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A-level Psychology > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

1
Q

What does validity mean?

A

The extent to which an observed effect measures what it claims to be measuring

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2
Q

What does reliability mean?

A

The extent to which findings from research or a measure is consistent within itself and over time

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3
Q

What is an independent variable?

A

The variable that manipulated by the experimenter

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4
Q

What is a dependent variable?

A

The variable that is measured by the experimenter

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5
Q

What is operationalisation?

A

Being specific about how you will manipulate your independent variable and measure your dependent variable

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6
Q

What is a one tailed hypothesis?

A

It is directional/the direction of the results is predicted

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7
Q

What is a two tailed hypothesis?

A

It is non directional/a change or difference is predicted but a direction is not specific

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8
Q

What does population mean?

A

A large group of people you are studying

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9
Q

What does target population mean?

A

A specific group of people which you are studying

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10
Q

What is a sample?

A

Smaller group of people within a target population

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11
Q

What are the 5 different types of sampling?

A
  • Random
  • Opportunity
  • Stratified
  • Volunteer
  • Systematic
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12
Q

What is random sampling?

A

When everyone in a population has a equal chance of being selected
Eg, Putting all names into a hat and pulling them out at random
Strengths - no bias
Weaknesses - might not be representitive,time consuming

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13
Q

What is opportunity sampling?

A

Asking whoever is there at the time of the experiment
Strengths - straightforward
Weaknesses - could be biased

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14
Q

What is Volunteer sampling?

A

People put themselves forward to participate in research
Strengths - easy to carry out
Weaknesses - type of people who volunteers for sample

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15
Q

What is systematic sampling?

A

When every nth member of the target population is selected
Strengths - avoids bias

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16
Q

What is stratified sampling?

A

When the composition of the sample reflects the composition of the target population.
Strengths - avoids bias
Weaknesses - most work

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17
Q

What is repeated measures group design?

A

When the same group of participants complete in condition A and B
Strengths - not affected by individual differences
Weaknesses - might experiences order effect and might take long to carry out

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18
Q

What is independent group design?

A

When 2 seperate groups complete in condition A and condition B
Strengths - no order effects / could be faster
Weaknesses - could be effected by individual differences

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19
Q

What is matched pair design?

A

When 2 seperate groups that are matched into pairs for certain qualities.One person from each pair competes in condition A and other competes in condition B

Strengths - fast to carry out/less likley to be affected by individual differences
Weaknesses - takes a while to organise

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20
Q

What is order effects?

A

They occur in repeated group designs where all participants take place in all experimental conditions
- practices might occur after they have done the first condtion as they are able to practice

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21
Q

What are the three different types of experiments?

A
  • Lab
  • Field
  • Natural
  • quasi
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22
Q

What is a lab experiment?

A

An experiment conducted in a tightly controlled environment where the IV is manipulated and the researcher observes the effect of this on the DV

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23
Q

What is a field experiment?

A

An experiment carried out in a natural environment. The IV is still manipulated but it is done in an environment which is typical to the behaviour being studied

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24
Q

What is a natural experiment?

A

An experiment carried out in a natural environment and the IV is not directly manipulated. Instead the IV is naturally occuring

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25
Q

What are extraneous variables?

A

All variables which are not independent but could effect your experiment

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26
Q

What are confounding variables?

A

A variable that manipulates both the IV and the DV

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27
Q

What are demand characteristics?

A

Where the participant changes their behavior to fit the experiment

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28
Q

What is generalisability?

A

The extent to which the findings of a study can be applicable to other settings

29
Q

What is internal validity?

A

The extent to which a piece of evidence supports a claim about cause and effect

30
Q

What is external validity?

A

Validity of applying the conclusion of a scientific study outside the context of the study

31
Q

What are the main ethical issues when designing a study?

A
  • Informed consent
  • Deception
  • Protection from harm
  • Privacy and confidentiality
  • Right to withdraw
32
Q

What is a pilot study?

