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Psychology > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

1
Q

What is a Laboratory Experiment?

A

An experiment that takes place in a controlled environment, the researcher manipulates the IV and measures the effect on the DV -
Extraneous Variables are highly controlled

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2
Q

What is a Field Experiment?

A

An experiment that takes place in a natural setting, the researcher manipulates the IV and measures the effect on the DV

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3
Q

What is a Natural Experiment?

A

An experiment where the IV is not manipulated and the DV is measured and judged as the effect of an IV

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4
Q

What is a Quasi-Experiment?

A

The IV has not been determined by anyone and the variables simply exist already, e.g age or gender - this is not an experiment

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5
Q

What is an Independent Variable?

A

A variable that is manipulated or changed to measure the effect on the Dependent Variable

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6
Q

What is a Dependent Variable?

A

The variable that is measured in response to a change made towards the Independent Variable

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7
Q

What is a Controlled Variable?

A

A variable that is held constant throughout an experiment, so that it does not affect the results, if the DV is effected - researchers can ensure that the change were caused by the IV and not any EV’s

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8
Q

What is an Extraneous Variable?

A

Any unwanted variable that may have an effect on the IV or DV, for example sound, temperature, academic background, etc

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9
Q

What are the four types of Extraneous Variables?

A

-Participant Variables
-Situational Variables
-Demand Characteristics
-Experimenter Effects

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10
Q

What are Participant Variables?

A

Related to the participants characteristics, which may impact how they respond, for example mood, intelligence, disabilities, etc

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11
Q

What is an hypothesis?

A

A testable statement which predicts how one variable (factor) will influence another.

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12
Q

What is a directional/ one tailed hypothesis?

A

The direction of the results is predicted.

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13
Q

What is a non-directional / two tailed hypothesis?

A

A change or difference is predicted but a direction is not specified.

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14
Q

What is a null hypothesis?

A

A null hypothesis states that there will be no difference or any difference in the DV between the levels of the IV is so small that there is a high probability that it has arisen by chance.

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15
Q

What is confounding variables?

A

These are variables other than the IV which may have affected the DV so we are not sure of the true cause of the changes in the DV.

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16
Q

What is standardisation?

A

All participants should experience exactly the same in terms of information and procedure we can therefore control certain aspects to ensure they all have the same experience.

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17
Q

What is independent groups?

A

Each participant only takes part in one condition / group in the experiment then you are usually compared to the other groups.

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18
Q

What is repeated measures?

A

The same (each) participants take part in both/all conditions of the experiment, you can do this by getting all participants to complete conditions 1 first and then condition 2 or you can do this by counterbalancing.

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19
Q

What is matched pairs?

A

Participants are matched/paired on a variable/variables related to the experiment and are placed in separate groups

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20
Q

What are strengths of independent groups?

A
  • Less economical than repeated measures as each participant contributes a single result only
  • Order effects are not a problem
  • Demand characteristics
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21
Q

What are weaknesses of independent groups?

A
  • The participants who occupy the two groups are not the same
  • Therefore, if a researcher finds the mean different between the groups in the DV, this may be more due to individual differences.
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22
Q

What are strengths of repeated measures?

A
  • Participants variables are controlled and fewer participants are needed.
23
Q

What are weaknesses of repeated measures?

A
  • Each participant has to do atleast two tasks and the order of these tasks may be significant
  • Order effects arise
  • Individuals performance skills may improve through practice
  • Demand characteristics
24
Q

What are strengths of matched pairs design?

A
  • Order effects and demand characteristics are less of a problem
25
Q

What are weaknesses of matched pairs design?

A
  • Participants can never be matched exactly
  • Even when identical twins are used, there will still be imporant differences between them that may affect the DV
  • Time consuming
  • Expensive
26
Q

What are situational variables?

A
  • The various factors that can influence an event.
  • E.g. location, time, social context, physical environment and the people involved.
27
Q

Disadvantages of a quasi experiment

A
  • Confounding variables are more likely —> less reliable
  • Must wait for IV to occur
  • Can only be used where conditions vary naturally
  • Aware they’re studied = less internal validity
28
Q

Advantages of a quasi experiment

A
  • Useful when its unethical to manipulate the IV
  • Studies the ‘real effects’ so there is increase realism and ecological validity
29
Q

Strengths of random sampling

A
  • Simple
  • Lack of bias
30
Q

What is a covert observation?

