Research Methods Flashcards
(48 cards)
1
Q
What is operationalisation?
A
- process which contructs that can’t be directly measured and redefined in a measurable way
2
Q
What is the difference between psychological and physiological questionnaires?
A
Psychological: more subjective
Physiological: more objective
3
Q
Outline the operationalisation process
A
- construct: concept being studied
- conceptual definition: theoretical definition of construct
- operational definition: how the construct is measured in study
4
Q
What is the difference between a strong and weak operationalisation?
A
Strong:
- discriminative
- supported by previous research
- use multiple questions to measure complex constructs
- explicit for replication
Weak:
- vague
- doesn’t cvapture complexity of concept
5
Q
List three common types of measurement
A
- self report
- observational
- physiological
6
Q
What is the self-report measurement?
A
- P provide info about themselves -> interview or questionnaire
- feelings/ actions reported with accuracy
7
Q
What is a negative of self reports?
A
- risk of response bias: tendency participants provide false or inaccurate response
8
Q
What are observational measurements?
A
- observer records participants behaviours
- multiple observers used to reduce bias
- different types: covert and overt
- more objective
9
Q
What are physiological measurements?
A
- records biological data
- uses specific hardware
10
Q
List some criticisms of physiological measurements
A
- expensive and less accessible
- Includes level of subjectivity
- reductionist
11
Q
What is nominal data?
A
- categorical data assigned numbers with no numeric meaning
- described using mode
12
Q
What is ordinal data?
A
- categorical data with some order
- no equal intervals between values
- described using median, mode or range
13
Q
What is interval data?
A
- numerical data
- values represent equal intervals between levels
- no true 0
- described using mean, median, range or SD
14
Q
What is ratio data?
A
- numerical data
- values have equal distance
- true 0 -> reflects absence of variable
- described using mean, median, mode or SD
15
Q
What are the 3 types of validity?
A
- content validity
- face validity
- construct validity
16
Q
What is construct validity?
A
- testing if construct truly captures construct of interest
- testing how correct what is measured
17
Q
What is face validity?
A
- does the construct appear to measure what it says to be measuring
- based on researcher’s subjectivity
18
Q
What is content validity?
A
- does the measure capture all elements of construct
- based on researcher’s subjectivity; considered after reviewing previous research on construct
19
Q
What is measurement error?
A
- instances measured value differs from true value
- measured value = true value + error
20
Q
What is random error?
A
- occurs due to chance
- natural variability in measurement process
- unpredictable & occurs equally in both areas
21
Q
How is random error reduced?
A
- taking lots of measurements
- using precise instruments
- control variables affecting constructs of interest
22
Q
What is systematic error?
A
- occurs consistently in same direction across all observations
- due to issues in data collection process
- identified & avoided with proper design strategies
23
Q
How do you limit the effects of systematic error?
A
- use multiple measures to collect data
- callibrate instruments consistently
- establish protocol & train experiments properly
24
Q
Tell me the research process
A
Theory -> research question -> hypothesis -> study design -> data collection -> analysis & inference
25
What should a good theory have?
- provide reasonable explanation for construct
- provide benefit beyond current theories
26
What are the characteristics of a good research question?
- fills gaps in literature
- answers in doubt
- answers with important practical implications
27
When does the research question stage occur?
- before the identification of a theory or after forming a hypothesis based on theory
28
What is a hypothesis?
Educated guess or prediction on natural phenomenon
29
What are the 3 characteristics of a strong hypothesis?
- testable
- falsifiable
- makes a prediction
30
What is a null hypothesis?
- no difference or effect any experimentally observed difference due to chance
31
What is an alternative hypothesis?
- there’s a relationship between variables
32
What is the difference between a directional and non-directional hypothesis?
Directional: predicts expected direction of effect
Non-directional: effect predicted but direction not specified
- two-tailed
33
What is an independent variable?
- variable manipulated by researcher; predictor
34
What is a dependent variable?
- variable measured by researcher; outcome
35
What is an extraneous variable?
- variable not intentionally being studied
36
What is a confound variable?
- extraneous variable could influence outcome of experiment
37
What are social variables?
Qualities of relationship between participants and experimenters
38
What is experimenter bias?
Experimenter’s behaviour giving cues for desired response or behaving differently towards participants in different conditions
39
What are the 5 ways to control confounding variables?
- elimination
- constancy
- balancing
- double-blinding
- statistically
40
What is the control condition?
- group where IV not manipulated by researcher
41
What is the experimental condition?
- groups where IV manipulated by experimenter
42
What is the placebo control condition?
- participant receive something similar to treatment but lack effectiveness
43
What is the waitlist control condition?
- participants placed on waitlist and told will receive treatment once experimental group receive it
44
What is the comparison with best alternative?
P receive all treatment but experimental group receive treatment being tested, control group receive best alternative available.
45
What is a type I error?
- reject H1 when fail to reject it
- conclude IV had an effect on DV when it didn’t
- data doesn’t accurately reflect what it is in the world
46
What is a population?
- entire group of interest
47
What is a sample?
- subset of the group investigated to form inferences about population
48
Why might a sample not generalise to population?
- biased sample
