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Psychology Paper 2 > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

1
Q

What is the DV?

A
  • What is being measured
  • IV influences this
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2
Q

What is the IV?

A
  • Variable experimenter manipulates
  • Otherwise known as the experimental conditions
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3
Q

Operationalising variables

A

Defining a variable clearly so they can objectively manipulated and measured

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4
Q

What is a extraneous variable?

A

A variable other than the independent variable that has influenced dependent variable

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5
Q

What is a confounding variable?

A

A factor other than the independent variable that might effect the experiment and can’t be controlled

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6
Q

Why should we operationalise variables?

A

Way in which variables are operationalised can affect the accuracy (validity) of the study. Unless the way a variable is operationalised reflects the variable we want to study, we can’t draw accurate/valid conclusions from research

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7
Q

What are co variables?

A

Two variables which are examined to see whether a correlation exists between them

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8
Q

What is a variable?

A

Any factor that can be changed or change

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9
Q

What is a hypothesis?

A

States what will happen and what you expect to find and the relationship between IV and DV

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10
Q

Directional Hypothesis

A

Hypothesis that states specifically what will happen

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11
Q

Non-directional Hypothesis

A

Simply states that something will happen e.g. ‘There will be a difference’

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12
Q

When to use a directional hypothesis?

A
  • When you are aware of other research
  • Have been told anything in the equation
  • When you know what is going to happen
    If YES use a directional hypothesis
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13
Q

What is an experiemental design

A

Refers to way in which participants are arranged within experimental conditions

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14
Q

Independant groups

A

Participants split into groups and each only experience one level of IV or one condition

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15
Q

Repeated measures

A

All participants experience all levels of IV or condition

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16
Q

Matched Pairs

A

Participants paired up based on a trait relevant to the study and then split into different conditions.

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17
Q

Limitation of Repeated Measures

A
  • Orders effects impact results for example a task completed in one condition, could have impact on a task completed in another
  • Boredom/fatigue
  • Counterbalancing can be used to counteract this
  • Split participants into two groups each group does one condition then they switch to the other
  • ABBA principle
  • Demand characteristics can be an issue because people could work out aim of study as they do the experiment twice causing them to change their behaviour and not act naturally
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18
Q

Limitation of independent groups

A
  • Participant variables can confound the results
  • Random allocation is used in an attempt to deal with this
  • Less economical - 2x times as many participants needed
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18
Q

Strength of repeated measures

A
  • Participant variables are being controlled because same participants are in both conditions
  • More economical than independent group independent or matched pairs as you only need half the number participants
19
Q

Strength of independent groups

A
  • No order effects because they experience one condition
  • Less likely to guess aim of experiment so there is a reduced likelihood of demand characteristics
20
Q

Limitation of matched pairs

A
  • Less economical (more resources are required) especially if pre-test is needed to match participants
21
Q

Strength of matched pairs

A
  • Order effects and demand characteristics are less of a problem as participants take part in one condition
  • Impact of participant variables is reduced but can never be eliminated completely
22
Q

What are the four types of experiment/

A

Labratory, Field, Quasi, Natural

23
Q

What is a lab experiment?

A

Lab experiments are conducted in highly controlled environments (not always lab)

24
Q

Limitation of lab experiments

A
  • Lack mundane realism (research does not represent real life experiences therefore
  • Lack generalisability/ external ecological validity
  • Demand characteristics
25
Q

Strength of lab experiments

A
  • High control over extraneous variable and confounding variables
  • High level of replication
  • Increased validity for findings
26
Q

What is a field experiment?

A
  • Experiment in which IV is manipulated by the experimenter in natural everyday setting e.g. Johnson and Scott’s research into anxiety on eyewitness testimony or research into the bystander effect
27
Q

Limitation of field experiment

A
  • Less control of extraneous variables and confounding variables so a cause and effect relationship is harder to establish
  • Ethical issues arise with consent and privacy as participants don’t know they are participating
28
Q

What is a quasi experiment?

A

Experiment in which IV is based on a pre-exisiting difference between people (e.g. age, gender, ethnicity). No one has manipulated it and it can be changed.

29
Q

Limitations of quasi experiment

A
  • Confounding variables become an issue as you can’t use random allocation to sort conditions
30
Q

Strength of quasi experiment

A

Carried out in controlled conditions (high control, replication)

31
Q

What is a natural experiment?

A

Researcher has no control of IV and cannot manipulate it. Would have occurred even if the experimenter was not studying it. W is natural.

32
Q

Strength of natural experiment

A
  • Opportunities for research that may not be conducted otherwise - for practical or ethical reasons
  • High external validity - naturally occurring IV
33
Q

Limitation of natural experiment

A
  • Research worthy events happen rarely
  • It may not be possible to randomly allocate participants to different conditions especially in independent groups
34
Q

What is a true experiment?

A

Refers to experiments where IV is under direct control of the the experimenter and effect on DV is recorded.
Lab and field experiment are considered true experiments. Quasi and Natural experiments are not true

35
Q

Why are observations considered non - experimental

A

Can’t determine cause and effect relationship

36
Q

Purpose of observation

A
  • Allows researchers to study observable behaviour both within a more natural and more controlled setting
  • Observations used to assess the IV
37
Q

Naturalistic observation

A
  • Occurs in setting where behaviour would naturally occur
  • All suspects free to vary
38
Q

Controlled observation

A
  • Elements of observation controlled
  • Sometimes it is useful to control certain aspects of situation e.g. Mary Ainsworth Strange Situation. Psychologist observed using a two-way mirror.
    -Includes manipulating variables to obsrve effects control extraneous variables
39
Q

What is a covert observation?

A
  • When participant is unaware they are being observed
  • Behaviour must be public and happening in a way that is ethical
  • Behaviour can be recorded without getting consent first
40
Q

What is an overt observation

A
  • Participants know they are being observed and have given consent to be part of the study
41
Q

What is a participant observation?

A
  • Researcher takes part in the study
  • Has a first hand account of environment
42
Q

What is a non-participant observation

A
  • Researcher remain separate from research they are conducting
  • As it is often impractical for researchers to join
43
Q

Eval points for Naturalistic/ Controlled Observations

A
  • Naturalistic observations have external validity
  • Conducting it in a natural environment makes it generalisable whereas a controlled setting does not
  • Hard to replicate due to a lot of variables that can’t be controlled (opposite for controlled observation )
44
Q

Eval points Covert vs Overt

A

Internal validity
- Covert observations have high internal validity
- The fact that participants don’t know they are being observed removes issue of demand characteristics

Ethics
- People may not want their behaviour recorded (privacy)
- Overt is more ethical but knowledge of observation could impact behaviour

45
Q

Eval points for Participants vs Non-participants

A

Validity
-Experiencing the situation with the participants gives researchers greater insight
- Gives participant observation greater validity

Objectivity
- Participant observations could result in researchers identifying too strongly with participants
- Lack of objectivity - going native

-Easier to maintain objectivity when observing from the outside but insight may be lost as they are removed

46
Q
A

Psychology Paper 2 (2 decks)

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