A
  • The researcher is ‘undercover’, participants are unaware they are being observed.
31
Q

What is an overt observation?

A
  • Those being observed are aware they are being observed.
32
Q

What is a natural observation?

A
  • Individuals observed in their natural environments, without interference or manipulation from the researcher.
  • Understands behaviour in its authentic and natural form.
33
Q

What is a controlled observation?

A
  • Researchers watch participants in a contained environment e.g. laboratory.
34
Q

What is a participant observation?

A
  • Research immerses themselves in a particular social setting or group, observing the behaviours, interactions and practices of the participants.
  • They know the researcher is there
35
Q

What is a non participant observation?

A
  • Observing participants without actively participating.
  • Used to understand a phenomenon by entering a community or the social system involved whilst staying separate from the activities without being observed.
36
Q

Advantages of a naturalistic observation

A
  • High ecological validity
  • High internal validity
37
Q

Disadvantages of a naturalistic observation

A
  • Lack of ethical considerations
  • Potential bias from observer
  • Lacks generalisation
  • Less reliable as other variables cannot be controlled
  • No manipulation of variables
38
Q

Strengths of a controlled observation

A
  • Replicatable
  • Less time consuming
  • Can be generalised —> can be repeated
39
Q

Disadvantages of a controlled observation

A
  • Low ecological validity due to demand characteristics —> what goes on in a lab study doesn’t reflect what happens in real life —> may not have a natural response.
40
Q

Strengths of a covert observation

A
  • High ecological validity
  • No risk of demand characteristics
  • High internal validity
41
Q

Disadvantages of a covert observation

A
  • Ethical issues —> people don’t know that they are being watched.
42
Q

Strengths of an overt observation

A
  • No ethical issues —> people know they are being watched
  • Behaviour may not be normal/natural
  • Demand characteristics —> may alter their behaviour
43
Q

Strengths of a participant observation

A
  • Easier to understand the observers behaviour
  • High ecological validity
  • High internal validity
44
Q

Disadvantages of participant observations

A
  • Hard to record observations retrospectively (low reliability).
  • Observer can become involved with the participants and data subjective —> develop a relationship and too close, may affect the researchers mental health.
45
Q

Strengths of a non-participant observation

A
  • Observations made as they happen = more reliable
  • Lack of contact so the observer can maintain objectivity
  • Ethical as researcher is protected
  • Demand characteristics
  • Remain objective
46
Q

Disadvantages of a non-participant observation

A
  • Behavioural may be recorded by the meaning behind it unknown —> lack level of detail, not fully understanding, lack some research.
47
Q

What is event sampling?

A
  • Counting the number of times a behaviour occurs in your target individual
48
Q

What is time sampling?

A
  • Counting behaviour in a set time frame.
49
Q

What is the difference between reliability and validity?

A
  • Reliability: refers to the consistency of a measure (whether the results can be reproduced under the same conditions)
  • Validity: refers to the accuracy of the measure (whether the results really do represent what they are supposed to measure)
50
Q

Name all the tests in the stats table in order from left to right

A

1.) = difference - unrelated design / independent measures

NOMINAL —> 1.) Chi squared, 2.) Sign test, 3.)Chi-squared
ORDINAL —> 1.) Mann-Whitney, 2.) Wilcoxon, 3.) Spearman’s rho,
INTERVAL —> 1.) Unrelated t-test, 2.) Related t-test, 3.) Pearson r

51
Q

What is primary data?

A

Data that has been collected directly by the researcher, solely for the purpose of their investigation.

52
Q

What is secondary data?

A

Information that someone else has collected e.g. the work of other psychologists that has been published in journals or government statistics.

53
Q

Give strengths of primary data

A
  • More accurate
  • More reliable
    … because it comes from a direct source.
54
Q

Give weaknesses of primary data

A
  • Can be time consuming
  • Can be costly

Psychology (28 decks)

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