'How to' Research methods

Question 1

Standardisation

Answer 1

1. Give the same instructions to all participants in the same group/ condition
2. Give the same timings to all participants in the same group/ condition
3. Use the same room for all participants in the same group/ condition
4. Use the same stimuli (word list/ image/ video) for all participants (accept for repeated measures)
5. Use the same order (of words, questions) for all participants in the same group/ condition.

Question 2

Randomisation

Answer 2

1. The order of the words/ questions/ images should be decided randomly
   a. Use a random generator to determine the order.
2. The allocation of participants to each group (independent/ matched pairs) should be decided randomly
   a. Place all names into a hat
   b. Draw out x names for condition A and the remaining names for condition B

Question 3

Explain how you could minimise investigator effects

Answer 3

1. Use an independent experimenter/ observer/ interview how does not know the aims of the study- they would not let their own expectations influence the p’s.
2. Video the experiment/ interview/ observation and then have a second researcher watch and analyse the behaviour- improving the objectivity.
3. Use open ended questions/ non-leading questions in a questionnaire/ interview
4. Use a structured observation or interview so that the researcher cannot deviate from the script/ categories.

Question 4

Explain how the psychologist could have counterbalanced participants across the two conditions

Answer 4

1. Divide the participants into two groups of x
2. Group 1 completes condition A (…) and then condition B (…)
3. Group2 completes condition B (…) and then condition A (…)

Question 5

Explain how a psychologist could carry out a pilot study

Answer 5

1. Select a small number of participants to take part before the main/ follow up study.
2. Prepare a smaller version of the task/ interview/ questionnaire.
3. Write standardised instructions to be given.
4. Test the small sample under the conditions proposed by the main/ follow up study.

Question 6

Reliability - Inter-rater

Answer 6

1. Inter-rater reliability
   a. Use a second researcher
   b. Both researchers agree on operationalised categories
   c. Train researchers to identify categories
   d. Analyse/ observe behaviour separately
   e. Compare both analysis for reliability
   f. Looking for +0.8 to indicate reliability

Question 7

Test-Retest reliability

Answer 7

a. Have participants complete X
b. Wait y amount of time
c. Have participants complete x again
d. Compare each participants responses to X
e. Looking for +0.8 to indicate reliability

Question 8

Explain how a sample of 10 participants could be obtained using random sampling.

Answer 8

1. Complete/ obtain a register of all names in the target population.
2. Add each name to a piece of paper
3. Place all names/ paper to a hat
4. Pull out ten names to make up the sample.

Question 9

Explain how a sample of 10 participants could be obtained using stratified sampling.

Answer 9

1. Identify subgroups in the population (gender, age groups, year groups etc)
2. Calculate the proportion needed from each subgroup in relation to their make up of the target population.
3. Select sample at random using random sampling.
4. Put all names from a subgroup in a hat, and pull out the number required (step 2).

Question 10

Explain how you could use content analysis to analyse X

Answer 10

1. Identify categories (words/ phrases/ themes)
2. Counting/ tallying the number of times a word/ phrase/ theme is used.