FORMULATING RESEARCH

Question 1

define what is meant by the AIM of research

Answer 1

broad statement explaining the purpose of the experiment

Question 2

define what is meant by the RESEARCH QUESTION in research

Answer 2

the exact question you are trying to answer, including the population of interest

Question 3

define what is meant by extraneous variables

Answer 3

only variable other than IV that may affect the DV

Question 4

define what is meant by the confounding variable

Answer 4

variable other than the IV that consistently/systematically effects the DV

Question 5

what is a non-directional hypothesis

Answer 5

predicts that there is a relationship between 2 variables, but doesn’t specify the direction of the relationship

“hypothesised that students who take hemp seed oil before bed for two weeks will DIFFER in the time taken to fall asleep compared to students who don’t take hemp oil”

Question 6

define what is meant by a directional hypothesis

Answer 6

predicts the nature of the effect of the IV on the DV, predicting the direction the change will take place

“hypothesised that students who take hemp seed oil before bed for two weeks will take LESS time to fall asleep compared to students who don’t take hemp oil”

Question 7

define experimental research
what must this include?

Answer 7

experiments conducted to test whether one variable influences or causes a change in another variable

experimental group
control group

Question 8

define non-experimental research

Answer 8

includes observation, case studies, correlations studies and archival research

variables ARE NOT manipulated
cause and effect relationship cannot be established

Question 9

strength of experimental research

Answer 9

researchers can have control of variables
cause and effect relationship can be established

Question 10

limitations of experimental research

Answer 10

controlled environment (lab) reduces realism and may impact participant behaviour

trying to control variables - risk of human error

Question 11

strengths of non-experimental research

Answer 11

observing what is naturally occurring in environment - controlled setting doesn’t need to be created

allowing research applications where manipulating variables would be unethical for participants

Question 12

limitations of non-experimental research

Answer 12

reliable causal conclusions cannot be made due to no evidence of cause-effect relationship

no variable manipulation, larger sample sizes are required to be observed

Question 13

define what is meant by observational research

Answer 13

studying behaviour of participants by researcher monitoring participants and recording notes

Question 14

what are 2 strengths of Observational research

Answer 14

can be replicated

participants more likely to behave naturally

Question 15

what are 2 limitations of observational research

Answer 15

observer bias

participants changing behaviour if they are aware that they are being observed

voluntary participation and informed consent may be breached

Question 16

define what is meant by a case study

Answer 16

an in depth investigation of an individual person, group of people or single event useful in studying unusual events that cannot be replicated

Question 17

state 2 strengths of using a case study research design

Answer 17

detailed info given

information is gathered from a range of perspectives

Question 18

state 2 limitations of case study research

Answer 18

results unable to be generalised to the population the sample was taken from

conclusions drawn are limited due to lack of formal control groups

Question 19

define what is meant by a correlational study

Answer 19

measuring linear relationships between 2 variables

Question 20

what is a strength of a correlational study

Answer 20

can be used when manipulating variables
can lead to potential hypothesis being tested

Question 21

what is a limitation of a correlational study

Answer 21

correlation does NOT equal causation

no cause and effect relationship established

Question 22

what is meant by a longitudinal study

Answer 22

data is collected more than once using the same participants, often looking at development overtime

Question 23

what is a strength of a longitudinal study

Answer 23

developmental trends can be studied

frequency, timing and duration can be assessed

participant related variables are kept constant

Question 24

what is a limitation of a longitudinal study

Answer 24

time consuming
expensive
participants may drop out overtime

Question 25

what is meant by a cross sectional study

Answer 25

data collection method from people of different ages at the same point in time, often looking at development over lifespan

Question 26

cross sectional study strength

Answer 26

quicker, cheaper than longitudinal

Question 27

cross sectional study limitation

Answer 27

cohort effect can’t determine cause and effect relationship

Question 28

define what is meant by convenience sampling

Answer 28

participants are selected based on being easily accessible

Question 29

what is a strength of convenience sampling

Answer 29

low cost quick easy

Question 30

what is a limitation of convenience sampling

Answer 30

unlikely to be representative of population high level of experimenter bias likely

Question 31

define what is meant by snowball sampling

Answer 31

after initial participants are chosen, they are encouraged to recruit more participants to gain sample

Question 32

what is a strength of snowball sampling

Answer 32

similar participants may know eachother easier to find a sample that is difficult to recruit time saving

Question 33

what is a limitation of snowball sampling

Answer 33

unlikely to be representative of population biased

Question 34

define what is meant by random sampling

Answer 34

ensuring all members of a population has an equal chance of being recruited

Question 35

what is a strength of random sampling

Answer 35

researcher bias minimised

Question 36

what are limitations of random sampling

Answer 36

more time/effort required need large sample to be representative of population

Question 37

define what is meant by stratified sampling

Answer 37

population is broken into subgroups based on shared characteristics relevant to the study and then participants from each group are randomly selected in same proportions that they appear in popukation

Question 38

what is a strength for stratified sampling

Answer 38

likely to represent population researcher bias is decreased

Question 39

what is a limitation of stratified sampling

Answer 39

expensive long time and effort required difficult to classify each participant into groups

Question 40

define what is meant by experimenter effect

Answer 40

the expectations and behaviours of the researcher that may bias results consciously or unconsciously give away the desired outcome if the research which influences participants

Question 41

what can help reduce experimenter effect?

Answer 41

double-blind procedures

Question 42

define what is meant by demand characteristics

Answer 42

cues participants perceive during the study that lead them to believe they have discovered the aim of the study or expectations of the researcher

Question 43

what may participants do when experiencing demand characteristics ?

Answer 43

participants may change their behaviour in ways that support the hypothesis to please the researcher

Question 44

what are 2 methods that minimise the effects of extraneous and confounding variables

Answer 44

random allocation single blind procedures

Question 45

what is meant by random allocation

Answer 45

participants are randomly allocated to the experimental group or control group within the study each participant has the equal chance of being in the experimental or control group

Question 46

what is meant by single blind procedures

Answer 46

the experimenter is aware of the experimental conditions (which participants are in control and experimental groups) while the participants are unaware ex. placebo is given

Question 47

list 3 quantitative data methods

Answer 47

checklists rating scales (Likert) physiological measures

Question 48

what is quantitative data

Answer 48

information that can be expressed numerically can be subjective or objective

Question 49

what are 3 examples of Qualitative data

Answer 49

interviews (structured/semi-structured) focus groups open ended questions surveys observation (naturalistic)

Question 50

what is qualitative data

Answer 50

descriptive data allowing free-form answers to be provided expressed in words

Question 51

what are 3 strengths of quantitative data

Answer 51

generalisability of results can be expressed numerical data is easier to replicate allowing reliability to be assessed (statistically analysed) quicker, cheaper and more efficient

Question 52

what are 3 limitations of quantitative data

Answer 52

responses are limited to those provided strength and direction given but no reason phrasing and order of questions can affect responses large sample size required for high generalisability

Question 53

what are 3 strengths of qualitative data

Answer 53

in-depth information can be collected which provide reasoning for responses flexibility is aspects of method used to collect data can collect more detailed information

Question 54

what are 2 limitations of qualitative data

Answer 54

reduced generalisability of results due to info being gathered from small sample size expensive, time consuming type and amount of data collected makes analysis difficult to interpret data, researchers require a deep understanding of studied concept

Question 55

define validity

Answer 55

extent to which the measuring tool actually measures/evaluates what it is designed to measure

Question 56

define reliability

Answer 56

the degree to which a measurement tool produces consistent results

Question 57

define generalisability

Answer 57

the extent to which results gathered from a sample in research can be applied to other situations