research methods Flashcards
(169 cards)
1
Q
define aims
A
the aims are developed theories of what the experiment is trying to discover
2
Q
define directional hypothesis
A
researcher makes it clear the sort of difference expected
3
Q
define non directional hypothesis
A
researcher says there is a difference but not type
4
Q
define independent variable
A
variables that are changed
5
Q
define dependent variable
A
variable that is measured
6
Q
define extraneous variable
A
factors other than IV affect the DV
7
Q
define confounding variables
A
any variable other than the IV that may affect the DV
8
Q
define demand characteristics
A
participant discovers the purpose of experiment and behaviour become unnatural
9
Q
define randomisation
A
use of chance to control the effects of bias
10
Q
define standardisation
A
using the same formalised procedures for all participants in the study
11
Q
define investigator effects
A
investigators behaviour on the effect of the DV
12
Q
define matched pairs
A
participants are paired together based on their similarities
13
Q
pros of matched pairs
A
less effect of order effects and demand characteristics
less participant variables
14
Q
cons of matched pairs
A
time consuming
more expensive
15
Q
define repeated measures
A
all participants will experience both conditions one after the other
16
Q
pros of repeated measures
A
participant variables are controlled
fewer participants
17
Q
cons of repeated measures
A
order effects
demand characteristics
18
Q
define independent groups
A
two separate group experience 2 different conditions
19
Q
pros of independent groups
A
no order effects
less likely to guess aims
20
Q
cons of independent groups
A
participants may have individual differences
21
Q
define lab experiments
A
experiments in highly controlled environments
22
Q
pros of lab experiments
A
control over extraneous variables
replication is more valid
23
Q
cons of lab experiments
A
lack of generalisability
demand characteristics
low mundane realism
24
Q
define field experiments
A
a natural everyday setting
25
pros of field experiments
higher mundane realism
| more valid and authentic
26
cons of field experiments
ethical issues
| loss of control over extraneous variables
27
define natural experiments
researcher takes advantage of pre existing independent variables
28
pros of natural experiments
provide opportunities for research
| high external validity
29
cons of natural experiments
participants may not be randomly allocated
30
define systematic sample
every nth number of the population is selected. a sampling frame is produced
31
pros of systematic sample
avoids researcher bias
32
cons of systematic sample
unrepresentative
33
define opportunity sample
select anyone who's willing and able
34
pros of opportunity sample
convenient and easy
35
cons of opportunity sample
unrepresentative , researcher bias
36
define volunteer sample
participants will select themselves to be part of the sample
37
pros of volunteer sample
minimum effort, time efficient
38
cons of volunteer sample
volunteer bias
39
define random sample
all members of the population have an equal chance of being selected
40
pros of random sample
free from researcher bias
41
cons of random sample
difficult to obtain a complete list of the target population
| may not be representative
42
define stratified sample
identify the strata that make up the population - then proportions needed for the sample to be representative is made
43
pros of stratified sample
avoid researcher bias
| representative
44
cons of stratified sample
can't reflect all ways people are different
45
define protection from harm
participants should not be placed under anymore harm than they experience in everyday lives
46
define confidentiality
have the right to control information about themselves
47
define informed consent
where people should be aware of the research aims - right to withdraw
48
define deception
means deliberately withholding information
49
how to deal with informed consent
issue participants with all relevant information that could affect their decision to participate
50
how to deal with deception and protection from harm
at the end participants should be given a full debrief
| right to withhold data
51
how to deal with confidentiality
the participants should have anonymity - not recording personal details
52
define pilot study
a small scale version of an investigation is conducted. the aim is to check that the procedures etc. work effectively and allow for modifications if necessary
53
define single blind procedure
participant are unaware of the aim but the researcher is aware
54
define double blind procedure
the participant neither the researcher are aware of the aims
55
define covert observation
participant behaviour is recorded without their consent or knowledge
56
cons of covert observation
questionable ethics
57
pros of covert observation
no problem of participant reactivity
58
define overt observation
participants are recorded with their consent
59
pros of overt observation
ethically acceptable
60
cons of overt observation
demand characteristics
61
define naturalistic observation
take place in the setting where the behaviour would usually occur
62
pros of naturalistic observation
high external validity
63
cons of naturalistic observation
harder to replicate, lack of control over extraneous variables
64
define controlled observation
watching behaviour within a structured environment
65
pros of controlled observation
control over most extraneous variables
| easier to replicate
66
cons of controlled observation
may lack external validity
67
define participant observation
the researcher will become a member of the group whose behaviour is recorded
68
pros of participant observation
increased insight into participants lives -increases validity
69
cons of participant observation
researches may lose objectivity
70
define non participant observation
researcher remains outside the group whose behaviour is being observed
71
pros of non participant observation
maintains an objective view
72
cons of non participant observation
may lose possible valuable insight
73
define unstructured observations
the researcher writes down everything they see
74
pros of unstructured observations
more depth of answers
75
cons of unstructured observations
observer bias
| difficult to analyse
76
define structured observations
a pre determined list of behaviours and sampling methods
77
pros of structured observations
likely to have quantitive data, easier to analyse
78
cons of structured observations
less depth of the data collected
79
define event sampling
every time an event occurs
80
define time sampling
records behaviour every fixed time frame. eg every 60 seconds
81
pros of sample methods
