Research Methods Flashcards

1
Q

tern: validity

A

accuracy

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2
Q

term: internal validity

A

researcher managed to measure what intended to measure

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3
Q

3 factors affecting internal validity

A
  1. demand characteristics
  2. individual differences
  3. researcher bias
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4
Q

term: external validity

A

extent findings generalised beyond research setting

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5
Q

4 factors affecting external validity

A
  1. temporal
  2. ecological
  3. population
  4. mundane realism
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6
Q

term: face validity

A

measure appears on the surface to measure what supposed to measure

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7
Q

term: concurrent validity

A

psychological measure relates to exisiting similar measure

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8
Q

how can improve validity in experiments?

A
  • use control groups
  • single blind + double blind procedure
  • standardise
  • minimise investigator effects
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9
Q

how can improve validity in observations?

A
  • covert observations
  • behavior categories- not broad
  • questionnaires- anonymous
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10
Q

how can improve validity in qualitative methods?

A
  • case studies/ interviews- more info
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11
Q

quasi experiment

A

have IV that’s based on existing differences between people but not manipulated, exists already

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12
Q

strengths + limitations of quasi

A

s: controlled conditions
l: confounding variables, ethical issues

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13
Q

lab experiment

A

carried out in controlled environment with controlled IV

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14
Q

strengths + limitations of lab

A

s: high control, replicate, EV’s controlled, see cause and effect
l: sample bias, low eco val, DC, not occuring natural

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15
Q

field experiment

A

done in everyday environment, manipulate IV

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16
Q

strengths + limitations of field

A

s: high eco val, no DC
l: results difficult to analyse

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17
Q

natural experiment

A

IV occurs naturally + isnt manipulated

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18
Q

strengths + limitations of natural

A

s: no DC, high eco val
l: results difficult to analyse, ethical issues, hard to replicate

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19
Q

difference between opportunity and volunteer sampling?

A

volunteer is when the p’s select themselves by replying to adverts whilst opportunity is researchers choosing ppl from t.p who r willing to take part

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20
Q

strengths + limitations of random sampling

A

s: equal chance, no researcher bias
l: time consuming, not representative

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21
Q

strengths + limitations of volunteer sampling

A

s: no bias, ethical
l: time consuming, social desirability, unrep

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22
Q

strengths + limitations of opportunity sampling

A

s: quick + easy
l: unrep, bias, change behaviour

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23
Q

term: systematic sampling

A

choosing nth number on target population list

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24
Q

strengths + limitations of systematic sampling

A

s: less research bias
l: time consuming, unrep

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25
Q

term: stratified sampling

A

selecting p’s in proportion to their frequency in target population

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26
Q

how do u carry out stratified sampling

A
  1. identify subgroups that make up target pop
  2. work out proportions needed for sample to be rep
  3. p’s randomly selected to reflect it
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27
Q

strengths + limitations of stratified

A

s: no bias, represensitive
l: time consuming, other factors not accounted for

28
Q

what is a paradigm shift?

A

significant change in dominant unifying theory within scientific discipline

29
Q

what is the psychology paradigm shift?

A

paradigm -> questioning of paradigm -> general critique gathers popularity -> scientific revolution -> PARADIGM SHIFT

30
Q

what did Thomas Kuhn believe?

A

what distinguishes scientific disciplines from non-scientific disciplines is a shared set of assumptions and method

31
Q

why is psychology a pre-science?

A

marked by too much internal disagreement and conflicting ideas to qualify as a science

32
Q

term: non directional hypothesis

A

states there WILL be relationship but not which way

33
Q

term: directional hypothesis

A

states TYPE of relationship

34
Q

term: single-blind procedure

A

p’s have no idea which condition in

35
Q

term: double-blind procedure

A

p’s and research don’t know what condition p’s in

36
Q

examples of investigator effects

A

age, ethnicity, tone, gender, location, physical characteristics

37
Q

how to reduce investigator effects

A

double-blind procedure prevents investigator from inadvertently giving p’s cues

38
Q

term: pilot studies

A

small scale ‘practice’ investigations where researchers check all aspects of their research

39
Q

what do pilot studies allow?

