
Q

define order effects

A

refers to how the order of tasks could influence the outcome

30
Q

define random allocation

A

allocating participants to experimental conditions randomly

31
Q

define participant variables

A

individual differences between t be participants may affect the dependent variable

(age, IQ)

32
Q

define demand characteristics

A

a cue that makes participants aware of a study’s purpose / causes them to change their behaviour to match what they think is expected (please you/screw you effect)

33
Q

define counterbalancing

A

an attempt to control for order effects in a repeated measures design: half the participants do the condition in one order and half in the other order

34
Q

what are independent groups?

A

there are two separate groups of participants:
-one group is in each condition
-this is done through random allocation

35
Q

strengths of independent groups

A

no order effects (eg: fatigue)

36
Q

weaknesses of independent groups
(+ control)

A

participant variables can affect the study’s outcome

CONTROL: random allocation

37
Q

what is a repeated measures design?

A

-recruit a group of participants
-the whole group does the 1st and then 2nd condition

38
Q

strengths of a repeated measures design

A

-no participant variables
-fewer participants are required as they take part in all conditions

39
Q

weaknesses of a repeated measures design (+ control)

A

order effects (second conditons results are altered)

CONTROL: independent groups

40
Q

what is a matched pairs design?

A

-pairs of participants are matched from the sample based on age & IQ
-one member goes in condition A and the other goes in condition B

41
Q

strengths of a matched pairs design

A

-no participant variables
-no order effects

42
Q

weaknesses of a matched pairs design

A

-time consuming
-impossible unless identical twins are used

43
Q

define extraneous variables

A

variables that could affect the DV

44
Q

define confounding variables

A

extraneous variables that are important enough to change the BV

45
Q

define systematic error

A

affect the scores of one condition differently than the other

46
Q

define random error

A

spread randomly across the sores of both conditions

47
Q

define situational variables

A

factors connected to the research situation that could affect the DV

(eg: temp, noise)

48
Q

define investigator effects

A

the experimenter unconsciously conveys to participants how they should behave, they could give unintentional clues about what the experiment is about

49
Q

what do confounding variables lead to?

A

mistaken conclusions about what has affected the DV

50
Q

when does an extraneous variable become a confounding variable?

A

if it is not controlled for at the start of the study

51
Q

how can demand characteristics be controlled?

A

by not letting the participants guess the aim of the research
↳ single‐blind experimental
technique

52
Q

what is a single blind experimenter technique?

A

-only the researcher knows the true aim of the experiment
-a measure of deception has been used so that the participants cannot easily guess the aim

53
Q

examples of possible cues resulting in demand characteristics:

A

-the instructions
-what the participant may already have heard about the study (for example, from other participants)
-the way the participant is approached initially and asked to volunteer
-the setting of the study

54
Q

define standardisation

A

the process in which procedures used in
research are kept the same

55
Q

why is standardisation important?

A

2) if all elements of a procedure are the same, then the methods will be sensitive to any change in performance, then changes in data can be linked to the I.V

2) the results will be replicable, which
means that data reflects a meaningful pattern and was not a one-off
chance result

56
Q

what is a pilot study?

A

a small-scale trial run which is done before the main study to identify any problems or confusions

57
Q

are the results from a pilot study included in a final analysis?

A

no

58
Q

why is it sensible to do a pilot study?

A

to find any possible errors in the procedure or methodology and to
modify it for the actual investigation

59
Q

should a pilot study use the same participants as the main study?

A

no

60
Q

what should a pilot study establish?

A

-whether the design works
-whether participants do understand the
instructions and the debrief
-whether the task is too easy or hard
-whether something important
has been omitted

61
Q

how do you control situational variables?

A

standardisation

62
Q

how do you control participant variables?

A

random allocation

63
Q

how do you control investigator effects?

A

-randomisation of word lists
-random allocation of ppsts
-double Blind research

64
Q

how do you control demand characteristics?

A

-single/double blind research
-use independent groups so they only meet one condition and are
less likely to pick up on demand characteristics

65
Q

how do you control order effects?

A

-use an independent groups/matched pairs design
-counterbalance

PYSCHOLOGY (17 decks)

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