A

A small scale ‘trial run’ of the investigation which takes place before the real one is condcuted

33
Q

What is the aim of a pilot study?

A

The aim is to check the procedure,materials etc.This is to allow the researcher to iron out any potential problems and make any modification that may be nessacary.

34
Q

What are single blind procedures?

A

When the aim of the research is with held from the participant to reduce characteristics

35
Q

What are double blind procedures?

A

When netheir the participant nor the researcher is aware of the aim to prevent bias from both sides.

36
Q

What are observations?

A

Studies which involve watching and recording peoples behaviour.

37
Q

What are the 6 types of observations?

A
  • Naturalistic
  • Controlled
  • Convert
  • Overt
  • Participant
  • Non participant
38
Q

What is a naturalistic observation?

A

An observation that can take place in a natural situation

39
Q

What is a controlled observation?

A

An observation that can take place where some variables are controlled and manipulated by the experimenter.

40
Q

What are covert observations?

A

An observation that is kept secret from the participants.The observer is undercover

41
Q

What are overt observations?

A

An observation that is open and participants know they are being observed and why.

42
Q

What are participant observations?

A

When the observer acts as part of the experiment group

43
Q

What are non participant observations?

A

When the experimenter doesnt become part of the group observed

44
Q

What is a unstructured observation?

A

When the researcher records everything that they see.It is much more detailed but harder to analyse.

45
Q

What is a structured observation?

A

It needs clear data categories that can be operationalised.It is a lot more useful in a busy situation

46
Q

What is event sampling?

A

Number of times behaviour occurs in a individual

47
Q

What is time sampling?

A

Number of times behaviour is done in set time frame

48
Q

What is quantitive data?

A

numbers

49
Q

What is qualitive data?

A

words

50
Q

What are self reports?

A

studies involving asking participants questions

51
Q

What is a questionaire?

A

A self reporting technique where a set of pre determind written questions are used to collect data

52
Q

What are open questions?

A

Type of questions that allow people to elaborate on their answers

53
Q

What are closed questions?

A

Type of questions which force participants to chose an option

54
Q

What is a correlation?

A

When there is a association between two variables

55
Q

What are the features of science?

A
  • paradigm and paradigm shift
  • replicability
  • falsifiability
  • objectivity and empirical method
  • theory reconstruction and hypothesis testing
56
Q

What is included in a scientific report?

A
  • Abstract
  • introduction
  • method
  • results
  • discussion
  • referencing
57
Q

What is a type I error?

A

Too lenient - false positive - rejected the null hypothesis when you should have accepted it.

58
Q

What is a type II error?

A

Too strict - false negative - accepted the null hypothesis when you should have rejected it.

59
Q

What is nominal data?

A

categories

60
Q

What is ordinal data?

A

rank, median, range

61
Q

What is interval data?

A

accepted measures (time, HR)

62
Q

What is temporal validity?

A

whether the findings remain true over time

63
Q

What is ecological validity?

A

whether findings can be generalised from one setting to another

64
Q

How do you test for validity?

A
  • Face validity - does the test look like it measures what its supposed to?
  • Concurrent validity - are findings similar to those on well-established tests
65
Q

How can you improve validity?

A
  • use a control group and standardisation
  • make sure good categories are being used
66
Q

How do you remember the stats table?

A

Carrots Should Come Mashed With Swede Under Roast Potatoes
NOIR

67
Q

How can you test for reliability?

A
  • Test-retest (test the same person more than once on different occasions to see if you get similar results - takes time)
  • Inter-observer reliability - compares observations from different observers)
  • both measure using a correlation - has to be higher than +0.8 to be reliable
68
Q

How can you improve reliability?

A
  • Rewrite questions in a questionnaire
  • improve training of interviewers
  • operationalisation of behaviour categories
  • standardised procedures

A-level Psychology (7 decks)

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