A
  • make changes to design, method, analysis
  • p’s to suggest appropriate changes
  • improves quality of research
  • avoids unnecessary work
40
Q

strengths of questionnaires

A
  • quick + cheap
  • large sample
  • replication
  • qualitative + quantitative
  • open + closed questions
41
Q

limiations of questionnaires

A
  • misunderstandings
  • bias sample
  • low response rate
  • misleading questions
  • results difficult to anaylse
42
Q

strengths of interviews

A
  • ease misunderstandings
  • replication
  • open + closed questions
  • quantitative + qualitative
43
Q

limitations of interviews

A
  • ethical- reveal more than wanted
  • interviewer training
  • interviewer bias
  • demand characteristics
  • results difficult to anaylse
44
Q

4 criticisms of peer reviews

A
  1. bias: research world small so research known
  2. plaglarisms: not accepting work so own published first
  3. able to publish in control of elites- reject research not agreed with
  4. take a lot of time
45
Q

use of peer reviews

A
  • needed before piece of work published to validate accuracy
  • any weaknesses/ suggestions for improvement highlighted
46
Q

term: Reliability

A

extent to which test produces CONSISTENT results

47
Q

term: internal reliability

A

test is consistent in ITSELF

48
Q

term: external reliability

A

consistent OVER TIME

49
Q

2 ways to assess reliability

A
  1. test-retest
  2. inter-observer reliability
50
Q

2 steps for test-retest

A
  1. repeat same test on the same person on 2 diff occasions. reliable=results same
  2. check whether significant positive correlation
51
Q

4 steps for inter-observer reliability

A
  1. PILOT STUDY- observers apply same behav categories
  2. observers watch same event but record data independently
  3. correlate data of 2 observers
  4. correlation statistically positive= high IOR
52
Q

3 ways to improve reliability in experiments

A
  1. strict control of variables
  2. same conditions each time
  3. standardised procedures
53
Q

4 ways to improve reliability in observations

A
  1. operationalized behavioural categories
  2. no overlapping categories
  3. behaviours covered by checklist
  4. further training
54
Q

2 ways to improve reliability in questionnaires

A
  1. questions replaces + rewritten that r unclear
  2. replace open questions with closed, fixed ones
55
Q

3 ways to improve reliability in interviews

A
  1. same interviewer each time
  2. no leading/ unclear questions
  3. use structure where interviewers behaviours more controlled
56
Q

term: paradigm

A

set of shared assumptions and agreed methods within scientific discipline

57
Q

what did Karl Popper say?

A

there are key criteria that must be met for a discipline to be a science:
- falsifiability
- replicability
- objectivity and empirical method

58
Q

key details of falsifiability

A
  • admits possibility of being found false
  • strongest= survived longest
  • theories should be constantly challenged
59
Q

key details of replicability

A
  • scientific procedures and findings can be repeated by others
60
Q

key details of objectivity and empirical method

A
  • all sources of personal bias minimised so doesn’t influence the research process
  • researchers keep critical distance
61
Q

why are psychological reports made?

A

must be written to allow effective replication and allow others to repeat research to check and validate

62
Q

term: directional correlation hypothesis

A

states WHICH TYPE of correlation it is ie. there’s a negative correlation

63
Q

term: non- directional correlation hypothesis

A

doesn’t state which type it is- ie there’s a relationship

64
Q

term: spurious correlation

A

connection between 2 variables that appears to be casual but is not

65
Q

3 strengths of correlations

A
  • useful starting tool for research
  • measure relationship between variables that cannot be manipulated
  • quick + cheap to carry out
66
Q

3 limitations of correlations

A
  • misused and misinterpreted
  • interventing variables causing relationship between co-variables
  • cant infer cause and effect so don’t know which co-variable causing other to change