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Alevel Psychology > Research methods > Flashcards

Research methods Flashcards

(55 cards)

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1
Q

What are theories

A

system of ideas based of psychological principles and research

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2
Q

What are aims

A

More sophisticated statements that produce general statements about the purpose of the investigation

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3
Q

What are directional, non directional hypothesis

A

Directional- clear difference betwee the two conidtions(more/ less)
-usually used when there are previous studies to aid the findings of the study
Non directional- simply stating there is a difference between the two conditions

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4
Q

What are extraneous variables

A

Unwanted variables that affect the IV, researchers identify them and remove them, their effect is slight and may not fully effect the results

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5
Q

What are extraneous variables

A

Unwanted variables that affect the IV, researchers identify them and remove them, their effect is slight and may not fully effect the results

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6
Q

What is randomisation

A

Done to minimise EV/ CV which is to use methods of chance to reduce unconscious researcher bias in investigators(controls investigator effects)

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7
Q

What is a hypothesis & speed up example

A

Statement made from a theory which describes the relationship between the IV and DV ‘ Drinking Speed up causes an increase in speech’

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8
Q

What is the IV/ DV

A

IV- what you change(cause)
DV- what you measure- the effect

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9
Q

What are demand characteristics

A

Participant reactivity to cues in the experiment which may lead to them interpreting what is actually going on and then under/over performing which affects the DV

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10
Q

What is standardisation

A

Ensuring environment, information and experience of participants is the same, all instructions are the same.

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11
Q

What are experimental designs

A

How the participants are arranged into experimental conditions

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12
Q

What is repeated measures

A

All participants experience both conditions and the results of the two conditions are compared

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13
Q

What is independent groups

A

2 seperate groups experience 2 different experimental conditions

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14
Q

What are matched pairs

A

Two participants are matched based on a variable significant to the study eg(IQ) and then the two participants are put into two different conditions

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15
Q

What was the research into investigator effects

A

Coolican(2006) found that expectancy effects and unconscious cues may affect the researchers actions

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16
Q

What are investigator effects

A

Knowing the hypothesis reseachers may unconsciously influence the outcome of the research to the outcome that they want

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17
Q

Operationalised definition

A

ensuring that the variables being tested are clear and measurable

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18
Q

What are experimental conditions and how are they used

A

Used to test the effect of the IV and if it is effecting the DV. Experimental condition is usally compared to control groups

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19
Q

What are cofounding variables

A

Extra variables which add to the IV so the researcher isnt completely sure if its the IV that is affecting the DV( vary systematically with the IV)

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20
Q

What is the experimental method

A

Way in which the experiment is carried out

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21
Q

Evaluation for independent groups

A

-the participants in the different groups arent the same in terms of participant variables. If there is a difference between the two groups it may be dude to participant variables acting as cofounding variables rather than the IV effecting the DV
- Less economical as twice as many particpants are required for eqivilent data
+ Order effects are not a problem

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22
Q

Repeated measure evaluation

A
  • order of the tasks may be significant one may affect the other(counter balancing used to reduce these effects).
    -Demand characteristics may ensue as the participants gain knowledge of the study
    + participant characteristics are controlled so higher validity/ more economical
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23
Q

Evaluation for matched pairs

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A

+ ppt only do one condition so demand characteristics and order effects are reduced
- matches cant be perfect so there are still differences in DV
- matching time consuming and expensive

24
Q

Lab experiment

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A

experiment done in a highy controlled environment

25
Lab experiment positive and negatives
+ high control over CV and EV, sure that the effect of the DV is caused by the IV(Internal validity) + Replication possible due to high level of control - lack generalisability due to artificiality lacks(external validity) - Aware of being watched can cause demand characteristics - Tasks dont reflect real life experiences so lacks mundane realism
26
Field experiments
IV is manipulated in a natrual everday environment for ppt
27
Field experiment positive and negatives
+ high mundane realism due to environment causes authentic behaviour(covert studies - Less control of EV and CV so cause and effect between IV and CV is more difficult to establish( replication is hard) - ethical issues as they dont know they are being watched
28
Natural experiments
Researcher measures IV and DV but has no control over IV which can be changed by anything DV either natural or devised by experimenter
29
Natural experiments(positives & negatives)
+ takes opportunity of research that may not be done for practical/ethical reasons with high external validity -Very rare occurance so hard for research to be done and bad generalisability
30
Quasi experiment
IV is based on existing difference between people e.g. age(cannot be changed)
31
Quasi experiment( positive & negatives)
+ Carried out under controlled conditions so similar strengths to lab experiments - cannot randomly allocate ppt so may be CV -IV isnt controlled so cant be sure IV affects DV
32
What is sampling population
Group of people in which have the characteristics that the researcher wants to test usually called target population, sample taken out of the population as a representative of the target population
33
What is sampling population
Group of people in which have the characteristics that the researcher wants to test usually called target population, sample taken out of the population as a representative of the target population
34
Negatives of sampling
Representation still fails due to increasing diversity Still forms of bias Sampling techniques are methods to gain samples from the whole populations
35
Random sampling
Everyone in the popualtion has an equal chance of getting selected , listed people then lottery method
36
Systematic sampling
Every nth term of a list is selected
37
Stratified sampling
Subgroups within the target population are proportioned and sample is reflective of those proportions
38
Opportunistic sampling
When the target population is hard to obtain researcher selects anyone who is willing
39
Volunteer sampling
Participants are self selecting eg advert or raise of hands
40
Random sampling evaluation
+ potentially unbias as CV and EV are evenly split enchancing internal validity
41
Systematic sampling evaluation
+ Objective use as researcher has no influce - time consuming method
42
Stratified sampling evaluation
+ representative sampling so generalisability is possible - the strata still doesnt represent individuality
43
Opportunistic evaluation
+ very convient and less time consuming - very unrepresentative as strata is taken from only one specific area so it cannot be generalised, researcher bias
44
Volunteer sampling evaluation
+requires minimal effort and doesnt consume much time(more engaged as well - volunteer bias: much more curious and trying to please researcher
45
What are ethical issues
Issues that occur during psychological research in which need for good results and ppt well being are in conflict
46
What are the 4 ethical issues
Informed consent: knowing the aims, procedures and their right to withdraw at any time as well as that their data is being protected Deception: Purposefully misleading or witholding information from ppt Protection from harm: Experiment should not cause any more threat of psychological, or physical harm then on a normal day privacy and confidentiality: right to their own data, if data is being used then personal data protected
47
What is the BPS code of conduct
British set of ethical guidelines which researchers upkeep in order to maintain their licence it is made by the ethics commit who use cost/ benefit approach
48
48
Dealing with informed consent
Consent letters given out with relevant information for the participant to decide wheter they want to take part or not
49
What are the other forms of consent
Used to ensure consent is given despite informed consent ruining the experiment Presumptive consent- getting similar people to the ppt and asking them if they would consent Prior general consent- ppt giving consent to a number of studies Retrospective consent- asking for consent after the study(debrief)
50
Dealing with deception & protection from harm
ppt given full debrief of what the real intentions and aims of the study were after, tell them what their data is being used for and that therapy is open for those who need it
51
Dealing with confidentiality
Data must be protected such as personal details which are not recorded instead given initals or numbers
52
What are pilot studies
small scaled studies which are used to test run the investigation to test the procedure, methods(also done for things like questionnaires).
53
What is a single blind trial
Any information that may create expectation is removed from the participants
54
What is a double blind trial
When neither the researcher or the participant knows the aims of the study to reduce investigator effects the study is usually carried out by an individual researcher

Alevel Psychology (7 decks)

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