Research Methods Flashcards
Types of validity
Internal validity
If internal validity is high, replication if findings is likely
Construct validity - does it measure what is says it does
Predictive validity - predictive for a level performance
Types of validity
External validity
Population validity
Ecological validity - can results be generalised to other situations
Task validity - task that aren’t normal
Reliability
Internal reliability
Split half method - each part of the test gives the same results as other parts of the test
Reliability
External reliability
Test retest method - pps presented with the same test on different occasions
Experimental designs
Independent groups design - different pps take part in each condition, random allocation
Repeated measures design - each pps takes part in every condition
Matched pairs design - pairs of pos matched on appropriate variables relevant to experiment members each pair allocated to each condition
Experiment design
Independent groups
S - avoids demand characteristics
- no order effects
W- individual differences
- more pps means more cost and time
Experimental design
Repeated measures
S - no individual differences
- less pps - time and cost
W- order effects
- demand characteristics
Experimental design
Matched pairs
S - minimise extraneous variables
- no order effects
W - lots of time
- not easy to find match
- can’t always know in advance
Experimental variables
Extraneous
Chance factors
Experimental variables
Confounding
Things you must control
Experimental variables
Situational variables
The environment you conduct the study e.g lighting and temperature
Experimental variables
Participant variables
Individual differences
Personality type
Gender
Age
Ethnicity
Experimental variables
Experimenter effects
If experimenter is in the room it may change answers (male/female experimenter) (ethnicity)
Behaviour of the experimenter
Experimental variables
Hawthorne effect
The presence of a researcher effects performance in tasks
Qualitative data strengths
Helps understand how others see the world
People can express opinions
Bring together lots of info (holistic)
Application - clinical psychology
