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Research Methods Flashcards

1
Q

What is an aim?

A

A target (desired outcome) of what you intend to investigate

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2
Q

What is a one-tailed hypothesis also known as?

A

A directional hypothesis

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3
Q

What is a one-tailed hypothesis?

A

A hypothesis which clearly states what way the results will go

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4
Q

Hypothesis

A

Testable statement that predicts what researcher is expecting to happen

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5
Q

Example of one-tailed hypothesis

A

“Patients who took this drug will experience less symptoms of OCD than patients who took placebo”

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6
Q

When would you use a one-tailed hypothesis?

A

When you are sure of the result, based on previous research

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7
Q

What is a two-tailed hypothesis also known as?

A

A non-directional hypothesis

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8
Q

What does a two-tailed hypothesis state?

A

There will be a difference in the results

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9
Q

Example of two-tailed hypothesis

A

“There will be a difference in symptoms of OCD of patients who took drug compared to those who took placebo”

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10
Q

When would you use a two-tailed hypothesis?

A

When you are unsure of the result

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11
Q

What does a null hypothesis state?

A

There will be no difference in results

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12
Q

What is a bar chart used for?

A

Separate data

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13
Q

What is a histogram used for?

A

Continuous data

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14
Q

When do you use a scattergraph?

A

When looking for a correlation or a relationship between two variables

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15
Q

What does a negatively screwed distribution graph show about the results of lots of people?

A

Lots of people had high results

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16
Q

What can a negatively screwed distribution graph be linked to?

A

A left foot as the peak of the graph is on the right just like the big toe of a left foot

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17
Q

What does a positively screwed distribution graph show about the results of most people?

A

Most people achieved low results

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18
Q

What can a positively screwed distribution graph be linked to?

A

A right foot as the peak of the graph is on the left just like the big toe of a right foot

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19
Q

Qualities of normal distribution graph

A

Symmetrical
Three measures of central tendency (mean, mode and median) align at exact mid point

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20
Q

Independent variable

A

Variable that you manipulate

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21
Q

Dependent variable

A

Variable that you measure

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22
Q

Operationalisation

A

Clearly defining your variables to make them measurable

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23
Q

Random allocation

A

Non calculated decision to put people into particular group making it free from bias

