4.2.3 Research Methods

Question 1

What is deductive theory (top down)?

Answer 1

Theory —> Prediction —> Experiment

Relied on by Psychology

Question 2

What is Inductive Theory?

Answer 2

Observation —> Generalisation—> Theory

Question 3

What is Falsification?

Answer 3

• Created by Karl Popper
• all good theories should be able to tested/ falsified
• deductive theory used
• better to be proved wrong then nothing

Question 4

What is the Independent variable (IV)?

Answer 4

The aspect of the experiment that the researcher changes/manipulate.

Question 5

What is the dependent variable (DV)?

Answer 5

The data that the research measures. The effects should only be caused by the IV.

Question 6

What are extraneous variables(EV)?

Answer 6

A variable other than the IV that may affect the DV and should therefore be controlled for. If not properly controlled it can challenge the validity of the research.

Question 7

What is a directional (one-tailed) hypothesis?

More/less

Answer 7

Predict a difference or a relationship between groups/conditions and state the direction of the different relationships.
(Experimental accept/reject)

Question 8

What is a non-directional (two-tailed) Hypothesis?

Answer 8

Predicts a difference or a relationship between groups/conditions but does not state the direction of the difference/relationship.
(Experimental accept/reject)

Question 9

What is a null hypothesis?

Answer 9

Predict that the results of obtained from an investigation are due to chance.
(Retain/reject)

Question 10

What is operationalisation?

Answer 10

This means to make the hypothesis testable and measurable.

Question 11

What is reliability?

Answer 11

It refers to the extent which something is consistent.

Question 12

What is the effect of reliable methodologies and effects?

Answer 12

Reliable methodologies will produce the same or similar results each time.
Reliable effects are replicated across a number of different studies.

Question 13

What is test retest reliability?

Answer 13

Measures test consistency, the reliability of a test measured over time.

Question 14

What is interrater reliability?

Answer 14

Interrater reliability is is the degree of agreement among raters (at least 2 people).

Question 15

What is validity?

Answer 15

Validity refers to the extent to which something is measuring what it is claiming to measure.

Question 16

What are valid methodologies?

Answer 16

They measure the construct that they are intended to measure (DV).

Question 17

What is valid effects?

Answer 17

Valid attacks can be attributed to the independent variable.

Question 18

What is internal validity?

Answer 18

Lots of extraneous variables can change the internal validity.

Question 19

What are the different types of EV?

Answer 19

Participant variables, situational variables and other EVs.

Question 20

What are participant variables?

Answer 20

They are to do with differences between the participants.

Question 21

What are situational variables?

Answer 21

They are features of the experiments situation. (Setting)

Question 22

What are other EVs?

Answer 22

They may include: research bias, demand characteristics and order effect.
Demand characteristics fall under the please you effect and the screw you effect.

Question 23

What is external validity?

Answer 23

External validity refers to the extent the results can be generalised to other settings.

Question 24

What are the different types of external validity?

Answer 24

Ecological assesses setting, population assesses people, temporal assesses time. All researchers ask is can they be generalised.

Question 25

What is mundane realism?

Answer 25

The task is not realistic of every day behaviour.

Question 26

What is generalisation?

Answer 26

Generalisations focus on the similarities between humans and take a nomothetic approach to psychology rather than an idiographic approach.

Question 27

What is a nomothetic approach?

Answer 27

Quantitative data

Question 28

What is an idiographic approach?

Answer 28

Qualitative data e.g. interviews and debriefs

Question 29

Why might generalisations may not be possible?

Answer 29

Sample size was small and not very representative, findings are only from one country.

Question 30

What are standardised procedures?

Answer 30

Replication to determine reliability.

Question 31

What is random allocation?

Answer 31

Equal chance for p's to be in each condition.

Question 32

What is the double blind test?

Answer 32

Neither the P's or the researchers know the condition.

Question 33

What is the single blind test?

Answer 33

The researcher doesn't know the condition they are in.

Question 34

What are confounding variables?

Answer 34

Variables part from the IV that have an effect on the DV.

Question 35

What are uncontrolled variables?

Answer 35

Variables that cannot be controlled for.

Question 36

What are demand characteristics?

Answer 36

When the P's catch cues to what the researcher may be looking for resulting in the "please you effect" or the "screw you effect"

Question 37

What are investigator effects?

Answer 37

When a researcher (unconsciously or consciously) try to effect the outcome to support their hypothesis.

Question 38

What is Participant Reactivity?

Answer 38

Change in behaviour when you know you are being observed.

Question 39

What is a Laboratory Experiment?

Answer 39

An experiment conducted in an artificial setting, standardised procedure, researcher manipulates the IV to see its effect on the DV, Participants are aware they are in an experiment but not always sure about the aims. Controls over the EVs.

Question 40

What is a field experiment?

Answer 40

An experiment conducted in a natural setting, researcher manipulates the IV to see its effect on the DV, IV deliberately manipulated by researcher, P's not aware they are in experiment.

Question 41

What is a Natural experiment?

Answer 41

(setting/ situational e.g twin separated at birth) Conducted in everyday environment, the researcher cannot ethically manipulate the IV, no control over the IV as it happens in everyday life.

Question 42

What is a quasi experiment?

Answer 42

(person) random allocation cannot be used, the researcher does not manipulate the IV it simply just exists and therefore P's cannot be randomly allocated to groups.

Question 43

What are the different methods of Random allocation?

Answer 43

The lottery method, random number method.

Question 44

What are experimental (research) designs?

Answer 44

refers to how the P's are organised across the conditions.

Question 45

What is the repeated measures design?

Answer 45

Each Participant takes part in both conditions. They are selected for both groups.

Question 46

What is Independent group design?

Answer 46

Each P's takes part in one condition only. They are selected for one group.

Question 47

What is matched pairs design?

Answer 47

Each P's takes part in one condition only, but is matched up on variables considered relevant e.g IQ

Question 48

What is counter balancing?

Answer 48

Overcome the issue of repeated measures. P's split into two groups. E.g group 1 does no music then music conditions and group 2 does music then no music conditions.

Question 49

What are test validity's?

Answer 49

Construct, Concurrent, Face, Predictive