Introduction to Psychological Research

Question 1

Define Target Population

Answer 1

A group of people that share a set of characteristics about which a researcher wishes to draw conclusions (e.g. psychology students)

Question 2

Define Representative Sample

Answer 2

A part of target population which shares all the important characteristics of the population despite its smaller size.

Question 3

Define Random Sampling

Answer 3

In a random sample, every person in a given target population stands an equal chance of being selected (e.g. names of students randomly selected by a computer generator)

Question 4

List advantages for random sampling

Answer 4

More likely to get a varied range of people.
Not biased.
Equal chance of being chosen.

Question 5

List disadvantages for random sampling

Answer 5

Random individuals may not be available or want to take part.
Not often possible, except with small, or accessible groups.

Question 6

Define Self-Selected Sampling

Answer 6

Involves participants selecting themselves often through replying to advertisements.
Potentially allows access to a wide variety of people.

Question 7

List advantages to self-selected sampling

Answer 7

Fairly easy to obtain (all participants approach the researcher).
Participants less likely to withdraw.

Question 8

List disadvantages to self-selected sampling

Answer 8

Selectivity of response (the majority of target population are unlikely to respond so it isn't random).
Biased responses (those who do respond may not be representative of the target population in some way).

Question 9

Define Opportunity Sampling

Answer 9

Involves the researcher selecting anyone who is available and willing to take part in research.

Question 10

List advantages to opportunity sampling

Answer 10

Results less likely to differ in important ways from other sampling methods.
Quick and easy to obtain sample.

Question 11

List disadvantages to opportunity sampling

Answer 11

Can be biased easily.
Likely to have similar backgrounds.
Tends not to be representative.

Question 12

Define Snowball Sampling

Answer 12

Used if the target population is very specific and difficult to recruit (e.g. drug dealers)

Question 13

List advantages to snowball sampling

Answer 13

Convenient method of recruiting specific types of participants through trusted sources.

Question 14

List disadvantages to snowball sampling

Answer 14

Comes from one area so not a true representation of wider population.
Not often possible, except with small, or accessible groups.

Question 15

Define Quantitative Data

Answer 15

Research based on numbers e.g. statistics and percentages.

Question 16

List advantages to quantitative data

Answer 16

Quick to analyse.

Compare behaviours between participants.

Question 17

List disadvantages to quantitative data

Answer 17

Doesn’t tell you a reason or give a bigger picture making it difficult for people to fully express what they are thinking and why sometimes.

Question 18

Define Qualitative Data

Answer 18

Anything not originally collected or later converted into numbers i.e. words, pictures or descriptions etc…

Question 19

List advantages to qualitative data

Answer 19

Produces rich, detailed information that can be gathered about the topic being investigated.
Can justify and give reasons.

Question 20

List disadvantages to qualitative data

Answer 20

Hard to analyse and compare across different participants.

Question 21

Define Internal Validity

Answer 21

Refers to whether a measure is accurately measuring what it intends to measure.

Question 22

Define Face Validity

Answer 22

On the surface or at face value, does the test accurately measure what was intended to be measured?

Question 23

Define Concurrent Validity

Answer 23

Test scores of a new test correlate with test scores of an established test.

Question 24

Define Criterion Validity

Answer 24

A test that will be able to predict a future outcome.

Question 25

Define Construct Validity

Answer 25

Does the measure fully measure what it intends to?

Question 26

Define Ecological Validity

Answer 26

Will the measure used enable you to reflect real life behaviour?

Question 27

Define Population Validity

Answer 27

Does the sample used reflect the wider target population?

Question 28

Define Reliability

Answer 28

Reliability refers to consistency of findings or measures

Question 29

Define Internal Reliability

Answer 29

How consistent is the measure(s) within the research?

Question 30

Define External Reliability

Answer 30

The extent to which a measure varies from one use to another.

Question 31

Define Inter-rater Reliability

Answer 31

Consistency produced by different examiners.

Question 32

List Ethical Guidelines

Answer 32

Informed Consent
Right to Withdraw 
Confidentiality
Debriefing
Deception
Protection from Harm
Observational Research
Justification of Actions