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24
Q

Extraneous variable

A

Variable that could interfere with results of experiment

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25
Ecological validity
How transferable behaviours in a lab are to the real world
26
Temporal validity
Test of time
27
Informed consent
Anyone below age of 16 can’t sign it. Clearly outlines guidelines of experiment
28
Deception
No participants should be lied to however researchers can chose not to give them specific details
29
Right to withdraw
Participants can withdraw at any time and if they withdraw the researcher won’t use their data
30
Confidentiality
Participants given numbers instead of names (for example). Participants assured of their privacy
31
Independent groups
You have a group of participants but they are split into groups which only take part in one condition
32
Repeated measures
Participants would take part in both conditions
33
Lab experiment
Experiment that is held under controlled conditions
34
What is standardised procedure?
Instructions which remain constant for both groups
35
Demand characteristics
Participants ask themselves what the purpose is so they change their behaviours according to their prediction which could mean experiment doesn’t produce real life data
36
Double blind
Researcher and participant don’t know what condition is
37
Behavioural categories
Table of behaviours in an observation that you are expecting to see
38
Controlled observation
Lab experiment which is highly controlled and observed
39
Covert observation
Participants don’t know they are being observed
40
Overt observation
Participants know they are being observed
41
Participant observation
Observer joins in with participants
42
Structured interview
Planned questions
43
Unstructured interview
Questions being asked determined by answers given
44
Measures of central tendency
Mode, median and mean
45
Mean
Add all numbers and divide product by amount of numbers
46
Weakness of mean
Vulnerable to anomalies
47
Mode
Most common value in set of data
48
How is median calculated?
Put numbers in order and median is middle number
49
Qualitative data
Descriptive information
50
Quantitative data
Numerical data
51
Meta analysis
Analysis that combines number of different studies or pieces of research in particular area
52
Case study
In depth detailed investigation of one individual that is researched
53
Random sampling
Everybody has equal chance of being chosen (E.g putting names into hat)
54
What variable isn’t included in a scattergraph?
An independent variable
55
How are extraneous variables controlled?
By using a consistent environment
56
Confounding variables
A non-extraneous variable which alters the results. E.g. if a participant has a migraine then they won’t be effective at partaking in a study.
57
Protection from harm
Participants must be protected from physical and psychological harm
58
Advantages of independent groups
No order effects (participants behaviour not effected by previous studies) Participants only tested once so they are unlikely to guess research aims
59
Disadvantages of independent groups
Individual differences More participants needed as you need a good amount in each group
60
Advantages of repeated measure
No individual differences Fewer participants needed as there is only one group
61
Weaknesses of repeated measures
Order effects Participants might guess aim so they might change their behaviour
62
Matched pairs
Experimental design where pairs of participants are matched in terms of key variables such as age or IQ
63
Advantages of matched pairs
Participant matched on relevant variable No order effects
64
Weaknesses of matched pairs
Time consuming More participants needed as there are multiple groups
65
Field experiment
Study carried out in natural environment where independent variables can be controlled
66
Advantages of field experiment
More natural environment making participants comfortable to act as they wish Participants unaware of being studied meaning results aren’t influenced by demand characteristics
67
Weaknesses of field experiment
More difficult to control control variables Participants not given informed consent
68
Advantages of lab experiments
Easily replicated Extraneous and control variables are controlled
69
Weaknesses of lab experiments
May lack generalisability Demand characteristics
70
Why is a standardised procedure necessary?
To make sure everything is free from bias
71
Natural experiment
Study in natural environment where independent variables cannot be controlled by researcher
72
Advantages of natural experiment
Greater external validity May be the only ethical option
73
Weaknesses of natural experiment
Natural event may take long time to occur Participants not allocated randomly
74
Event sampling
Researcher records number of times certain behaviour occurs
75
Time sampling
Behaviour observed and recorded a specific time intervals
76
What type of data is needed for the mean to be calculated?
Interval data
77
Interval data
Fixed unit of measurement E.g. time, weight, height and temperature
78
What type of data is needed for the mode to be calculated?
Nominal data
79
Nominal data
Data of frequencies in a category
80
What type of data is needed for the median to be calculated?
Ordinal data
81
Ordinal data
Data ordered in rank position
82
Advantages of median
More representative when you’ve got negative skew Less affected by outliers
83
Disadvantages of median
Includes anomalies
84
Case study
In depth detailed investigation of one individual that is researched
85
Advantages of case study
Development over a period of time can be analysed Cannot be replicated as it’s unique
86
Weaknesses of case study
Not replicable so can’t be replaced Subjective
87
Random sampling
Sampling where everybody has an equal chance of being chosen (E.g. putting names into a hat)
88
Advantages of random sampling
Free from bias Simple
89
Weaknesses of random sampling
Time consuming Possible chance of all of certain people going into certain conditions (E.g. all men going into one and all women going into another)
90
Volunteer sampling
People select themselves
91
Advantages of volunteer sampling
Participants are willing Easy for researcher
92
Weaknesses of volunteer sampling
Likely to be a biased sample There may be a shortage of people willing to do experiment
93
Opportunity sampling
Sampling with people who are nearby
94
Advantages of opportunity sampling
Quick method Doesn’t require planning
95
Weaknesses of opportunity sampling
Inevitability biased so it’s unrepresentative of wider society Research can only use resources available to them
96
Systemic sampling
Participant selected using a set pattern
97
Stratified sampling
Participants selected according to their frequency in target population
98
Weaknesses of stratified sampling
Can’t reflect all ways that people are different
99
Advantages of stratified sampling
Representative method
100
Falsifiability
Ability to know whether an experiment is false
101
Hypothesis testing
A proposed explanation about what might happen. Something you can test
102
Paradigm shift
A typical example or pattern of something
103
Objectivity
Evidence that something is true
104
Theory construction
An idea or group of ideas intended to explain something
105
Empirical method
Method that can be verified by an observation
106
Replicability
Able to be copied or reproduced
107
What can the researchers still manipulate in a field experiment?
The independent variable
108
Counterbalancing
Experimental technique used to overcome order effects when using repeated measures E.g. half of sample take part in condition A followed by condition B. Other half take part in condition B followed by condition A
109
Order effects
If you take part in a condition after already taking part in one, results could be invalid due to effects such as fatigue, boredom or a lack of interest
110
What is representativeness called in psychology?
External validity

Psychology (104 decks)

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