Methods Flashcards Preview

Cognitive Psychology > Methods > Flashcards

Flashcards in Methods Deck (45)
Loading flashcards...
1
Q

What are the two types of experiment?

A

Laboratory

Field

2
Q

How do lab exp work?

A

Manipulate IV

Measure DW

In a contrived setting so can control confounding variables

3
Q

How do field exp work?

A

Done in a more natural setting

Set up the experiment and measure the DV

As it is in a more natural setting researchers do not have as much control over potential extraneous variables

4
Q

+ of lab exp

A

More control

Highly repeatable = highly reliable

Control allows for a causal relationship to be established

5
Q
  • of lab exp
A

Not in the pp natural environment so may not measure natural behaviour, reducing validity

Pp are aware they are in a study -> could lead to demand characteristics

6
Q

+ of field exp

A

Good ecological validity (if pp remain unaware they are in a study)

Less likely to have demand characteristics (if they remain unaware they are in a study)

Can still create a standardised procedure which increases reliability

7
Q
  • of field exp
A

Less control over confounding variables which could impact the study

In order to study natural behaviour, pp have to be deceived, otherwise they are conducting the exp in a natural environment but it may not be real life behaviour due to Social desirability

8
Q

Independent variable

A

The variable you change

9
Q

Dependent variable

A

The one you measure

10
Q

Experimental hypothesis

A

States there will be a relationship between the two variables, if accepted rejects the null hypothesis

Can be directional or non-directional

11
Q

Null hypothesis

A

States there will be no relationship and any relationship that occurs will be due to chance, if accepted it rejects the experimental hypothesis

12
Q

Directional (one tailed) hypothesis

A

States there will be a significant relationship between the two variables and that it will be this…

If accepted rejects the null hypothesis

13
Q

Non-directional (two-tailed) hypothesis

A

There will be a significant relationship between the two variables but you are not sure what the relationship will be

If accepted it rejects the null hypothesis

14
Q

What are the 3 types of experimental and research design

A

Repeated measures

Matched pairs

Independent groups

15
Q

Describe repeated measures

A

A type of experimental design where each participant takes part in every condition

16
Q

How can order effects be reduced

A

Counterbalancing

17
Q

What is counterbalancing

A

Half the participants do A then B and half do B then A

ABBA

18
Q

+ of repeated measures

A

No pp variables

Fewer amount of pp needed than other experimental designs

19
Q
  • of repeated measures
A

Order effects

20
Q

What are order effects and how can they be overcome?

A

It is where pp get better or worse as they go from one condition to the next, due to fatigue or practice

Counterbalancing

21
Q

Describe independent groups

A

Where each pp only takes part in one condition, normally pp are randomly allocated a condition

22
Q

+ of independent groups

A

No order effects

23
Q
  • of independent groups
A

Pp variables

Number of pp needed

24
Q

Describe matched pairs

A

An experimental design where pp are matched on key variables such as age, then split into two groups

One member of the pair is in one condition and the other member is in the other condition

25
Q

+ of matched pairs

A

No order effects

Minimises pp variables

26
Q
  • of matched pairs
A

Hard to do

Time consuming

Pp not exactly the same so not removing pp variables necessarily

27
Q

What is randomisation

A

Where the pp are randomly allocated, normally via a computer into one of the two conditions

28
Q

Situational variables

A

Factors in the environment that should be controlled

An extraneous variable that could affect the results of the study

29
Q

Participant variables

A

Characteristics of individual pp that might influence the outcome of a study

E.g. More motivated

30
Q

If something is objective it is

A

Not open to interpretation

Not able to be misinterpreted

31
Q

What is reliability

A

Refers to consistency

If you did the same study again with the same people would you get the same result sort of thing

32
Q

What is validity

A

Are you measuring what you think you are measuring

Similar to but not necessarily the same as accuracy

33
Q

What is ecological validity

A

Whether the findings can be applied to a real life setting

34
Q

What is predictive validity

A

If you say someone is going to behave in a certain way and they do, your findings/theory have a high predictive validity

35
Q

What is internal validity

A

How well is the study conducted, is there anything else effecting the results

36
Q

What is external validity

A

Does the task represent the real world activity

37
Q

Experimenter effects

A

Ways in which the experimenter might influence the outcome of an experiment

Can be due to design or presence etc

38
Q

Demand characteristics

A

Pp changed their behaviour to meet what they perceive to be the demands of the experimenter

39
Q

What are control issues

A

Have you controlled all of the variables that could impact the experiment

40
Q

Why would you choose a Mann Whitney U test?

A

Independent groups experimental design

Ordinal (rankings) data

Test of difference

41
Q

Why would you choose Wilcoxon

A

Repeated measures experimental design

Ordinal data

Test of difference

42
Q

Type 1 error in inferential stats

A

Accepting alternative hypothesis when it’s false

43
Q

Type 2 error in inferential stats

A

Accepting the null hypothesis when it’s significant

44
Q

What is Normal distribution

What measure of central tendency should be used to assess

A

Where mean median and mode are all in the middle of the data set

Mean

45
Q

What is skewed distribution

What measure of central tendency should you use to assess

A

Where mean median and mode are not all together

Median