Research Methods

Question 1

What is Quantitive research?

Answer 1

Data that can be counted and is usually given as numbers.

Question 2

What is Qualitative research?

Answer 2

Data expressed in words and is non-numerical (can be converted for analysis)

Question 3

What are the pros of Quantitative research

Answer 3

Easy to analyse, neat conclusions

Question 4

What are the cons of Quantitative research

Answer 4

Oversimplifies human experience

Question 5

What are the pros of Qualitative research?

Answer 5

represents true human complexity and behaviour through rich detail of thoughts and feelings

Question 6

What are the cons of Qualitative research

Answer 6

Difficult to analyse, can create many interpretations of the same experiment (results are debatable)

Question 7

What are the strengths of Lab experiments

Answer 7

High control of CVs and EVs,
easy to replicate,
high reliability,
standardised instructions and equipment,
cause and effect is easy to determine

Question 8

What are the weaknesses of Lab experiments

Answer 8

Generalisability
Lack of realism
Low ecological validity
Artificial environment

Question 9

What are the strengths of a field experiment

Answer 9

High mundane realism
High external validity
Authentic

Question 10

What are the weaknesses of a field experiment

Answer 10

Loss of control for CVs and EVs
Cause and effect are difficult to establish
Privacy and consent issues

Question 11

What are the strengths of a natural experiment

Answer 11

High external validity
Opportunities for research

Question 12

What are the weaknesses of a natural experiment

Answer 12

Rare opportunities
Lack realism
Demand Characteristics
Cannot randomly allocate participants
IV cannot be constantly observed and so cannot be claimed as changed

Question 13

What are the strengths of a Quasi experiment

Answer 13

Controlled environment
Easy replication

Question 14

What are the weaknesses of a Quasi experiment

Answer 14

Cannot randomly allocate participants
IV cannot be claimed as changed

Question 15

Define laboratory experiment

Answer 15

An experiment which is conducted in highly controlled environments

Question 16

Define a field experiment

Answer 16

An experiment where the IV is manipulated in a natural environment

Question 17

Define a natural expeiment

Answer 17

An experiment which is like a lab or field experiment (because the researcher measures the effect of an IV on a DV) However the researcher has no control over the IV. The IV is natural.

Question 18

Define a quasi experiment

Answer 18

An experiment where there is an IV that is based on an existing difference between people e.g. age, height, weight, sexuality

Question 19

Define IV

Answer 19

Independent Variable, the thing that is being changed

Question 20

Define DV

Answer 20

Dependent Variable, the thing that is being measured.

Question 21

Define CV

Answer 21

Confounding Variable. The thing that affect other variables in a way that produces fake or distorted associations between two variables.

Question 22

Define EV

Answer 22

Extraneous variables. Anything that is not being investigated that has the potential to affect the outcome of a research study.

Question 23

What are the two different types of hypothesis

Answer 23

Directional and non-directional aka. one tailed and two tailed

Question 24

How do you begin a directional hypothesis

Answer 24

There will be (increase or decrease)…

Question 25

How do you begin a non-directional hypothesis

Answer 25

There will be a difference...

Question 26

What is the difference between directional and non-directional hypothesis

Answer 26

Directional hypothesis will have prior research whereas a non-directional hypothesis won't.

Question 27

Define hypothesis

Answer 27

testable statement for a relationship between two or more variables. Precise. Predicts the significant difference in the DV from the IV

Question 28

What are the three experimental designs

Answer 28

Independent, Repeated and Matched Pairs

Question 29

Define Independent design

Answer 29

Using different ppts in each experimental condition- ppts are only used once

Question 30

Define Repeated measures design

Answer 30

Participants take part in both experimental comditions

Question 31

Define matched pairs design

Answer 31

Use different participants in each experimental condition but participants have been matched with another participant based on key variables that might affect performance e.g. alcohol tolerance, gender, IQ

Question 32

What are the advantages and disadvantages of independent group design

Answer 32

Advantages: no order effects, fewer demand characteristics, time saved Disadvantages: more participants needed, individual differences of participants in different condition.

Question 33

What are the advantages and disadvantages of repeated measures design

Answer 33

Advantages: less effect of individual differences, more data for fewer participants Disadvantages: order effects, demand characteristics, stimulus materials

Question 34

What are the advantages and disadvantages of matched pairs design

Answer 34

Advantages: participant variables kept more constant due to matching, no order effects as ppts only take part in one condition, fewer demand characteristics Disadvantages: more participants, matching is difficult, time consuming