Research Methods

Question 1

What is quantitative data

Answer 1

Information gathered in the course of an experiment that is in numerical form

Question 2

What is qualitative data

Answer 2

• information gathered in the course of an experiment that is in vocal form

Question 3

What is a normal distribution and give an example

Answer 3

• doing a statistical analysis
• data firm target population would be normally distributed
• 50% each side of the mean
• example reading scores for 8 year olds

Question 4

What is negatively skewed data and give an example

Answer 4

• reading test too easy
• more children scoring higher
• curve that is skewed to the right
• mean is less than the median and the mode

Question 5

What is positively skewed distribution and give an example

Answer 5

Reading test is too hard

• more People struggling
• curve that is skewed to the left
• mean is more than the median and the mode

Question 6

What is an independent variable

Answer 6

The thing you change during an experiment

Question 7

What is a dependent variable

Answer 7

• the thing you measure during an experiment

Question 8

What are extraneous variable

Answer 8

• ## potential variables that can affect the results of an experiment

Question 9

What is internal validity

Answer 9

• the test measures out what it sets to measure out

Question 10

What is a hypothesis

Answer 10

A scientific prediction as to what the study will find

They are stated at the beginning of the experiment

Question 11

What is a non-directional hypothesis

Answer 11

• a prediction that there will be a difference between the two groups

Question 12

What is a directional hypothesis

Answer 12

A prediction that there will be a difference, in one specific way, between the two groups

Question 13

What is a null hypothesis

Answer 13

A prediction that there will be no difference between the two groups

Question 14

What are the four experimental methods

Answer 14

• lab study
• field study
• natural study
• quasi study

Question 15

What is a lab study

Answer 15

• a Study done in a controlled environment where the experimenter can control the independent variable and most of the potential extraneous variables

Question 16

What is a field study

Answer 16

A study done in a natural environment where the experimenter controls the independent variable but struggles to control extraneous variables

Question 17

What is a natural study

Answer 17

• a study done in a natural environment where the experimenter studies the effect of an independent variable that has changed naturally

Question 18

What is a quasi study

Answer 18

• a study done in a natural environment where the experimenter studies a pre-existing difference between groups

Question 19

Example of a lab study

Answer 19

Bandura

Because he is in a controlled environment

Question 20

Example of a field experiment

Answer 20

Hofling

Done in the real world

Question 21

Strength and weakness of a lab experiment

Answer 21

:) this experimental method has the highest level of control as it is in a artificial environment with full control
:( could cause the participants to behave in a different way to Normal, as they are know they are being observed

Question 22

Strength and weakness of field experiment

Answer 22

:) higher in realism, than a lab study and maintains control of the independent variable
:( lacks control of extraneous variables as it is done in the real world,made spite controlling the independent variable

Question 23

Strength and weakness of natural experiment

Answer 23

:) fully realistic, as the independent variable has changed naturally and is low in demand characteristics as the independent variable already exists
:( really low level of control, as the independent variable hasnt been manipulated and is carried out in a natural environment

Question 24

Strength and weakness of quasi experiment

Answer 24

:) high realism as the independent variable already exists
:( low level of control, as the independent variable hasn’t been manipulated and it is carried out in a natural environment

Question 25

What is independent groups

Answer 25

• different participants in each conditions of the IV

- eg half receive a sweet half don’t

Question 26

Strength and weakness of independent groups

Answer 26

:) everyone only takes part in one condition
- no chance of learning/improving
- no chance of practice effects
- no chance of the participants getting bored
:( differences between people
- participant variables could affect your dependent variable

Question 27

What is repeated measures

Answer 27

• each participant does both conditions

- eg both will have a sweet and both won’t have a sweet

Question 28

Strength and weakness of repeated measures

Answer 28

:) controls the differences between people
:) generally requires slightly fewer participants than independent groups
:( order effects
- people may be better the second time because of learning
- may be worse the second time because of boredom
:( need to design two sets of material

Question 29

What are matched pairs

Answer 29

• each person does one condition
• matched with another person doing the other condition on some important extraneous variables
• eg matched on creativity before doing the experiment
• do this before the start of a study

Question 30

Evaluation of matched pairs

Answer 30

:) no problems with order effects
:) researcher gains some control over an important extraneous variables
:( impractical to match people at the beginning don’t know how creative people are
:( may be other variables that differ that can effect the experiment

Question 31

What is counter balancing and which design does it link to

Answer 31

• half the participants do conditions in one particular order and the other half do it in the opposite order
• balance possible order effects
• repeated measures