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Psychology > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

1
Q

Whats the difference between a hypothesis and aim?

A

the aim is a statement to what the study is finding whereas the hypothesis is a testable statement

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2
Q

Whats the difference between directional and non-directional hypothesis?

A

A directional hypothesis is a hypothesis which states the direction of a result whereas a non-directional hypothesis states the difference between the two conditions and groups

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3
Q

When is a directional hypothesis used?

A

this is used when there is a past study that shows the research will go a particular way

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4
Q

When is a non- directional hypothesis used?

A

this is used when there is no past study or there is contradiction

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5
Q

What is a pilot study?

A

A pilot study is using a sample and a small scale sample to see if there are any flaws before the study takes place

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6
Q

Why is a pilot study used?

A
  • certain aspects don’t work
  • can see what needs to be adjusted
  • no waste of time and money
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7
Q

What is a confederate?

A

this is using another person to play a role in the study

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8
Q

What is Validity

A

this refers to how true something is in an explanation of behaviour

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9
Q

What is internal validity?

A

The degree to which an observed effect was due to the experimental manipulation rather than other factors such as confounding and extraneous variables

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10
Q

What are the factors of internal Validity

A
  • whether the IV produced a change in the DV
  • Whether the research tested what they intended to test
  • Whether the study had any mundane realism
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11
Q

What is external validity?

A

the degree to which research findings can be generalised: by people, by settings, over time

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12
Q

What effects external validity?

A

the place where the research took place - ecological validity
the people who were studied - population validity
the historical period - historical validity

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13
Q

What are confounding variables?

A

these are variables under study which is not the IV but varies systematically with the IV, therefore the DV is affected making the results no longer valuable

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14
Q

What are extraneous variables?

A

a variable which does not vary systematically with the IV and therefore does no act as an alternative IV but has an effect on the DV

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15
Q

What us mundane realism?

A

This refers to how an experiment mirrors the real world if the experiment is not an everyday situation this could effect the results and make it less useful in the real world

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16
Q

What causes and effects generalisation?

A
  • if materials are contrived e.g. film clips
  • if participants know there being studied this could effect their behaviour
  • even if real is still lacks generalism as everyone behaves differently
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17
Q

What is operationalise?

A

Ensuring that variables are in a form that can be measured

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18
Q

What is standardised procedures?

A

A set of procedures given to all participants in order to be able to repeat the study for example a set of instructions

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19
Q

Why is standardisation important?

A

The results could vary because of changed in the procedure instead of the iv

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20
Q

What is the independent variable?

A

Some event that is directly manipulated by an experiment in order to test its effect on another varible

21
Q

What is the dependent variable?

A

A measurable outcome of the action of the independent variable in an experiment

22
Q

Why do we need to control variables?

A

this is so we know the manipulated variable(iv) causes the change in the dv

23
Q

When do random errors occur?

A

they occur when extraneous variables affect participants or the dv in a random fashion

24
Q

names some random errors

A

state of mind, level of motivation, incidental noise, ill, previous experiences during the day

25
Q

what does random allocation do?

A

this reduces the random errors as we assume they will balance out across experimental conditions

26
Q

What is a constant error?

A

they affect the DV in a consistent and systematic way therefore are more of a serous problem as they do not affect all conditions equally

27
Q

What do constant errors include?

A

a failure to counterbalance or randomise the presentation order of experimental conditions
- participant differences, demand characteristics, situational differences, investigator effects, measurement errors

28
Q

What are the areas where extraneous variables arise?

A

participant, situational, experimental, order effect

29
Q

what are participant variables?

A

characteristics of participant may influence outcome they can therefore act as an alternative iv as 1 group may be different to the next

30
Q

What are situational variables?

A

factors about the experiment setting that could affect the dv or behaviour of the participants

31
Q

What are experimenter variables?

A

factors relating to the investigator that could affect the outcome of research
- characteristics, gender, appearance

32
Q

What is order effect?

A

repeated measures could affect performance as participant may get bored or affect by first level

33
Q

What is random allocation?

A

the way which researchers divide participants into different experimental conditions therefore there is no bias in participant characteristics

34
Q

How do you randomly allocate?

A

computer selection, random number tables, manual allocation

35
Q

What does randomisation do?

A

reduces the researchers influence on the design of the study

36
Q

What is counterbalancing?

A

this is used to control order effect this ensures each condition is tested in equal events

37
Q

what are the 3 standardisation methods?

A

standardised procedure - all groups carry out in same way - gets rid of confounding variables
standardised instructions - exact same wording to stop bias and people getting clearer or more difficult instructions
standardised conditions - all have same experience - rule out bias

38
Q

name type of experimental design

A

repeated measures, independent groups, matched pair design

39
Q

what is repeated measure design?

A

all participants receive all levels of the iv, compare the performance (dv) of participants over the two tests

40
Q

what is independent groups design?

A

participants are placed in separate groups each group does one level of the iv, then compare DV of 2 groups

41
Q

What is matched pair design?

A

2 groups of participants but matched participants on key characteristics believed to affect the DV, then one member of the pair goes to one group and the other to the other group, then follow independent groups design

42
Q

What are the limitations of repeated measures design?

A

order effect may affect performance, when participants do the 2nd test they might gain the purpose of the experiment this could affect their behaviour

43
Q

What are the limitations of independent groups design:?

A

researcher cannot measure the effect of participant variables, needs more participant than repeated measures desgin

44
Q

What are the limitations of matched pair design?

A

time consuming to match participants on key variables and have to start with a large group, not possible to control all variables

45
Q

What are the methods of dealing with the limitations for repeated measures design?

A

counterbalance to avoid guessing purpose and use two difference tests to reduce order effect

46
Q

How do you deal with the limitations of independent group design?

A

random allocation

47
Q

How do you deal with the methods of matched pair design?

A

restrict number of variables to match making it easier, conduct a pilot study to consider variables that are important when matching

48
Q

What does counterbalancing ensure?

A

each condition in a repeated measures design is tested 1st or 2nd in equal amount this deals with order effects

49
Q

What are the advantages of a pilot study?

A
  • check if details are appropriate
  • indicate that participants don’t understand what they are to do
  • see if there are uncontrolled variables affecting the DV

Psychology (37 decks)

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