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Psychology > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 4 types of experiments?

A
  • Lab
  • Field
  • Natural
  • Quasi
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2
Q

Describe Lab experiments

A
  • Experimenter manipulates the IV and measures the DV, both need to be operationalised.
  • Experimenter has high levels of control (can control the extraneous/cofounding variables)
  • meaning that the only difference between conditions is the IV
  • participants are randomly allocated to conditions
  • reduces any extraneous variables from participants which could affect the DV
  • other factors are also randomised such as the order of the stimuli and the order participants take part
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3
Q

Two strengths of a Lab experiment

A
  • the procedure can be easily replicated (due to high levels of control) - replication allows experimenters to check for reliability
  • internal validity is high (easier to control potential confounding variables) - sure that the only factor affecting the DV is the IV
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4
Q

Two weaknesses of the Lab experiment

A
  • reduces ecological validity (high level of control, IV and DV’s are more likely to become artificial so different from real life situations
  • demand characteristics (participants know they are being researched and may be inclined to work in a way they think is required) - Measurement of DV is not a true reflection of behaviour (reduces internal validity)
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5
Q

Describe Field experiments

A
  • carried out in natural environments ~ (schools, homes or on the street) improve realism
  • Researcher still manipulates the IV and measures the DV
  • Participants are usually aware they are participating
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6
Q

two strengths of the Field experiment

A
  • higher levels of ecological validity (Natural environment)~ results can be generalised to other situations
  • Demand characteristics are lower (participants are unaware they are taking part)~increases internal validity
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7
Q

a drawback of the field experiment

A
  • time consuming (may only be a small number of people around at certain times, may get participants who go to the area) ~reduces population validity
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8
Q

Describe a natural experiment

A
  • Naturally occurring events that create a change
  • researcher has no control over the IV
  • sometimes due to ethical and practical reasons this is the only suitable experiment
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9
Q

Two strengths of a natural experiment

A
  • high levels of ecological validity (take place in the natural surroundings, meaning that behaviour is more likely to be representative) ~results can be generalised to situations other than the experiment
  • Demand Characteristics are low in natural experiments (participants do not know they are in an experiment) increases internal validity
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10
Q

Two limitations of a natural experiment

A
  • desired behaviour being displayed is limited (no control over the situation) ~ hard to replicate to test for reliability
  • Not able to control extraneous variables (may impact the IV and DV) ~ reducing internal validity
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11
Q

What is a Quasi

A

use pre-existing IV
- can be in controlled or more natural conditions

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12
Q

Name observational techniques

A
  • naturalistic observation
  • Controlled observation
  • overt observation
  • Covert observation
  • participant observation
  • non-participant observation
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13
Q

Describe Naturalistic observation

A
  • researcher observing naturally occurring behaviour (Researcher does not get involved at all) ~ natural setting
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14
Q

Strength of naturalistic observation

A
  • high external validity (findings should be applicable to other similar settings) ~increased ecological validity
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15
Q

Limitation of naturalistic observation

A
  • not controlled by researchers
  • extraneous variables are not able to be controlled
  • may impact the DV
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16
Q

What is a controlled observation

A
  • researcher attempts to control certain variables
  • participants know they are being studied and they are usually carried out in a lab
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17
Q

Strength of controlled observation

A
  • high levels of control
  • variables and environment are controlled
  • allows the research to be replicated to check for reliability
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18
Q

Drawbacks of controlled observation

A
  • high levels of control
  • situation may not be a representative
  • findings lack external validity
  • lacking generalisability
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19
Q

Describe Overt observation

A
  • participants are aware they are being observed and they are usually aware of the nature and purpose of the research
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20
Q

Strength of Overt observation

A
  • makes it more ethical as they know they are being observed
  • easier to test for reliability
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21
Q

Limitations of Overt Observation

A
  • demonstrate demand characteristics
  • as they are aware they are being observed
  • change their behaviour to please experimenter
  • reduces validity
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22
Q

describe covert observations

A
  • when participants do not know that they are being observed
  • may involve the observer being hidden or behind two way glass
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23
Q

Strength of covert observations

A
  • more likely to demonstrate natural behaviour
  • unlikely to show demand characteristics
  • increases validity
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24
Q

Limitation of covert observations

A
  • raises ethical issues
  • make it more difficult to replicate to check for reliability
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25
Q

Describe Participant observation

A

observer joins the group of people being studied

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26
Q

Strength of participant observation

A
  • understand the behaviour shown in the correct context
  • increases validity
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27
Q

Weakness of participant observation

A

researcher spends a lot of time with the group so may develop subjective opinions which can affect objectivity of data

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28
Q

Describe Non-participant observation

A
  • observer remains external
  • records the data more objectively
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29
Q

strength of non-participant observation

A
  • more objective
  • investigator effects are less likely to affect results
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30
Q

limitation of non-participant observation

A
  • does not understand the context of the behaviour
  • less detailed (valuable data missed)
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31
Q

