Reasearch Methods Part 3

Question 1

Theory Construction

Answer 1

An educated assumption that is constructed through direct observation

Question 2

Hypothesis testing

Answer 2

Experimentally checking if the hypothesis is valid

Question 3

Paradigms

Answer 3

Shared assumptions and understandings within a scientific discipline that has set laws

Question 4

Paradigm shift

Answer 4

Significant change in the underlying theory within scientific discipline

Question 5

Objectivity

Answer 5

We minimise the influence of personal bias. This maintains validity and limits EV’s

Question 6

3 ways to increase objectivity

Answer 6

○ Discussing and comparing results
○ Including a 3rd party
○ Blinding the researcher from the aim

Question 7

Replicability

Answer 7

Extent to which scientific findings and research can be repeated

Question 8

Which research methods are easy to replicate?

Answer 8

Lab, controlled observations, Questionnaire

Question 9

Which research methods are difficult to replicate?

Answer 9

Field, natural, naturalistic observation, unstructured interview

Question 10

Null hypothesis

Answer 10

Assumes there is NO relationship between the two variables

Question 11

Falsifiability

Answer 11

The theory is not scientific until it can be disproved

Question 12

Abstract

Answer 12

Summary of all sections
Max. 200 words
Idea whether report is relevant to researcher

Question 13

Introduction

Answer 13

Literature review, which summarises relevant theories and justifies the research. Initially broad but then becomes increasingly specific. Ends with aims and hypotheses

Question 14

Method

Answer 14

Allow others to replicate the study. Includes:
○ Ppts
○ Design
○ Materials
○ Procedure

Question 15

Results

Answer 15

Accepts/rejects null hypothesis. Brief summary of findings in written form
Quantitative studies - Descriptive and inferential statistics
Qualitative studies - thematic analysis

Question 16

Discussion

Answer 16

Summarises findings in the context of the research. Discusses potentially limitations and how other researchers can reduce bias. Practical applications and implications are highlighted and conclusions are made

Question 17

References

Answer 17

Organised in alphabetical order
○ Credits other researchers
○ Avoids plagiarism
○ Allows readers to find materials you’ve used

Question 18

Define case studies

Answer 18

Extremely in depth investigations of:
○ A single individual - unique circumstances
○ A group - demographics
○ An institution

Question 19

Two types of case studies

Answer 19

Snapshot - looks at behaviour over a short period
Longitudinal - looks at behaviour over a longer period, sometimes years or decades

Question 20

Example of a case study

Answer 20

Genie
○ She was kept away from society and researchers investigated how she would develop her language and behaviour when exposed to wider society

Question 21

Example of a case study

Answer 21

Genie
○ She was kept away from society and researchers investigated how she would develop her language and behaviour when exposed to wider society

Question 22

Strengths of Case studies

Answer 22

Rich, detailed data - could be missed if controlled research methods used
Conduct research that would otherwise be unethical

Question 23

Weakness of case studies

Answer 23

Low population validity - experience of one individual may not be generalisable
Ethical issue - identity may not remain confidential due to uniqueness of individuals case

Question 24

Define content analysis

Answer 24

Analysising media
Qualitative -> quanitative
Newspapers, social media, interviews

Question 25

Define content analysis

Answer 25

Analysising media Qualitative -> quanitative Newspapers, social media, interviews

Question 26

How do you carry out content analysis

Answer 26

1) Create categories 2) Read through data 3) Tally the number of times each category features

Question 27

Define thematic analysis

Answer 27

Analysing media Qualitative -> qualitative Picking out common themes

Question 28

How do you carry out thematic analysis?

Answer 28

1) Create categories (coding) 2) Read through data 3) Create themes that summarise emergent ideas

Question 29

Strengths of content analysis

Answer 29

Easily replicated - communication sources can be analysed by other researchers High ecological validity - sources are real-life situations

Question 30

Define reliability

Answer 30

How consistent something is

Question 31

Test-Retest

Answer 31

Test ppts using a questionnaire, then after some time retest them using the same questionnaire Correlate the results, and the results should have a correlation coefficient of 0.8

Question 32

Inter-observer

Answer 32

Several observers record their results separately and then correlate the results, and they should get a positive correlation coefficient of 0.8

Question 33

Interal validity

Answer 33

Did the research measure what it intended to ○ High internal validity - good level of control over EV. IV is likely to have influenced DV ○ Low internal validity - EV's have confounded the results. Variables other than IV have influenced DV

Question 34

External validity

Answer 34

Are findings from the research generalisable ○ Temporal validity ○ Population validity ○ Ecological validity

Question 35

Concurrent validity

Answer 35

1) Get ppts to complete standardised questionnaire 2) Ask ppts to complete the new questionnaire 3) Correlate results, correlation efficient of 0.8

Question 36

Face Validity

Answer 36

Does the questionnaire do what it says it does

Question 37

Nominal data

Answer 37

○ Discrete categories ○ Mode

Question 38

Ordinal data

Answer 38

○ Ordered data ○ Not equal intervals ○ Likert scale ○ Mode or median

Question 39

Interval data

Answer 39

○ Natural order ○ Equal intervals ○ Mean, median, mode

Question 40

Difference, unrelated, nominal

Answer 40

Chi-squared test

Question 41

Difference, unrelated, ordinal

Answer 41

Mann-Whitney U

Question 42

Difference, unrelated, interval

Answer 42

Unrelated t-test

Question 43

Difference, related, nominal

Answer 43

Sign test

Question 44

Difference, related, ordinal

Answer 44

Wilcoxon

Question 45

Difference, related, interval

Answer 45

Related t-test

Question 46

Correlation, nominal

Answer 46

Chi-squared test

Question 47

Correlation, ordinal

Answer 47

Spearman's Rho

Question 48

Correlation, interval

Answer 48

Pearson's R

Question 49

Inferential statistics

Answer 49

Whether results from sample apply to target population

Question 50

Type 1 error

Answer 50

Optimism error: Alternative hypothesis accepted incorrectly Falsley stating results are significant May be due to using a more lenient level of significance

Question 51

Type 2 error

Answer 51

Pessimism error: Alternative hypothesis rejected incorrectly Falsely stating results aren't statistically significant May be due to using stringent level of significance

Question 52

Sign test

Answer 52

Add new column Calculate difference and place +/- Add +/- total Less frequent sign used

Question 53

Degrees of freedom

Answer 53

Chai-squared test (r-1) x (c-1) R = row C = column