Research Methodology

Question 1

Null hypothesis

Answer 1

No relationship between variables. One does not affect the other

Question 2

Experimental hypothesis

Answer 2

There is a relationship between the variables. One affects the other.

Question 3

One tailed experimental hypothesis

Answer 3

predicts nature of IV on DV

Question 4

Two tailed experimental hypothesis

Answer 4

IV will have an effect on DV, but direction not stated

Question 5

IV

Answer 5

Independent variable. What the researcher changes

Question 6

Example of an IV?

Answer 6

quantity of drug given

Question 7

DV

Answer 7

Dependent variable. What the research measures

Question 8

Example of a DV?

Answer 8

Time taken to complete a task

Question 9

• Where are lab experiments conducted?

- What does this allow for?

Answer 9

• In a well-controlled environment

- Accurate measurements

Question 10

What does the researcher decide in a lab exp.? (3)

Answer 10

• Where exp. will take place
• Which P’s will be involved
• What circumstances exp. will be under

Question 11

What sort of procedure is used in a lab exp.?

Answer 11

A standardised procedure.

Question 12

examples of lab experiments? (2)

Answer 12

• Asch

- Mori and Arai

Question 13

What are the 3 kinds of experimental method?

Answer 13

• Laboratory
• Field
• Natural

Question 14

Where are natural experiments conducted?

Answer 14

In the everyday environment of P’s

Question 15

Does the experimenter have control over the IV in a natural exp.? explain.

Answer 15

No, because it occurs naturally in real life

Question 16

Where are field experiments conducted?

Answer 16

In the everyday environment of P’s

Question 17

Does the experimenter have control over the extraneous variables in a field exp.? explain.

Answer 17

Not high control, because IV manipulated in real-life setting.

Question 18

example of a field experiment?

Answer 18

Waiting room experiment

Question 19

extraneous variables?

Answer 19

outside variables that cannot be controlled by the experimenter and affect the results of the study

Question 20

Operational variables?

Answer 20

How you will define and measure a specific variable as it is used in the study.

Question 21

Target population

Answer 21

The group of people studied.

Question 22

Sample

Answer 22

A group of people chosen from the target population to be studied

Question 23

What 2 things must a sample be?

Answer 23

• Representative of the target population

- Unbiased

Question 24

What must the people in the sample be?

Answer 24

As varied as much in characteristics and behaviours as those in the target population.

Question 25

Random sampling?

Answer 25

Every member of the target population has equal chance of being selected

Question 26

Advantage of random sampling?

Answer 26

For very large samples it is the best chance of an unbiased representative sample.

Question 27

Disadvantage of random sampling?

Answer 27

Time consuming if very large population is used

Question 28

Stratified sampling?

Answer 28

Dividing the target population into important subcatagories

Question 29

Advantage of stratified sampling?

Answer 29

Deliberate effort made to make it representative

Question 30

Disadvantage of stratified sampling?

Answer 30

Can be time consuming

Question 31

Volunteer/self-selecting sampling?

Answer 31

Using individuals who have chosen to take part in the study

Question 32

Advantage of volunteer/self-selecting sampling?

Answer 32

Convenient and ethical if it involves conformed consent

Question 33

Disadvantage of volunteer/self-selecting sampling?

Answer 33

Can be unrepresentative

Question 34

Opportunity sampling?

Answer 34

Selecting people available at the time

Question 35

Advantage of opportunity sampling?

Answer 35

Quick, convenient and economical

Question 36

Disadvantage of opportunity sampling?

Answer 36

Very unrepresentative samples, often bias by researcher who subconsciously selects people who are 'helpful'

Question 37

Quota sampling?

Answer 37

The researcher decides what categories they want to represent

Question 38

Advantage of quota sampling?

Answer 38

Helps ensure small minority groups are represented

Question 39

Disadvantage of quota sampling?

Answer 39

Not always representative as proportions of small groups are distorted- must be combined with another method.

Question 40

Systematic sampling?

Answer 40

People are selected at fixed intervals from target population

Question 41

Advantage of systematic sampling?

Answer 41

Generally representative, avoids researcher bias

Question 42

Disadvantage of systematic sampling?

Answer 42

Some people may be excluded if list is incomplete

Question 43

Experimental design?

Answer 43

A set of procedures used to control the influence of participant variables in an experiment

Question 44

Independent groups

Answer 44

participants are divided into 2 or more groups, each group with a different experimental condition.

Question 45

How are participants sorted into independent groups?

Answer 45

By random allocation

Question 46

Repeated measures

Answer 46

Each participant takes part in every condition under test

Question 47

Matched pairs design

Answer 47

Pairs of participants are matched in terms of key variables, 1 member of each pair is placed into the experimental group, the other into the control group

Question 48

Give 2 examples of key variables

Answer 48

IQ, age

Question 49

Participant variables?

Answer 49

Characteristics of participants that may affect the outcome of the study