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Research methods Flashcards

1
Q

Independent measures

A

Two separate groups of participants experience two different conditions of the experiment (one each)

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2
Q

Matched pair

A

Participants are paired together on a variable scale that are relevant to the experiment (e.g IQ) One takes part in condition 1 and the other takes part in condition 2

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3
Q

Repeated measures

A

All participants experience both conditions of the experiments. Each participant would first take part in condition A then then condition B

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4
Q

Alternative hypotesis

A

A testable statement which predicts the independent variable will have an impact on the dependent variable

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5
Q

Null hypothesis

A

A testable statement which predicts the independent variable will have no impact on the dependent variable

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6
Q

GRAVE

A

Generalisability
Reliability
Applicability
Validity
Ethics

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7
Q

Case study

A

An in depth investigation of an individual or small group of people.
Uses a range of research methods which allow detailed data to be collected

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8
Q

Is a case study non-experimental or experimental method

A

Non-experimental as it does not manipulate an independent variable directy

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9
Q

Examples of ways to research on research methods

A

Observations, Questionnaires, Medical assessments, Medical history, Interviews, Family/friends

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10
Q

Triangulation

A

Gathering of data from two or more research methods to draw a more valid conclusion
Also prevents researcher bias

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11
Q

Laboratory experiments

A

A research method which measures participants performance in two or more conditions. It is a way to determine whether one factor (variable) affects another.

It takes part in a controlled environment

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12
Q

What happens in a lab experiment

A

The independent variable is manipulated and the dependent variable is measured and all other variables are controlled

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13
Q

Strength and weakness of a laboratory expirement

A

Strength - It’s a controlled environment so no extranous variables
Weakness - Demand characteristics may show as they know they’ll be tested

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14
Q

Field experiment

A

An experiment which takes place in a natural environment so it’s not controlled

The researcher manipulates the independent variable and measures the dependent variable
However, there are extraneous variables but not as much as a lab experiment because the environment is more unpredictable

Participants may or may not know they are being studied

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15
Q

Stength and weakness of field experiments

A

Strength - Have higher mundane realism because they are conducted in naturalistic environment so the behaviour is natural and less demand characteristics
Valid and Reliable
Weakness - Ethical issues like informed consent
Extranous variables so its less reliable

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16
Q

Mundane

A

Realism. Describes the degree to which the materials and prodedures involved in an experiment are similar to events that occur in the real world like everyday life

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17
Q

Natural experiments

A

A natural experiment occurs in real life (naturalistic) environment and have a independent variable and dependent variable
The researcher does not manipulate the independent variables it just naturally occurs
They are opportunists so they make a use of unique and naturally occurring situations that would otherwise be difficult or unethical to set up

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18
Q

Strength and weakness of natural experiments

A

Strength - The environment is real and naturalistic so ecological validilty and no researcher bias
Valid as no demand characteristics
Weakness - Less reliable due to extraneous variables

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19
Q

Quantitative data

+ strenghts and weaknesses

A

Results that involve numbers and statistics e.g percentages (quantity, numbers)

W - cab be invalid and lack information
S - Quick and easy to get

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20
Q

How are quantitative methods reliable and valid?

A

The control of experiments, and questions asked in other methods allow eaiser replication so are more likely to find reliable findings

Designed to gather facts and measure behaviour that can be applied to a target population so that the data is generalisable to others (external validity)
Also avoid researcher bias

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21
Q

Qualitative data

+ strenghts and weaknesses

A

Results involve description, pictures and detail

W - can be time consuming
S - can be really valid

22
Q

How are Qualitative methods not valid and reliable?

A

They are more explatory and designed to understand participants perspective so not easy to replicate

Researchers can become very involved in the investigation and close to their participants, which can result in researcher bias so lowers validity

23
Q

Quantitative methods

A

You can gather data by survey, lab experiment and questionaire
Use large samples to find behaviour patterns

Designed to test a hypothesis

24
Q

Qualitative methods

A

You can gather data by interview, case studies and case history

Tend not to test hypothesis

25
Primary data
Results collected directly for a specific research purpose (aim)
26
Secondary data
Using results that were gathtered previously, often for a different purpose
27
Demand characteristics
Type of situational variable where participants guess, or know the aims of the study and so behave differently
28
Reasearcher bias
A type of extraneous variable where the person doing the research might influence the results of the study because they know the aim and want to try fulfil it
29
Independent variable
The variable that is manipulated by the researcher
30
Dependent variable
The variable that is measured by the research
31
Extranous variable
Any factors that are not the independent variable, but might affect the results of the study if they are not controlled
32
Participant variable
A type of extranous variable where it is characteristics of individual participants ( age, intelligence, mood) that might influence the results of the study
33
Situational variable
A type of extranous variable where it is the characteristics of the environment (noise, temp.) that might influence the results of the study
34
Observation
Where a reseacher watches or listens to participants engaging in whatever behaviour is being studied in certain situations or environments
35
Overt
An overt observation is when participants know their being observed and the researcher is visible to them
36
Covert
A covert observation is when participants don't know they are being observed and the researcher hidden
37
Strength and weaknesses of observations
Strength - Participants may not know the reaseacher so less demand characteristics so more valid Weakness - Unethical and observer bias ( see what they want). Also won't detect all behaviours so cannot determine cause and effect
38
Interviews
A self report technique and a non experimental method It gains information directly from participants about their beliefs, opinions and attitudes It involves asking participants questions and then analysing their answers
39
A structured interview
An interview with a standarlised list of pre-set questions. An intervire schedule if followed so that participants are asked exactly the same questions in same way and order
40
A semi-structured interveiw
An interview that is a combination of structured and unstructured. It has pre-set questions that are prepared beforehand, but further questins are developed based on participants response | Doctors call it clinical interview
41
Unstructured interview
An interview that does not have prepared questions or an interview schedule to follow. New questions are developed during the course of the interview
42
Strength and Weakness of semi-structured interview
Strength - Has the benifit of asking pre-set questions and giving participants the freedom to answer in their own way so it's reliable and valid Weakness - Invalid because interviewers expectations may influence the answers the participants give
43
Strength and Weakness of unstructured interview
Strength - Allows people to think, feel, believe, their attitudes and opinion which makes it applicable Weakness - Time consuming when conducting and anaylysing the data. Unreliable as not all participants are asked thr same questions
44
Strength and Weakness of structured interview
Strength - Easily be replicated because the questions are standarlised and can comapare results, more reliable. It is ethical and avoids interviewer bias Weakness - Can only access superficial information from participantsdue to the standarlised questions, invalid
45
Self report
Self report techniques are research method in which participants give information about themselves without reseacher interference
46
Questionairs
Questionaires is a self report technique that investigates peoples beliefs, opinion, attitudes and optioins first hand towards somethings Suitible when a large number of people need to be surveyed at once
47
Open question | + strength and weaknesses ## Footnote Give example
Questions that do not have pre-set responses, but allow the respondent to answer freely in their own words using prose S - More likely to measure participants real view so results may be more valid W - Produce Qualitative data so difficult to analyse as the data is open to interpretation so is unreliable | How do you feel about animal research?
48
Closed questions
A question with a limited set of options for respondents to choose from S - Produce quantative data which is relaitively easy to analyse and is reliable W - Can't explain their choices or their choice won't be there si invalid | Do you like cake? yes or no
49
Fixed questions | type of closed question
These are questions with a pre-set list of answers that the respodent can choose from W - Does not measure participants real views S - Quick | What type of TV shows do you like? - tick all that apply
50
Likert - type scale | type of closed question
A type of cosed question where participants are asked to judge how much they agree with a statement

Psychology (18 decks)

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