useful when it occurs infrequently
82
cons of sample methods
if too complex may overlook important details
83
define behavioural categories
when a target behaviour is broken up into components which are measurable
84
pros of behavioural categories
more structured and objective data
85
cons of behavioural categories
categories may be ambiguous
86
define open questionnaires
don't have a fixed range of answers . can be answered in any way
87
define closed questionnaires
offers a fixed number of answers
88
pros of questionnaires
cost effective
| usually straight forward to analyse
89
cons of questionnaires
may answer on how they want to be presented - social desirability bias
response bias
90
define structured interviews
made up of pre determined questions
91
define unstructured interviews
no set questions more free flowing
92
define semi structured interviews
theres a list of questions but can ask follow up Q's
93
pros of structured interviews
easy to replicate
94
cons of structured interviews
not expand on their answers
95
pros of unstructured interviews
more flexibility, more in-depth answers
96
cons of unstructured interviews
interviewer bias
| interviewers may lie
97
define co-variables
the variables investigated within a correlation
98
define positive correlation
as 1 co variable increases so does the other
99
define negative correlation
as 1 co variable increases the other decreases
100
pros of correlation
relatively quick and cheap to carry out
| no need for a controlled environment
101
cons of correlation
third variable problem
| causation may not imply causation
102
define qualitative data
is expressed in words and non numerical
103
pros of qualitative data
more richness in detail
| greater external validity
104
cons of qualitative data
difficult to analyse
| open to bias
105
define qualitative data
data that Is expressed numerically
106
pros of quantitive data
relatively simple to analyse
| more objective less open to bias
107
cons of quantitive data
much narrower may not be representative to everyday life
108
define secondary data
data that has been collected by someone previously
109
pros of secondary data
inexpensive and early accessed
110
cons of secondary data
may not be useful, outdated or incomplete
111
define primary data
the original data that has been collected for the investigation
112
pros of primary data
specifically target the aim of the experiment
113
cons of primary data
requires time and effort
114
define median
middle value
115
pros of median
not affected by extremes
116
cons of median
not all data included
117
define mode
most common
118
pros of mode
easy to calculate
119
cons of mode
may be more than one
120
define mean
add up all score then divide by total number
121
pros of mean
most representative as most sensitive
122
cons of mean
easily distorted by 1 extreme value
123
define range
the lowest value taken away from the highest value
124
pros of range
easy to calculate
125
cons of range
only takes into account 2 extreme values
126
define standard deviation
how far scores will deviate from the mean
127
pros of standard deviation
very precise measure of dispersion
128
cons of standard deviation
can be distorted by extreme values
129
define normal distribution
a symmetrical shape distribution around the mean
130
define positive skew
the tail is on the positive side - the right and the peak is on the left
131
define negative skew
the tail is on the negative side - the left and the peak is on the right
132
3 aims of peer review
to allocate research funding - to decide whether to award funding
validate the relevance - assessed for its quality
suggest amendments - may suggest minor revisions
133
3 evaluation of peer review
anonymity - may use anonymity as a way of criticising rivals
publication bias - prefer to publish positive results attention grabbing headlines
burying ground breaking research - may suppress opposition to any mainstream theories
134
define case study
an in depth investigation of a single individual
135
pros of case study
may shed light on unusual or abnormal behaviour eg the case of HM
136
cons of case study
can't really be generalised
137
define content analysis
indirect study of behaviour by examining communication
138
define coding
communication is analyse
139
define thematic analysis
qualitative approach to identifying implicit or explicit idea
140
pros of content analysis
circumnavigate ethical issues
141
cons of content analysis
researcher bias
142
formula of inter observer reliability
number of agreements / number of observations >+.8
143
define reliability
how consistent findings are
144
define test retest
assessing the same person on two separate occasions
145
define inter observer
extent there is an agreement between 2 or more observers
146
how to improve reliability of questionnaires
use the test retest method
147
how to improve reliability of interviews
use same interviewers every time
148
how to improve reliability of lab experiments
exerts strict control over variables - replication
149
how to improve reliability of observations
behavioural categories are fully operationalised
150
how to improve validity of qualitative methods
researchers may have to demonstrate interpretive validity - do their interpretations match up with the researchers findings
151
how to improve validity of observations
high ecological validity in covert observations
152
how to improve validity of experimental methods
using a control group / standardised procedures
153
how to improve validity of questionnaires
incorporate a lie scale to see effects of social desirability bias
154
define ecological validity
can findings from researchers can be generalised
155
define temporal validity
can findings be generalised to other historical eras
156
define validity
the extent to which an observed effect is genuine
157
define face validity
a measure is scrutinised to determine if it measures what it is supposed to measure
158
define concurrent
extent to which psychological measures relate to an existing similar measure
159
define nominal data
forms of categorical data
160
define ordinal data
data is ordered in some way
161
define interval data
based on a numerical scale
162
define type 1 error
the incorrect rejection of a true null hypothesis - a false positive
163
define type 2 error
the incorrect failure to reject the null hypothesis - a false negative
164
define abstract
the key details of the research project
165
define introduction
includes aims and hypothesis
166
define method
description of what material is sued and the procedure
167
define results
the findings from the experiment
168
define discussion
what the research findings relate to in psychological theory
169
define references
list of sources used or quoted
