Experiments Flashcards

Question

Social desirability bias

Answer 1

Participant answers in a way they deem socially acceptable

Answer 2

A group of people who are the focus of the research is interest from which is smaller sample is drawn

Answer 3

A group of people who take part in a research investigation. The sample is drawn from a target population, and his presumed to be representative of that population.

Answer 4

The extent to which findings and conclusions from a particular investigation can be broadly applied to the population. This is made possible if the sample of participants is representative of the population.

Answer 5

All members of the target population have an equal chance of being selected. A complete list of all members of the target population is made. All of the names are assigned a number. The sample is generated through a random number generator. Good: free from researcher bias Bad: time consuming, may be unrepresentative

Answer 6

Every nth member of the target population selected. The list of people in the target population of sorted into a sampling frame. A sampling system is nominated, e.g. every sixth person or a random interval to reduce bias. Good: avoids researcher bias, usually representative

Answer 7

The composition of the sample reflects the proportions of people in certain subgroups within the target population or the wider population. The researcher first identifies the different strata that can make up the population then the proportions that are needed for the sample to be representative of worked out. Finally, the participants that make up the stratum are selected using random sampling. Good: Avoids researcher bias, more representative Bad: the identified strata cannot reflect all the ways that people are different to complete representation is not possible. Time consuming

Answer 8

Research has decided to select anyone who will be willing and available to participate in the experiment. The research asks, whoever is around at the time of their study for example in the street. Good: fast and convenient Bad: Unrepresentative of target population, findings cannot be generalised. Researcher bias as researchers may avoid people they don’t like the look of

Answer 9

Participant select themselves to be in the sample (self selection) The researcher may place an advert in the newspaper, or in the common room noticeboard . Good: fast and cheap Bad: volunteer bias, may attract a small unrepresentative group of people

Answer 10

In-depth investigations of a single person, group, event or community. Typically, data is gathered from a variety of sources by using several different methods. Positives: Provides detailed (rich qualitative) information Provides insight for further research Permits investigation of otherwise impractical or unethical situations Negatives Provides little basis for generalisation of results to the wider population Researchers' own subjective feeling may influence the case study (researcher bias) Difficult to replicate Time-consuming and expensive

Answer 11

When the researcher takes advantage of a naturally occurring independent variable, setting does not have to be natural Strengths: It can have ecological validity. Can be useful in studying phenomena that is unethical to manipulate, eg a school shooting Weaknesses: More difficult to control extraneous variables making it harder for other researchers to replicate. Researcher has no control over independent variables

Answer 12

Conducted in a real, everyday setting (not a literal field) Strengths: There is lower chance of demand characteristics occurring. Weaknesses: Can be very time consuming and expensive

Answer 13

When the researcher does not control the IV, the IV is a pre existing difference between participants eg gender or age. Can occur in lab conditions Strengths: Often carried out in lab conditions so has high control. Weaknesses: Participants cannot be randomly allocated into groups so there is a strong likelihood of confounding variables.

Answer 14

They are conducted in a highly controlled environment, not always a literal lab Strengths: Uses a standardised procedure that is easy to replicate. Highly controlled which makes accurate measurements possible. High control allows cause and effect to be established. Weaknesses: It is likely that participants will know they are being studied which can cause the problem of Hawthorne effect. Demand characteristics can occur. May not reflect real life and therefore could lack ecological validity.

Answer 15

• Explains what will happen, and what the participants are asked to do • Research aims • How long it will take • Reminds them that they can withdraw at any time Any data collected will be kept confidential

Answer 16

• A debrief occurs at the end of an experiment • It should contain the true details of the experiment, including aims, the existence of other experimental groups or conditions • Participants must be told what their data will be used for and be given the right to withdraw their data (especially for retrospective consent) Participants may require counselling in extreme cases, which the researcher should provide

Answer 17

• A debrief occurs at the end of an experiment • It should contain the true details of the experiment, including aims, the existence of other experimental groups or conditions • Participants must be told what their data will be used for and be given the right to withdraw their data (especially for retrospective consent) Participants may require counselling in extreme cases, which the researcher should provide

Answer 18

a similar group of people are asked if the study is acceptable. If it is agreed then the consent of the participants is presumed

Answer 19

participants give permission to take part in a number of studies, including one involving deception, they are consenting to being deceived

Answer 20

they are asked after they have already taken part