Name two self report techniques

A

Questionnaires
interviews

32
Q

Define self report techniques

A
  • enable people in the study to provide info knowingly about specific things relating to themselves
    “what they thought”
33
Q

Define a Questionnaire

A

printed series of questions used to gather opinions/attitudes/own behaviours about specific areas of interest

34
Q

Describe the key features of a questionnaire

A
  • can be distributed by telephone, post, internet or left for participants to collect
  • important to get a large representative sample
  • researcher does not need to be present
35
Q

How to construct a questionnaire

A
  • can produce both quantitative and qualitative data
  • closed questions (produce quantitative data) - researcher determines range of answers (tick box)
    -Open ended questions (qualitative data) - researcher does not restrict the range of answers
  • Leading questions should be avoided
36
Q

Strengths of using a Questionnaire

A
  • simplicity (minimum amount of training to administer) - closed questions can be easy to analyse - (can gather a large sample which makes the study more representative increasing population validity
  • less influence of interpersonal variables (people can do it alone so there answer isn’t influenced by other people)- reduces demand characteristics or socially desirable answers (internal validity increases)
37
Q

Weakness of a questionnaire

A
  • potential problems with question wording (people may interpret the question in different ways) - leading questions (reduce internal validity
  • Response rate (if sent out online or by post people who reply can be quite low) - sample is not representative
38
Q

Define an interview

A
  • gather info about what people know, feel or do about particular topic or issue
  • gathering more detailed info
39
Q

3 types of interviews

A

structured
semi structured
unstructured

40
Q

Describe a structured interview

A
  • same set of standardised questions in the same order
  • more quantitative
41
Q

Describe Semi-structured interviews

A
  • same questions for all interviewees
  • however there is flexibility in the order
  • allows interview to flow naturally
  • allows interviewee to give a more personal response
42
Q

Describe Unstructured interviews

A
  • More informal
  • Allowed to unfold in its own way
  • interviewee is largely in control
43
Q

Design of an interview

A

1) Preliminaries to the interview (clearly described the research question) - stated the aim
2) The question (appropriate set of questions)-(order, balance of type of questions)
3) interview procedure (identified and approached potential respondents, how its going to be recorded)

44
Q

Strengths of an interview

A
  • Accurate Data (after they spend time together, the interviewee may feel more comfortable giving honest answers) - increase internal validity
  • Detailed data (interviewer can ask open ended question)- (info can be clarified)
45
Q

Weaknesses of an interview

A
  • hard to analyse
  • interpersonal variables
46
Q

What are the 3 types of correlation

A

-Positive
-Negative
-Zero correlation

47
Q

What is a positive correlation

A

As one variable increases so does the other

48
Q

What is a negative correlation

A

As one variable decreases so does the other

49
Q

What is zero correlation

A

Shows no relationship between the 2 variables

50
Q

What is a coding unit?

A

The specific behaviors that you are going to count in the material chosen to be analysed e.g A word or phrase

51
Q

What is a pilot study?

A

A small scale study carried out with a restricted number of participants before the process of collecting data begins

52
Q

What are the aims of a pilot study?

A

To make sure the materials the researcher is planning to use are suitable and to identify any potential problems

53
Q

What issues is the researcher looking for in a pilot study?

A

Experiments
-Environment
-Surroundings
-Procedure being used
-Looking for a stimulus being used

Observations
-Reliability

Interviews
-Questions you ask

54
Q

What are the 5 different sampling techniques?

A

-Opportunity sampling
-Random sampling
Systematic sampling
-Stratified sample
-Volunteer sample

55
Q

What is opportunity sampling?

A

Participants are selected by using those people who are most easily available

56
Q

What is random sampling?

A

All members of the target population have an equal chance of being selected

57
Q

What is systematic sampling?

A

The researcher selects every nth participant from the list of participants who are available

58
Q

what is stratified sampling?

A

The sample reflects the key characteristics of the subgroups of the target population

59
Q

What is volunteer sampling?

A

A researcher will place an advert asking for volunteers for participants for their research

60
Q

What is an aim?

A

A general statement which outlines what is being investigated

61
Q

What is a hypothesis?

A

A specific prediction about the outcome of the investigation

62
Q

What is a directional hypothesis?

A

Predicts the direction of the results (e.g one condition of the if has a greater effect on the DV)

63
Q

What is a Non-directional hypothesis?

A

States there will be a difference, but not which condition will be faster/slower/less/more)

64
Q

What are the 6 ethical guidelines?

A

-Informed consent
-Deception
-Protection of participants
-Right to withdraw
-Debriefing
-Confidentiality

65
Q

What is informed consent?

A

When possible the investigators should inform all participants of the objectives of the investigation

66
Q

What is deception?

A

Withholding info or misleading participants

67
Q

What is protection of participants?

A

Participants must not be harmed by the investigation procedures: no stress or distress must be caused

68
Q

What is right to withdraw?

A

Participants must be made aware that they can withdraw from the investigation at any stage, refuse to continue during the procedure or withdraw their results after de briefing

69
Q

What is confidentiality?

A

Info obtained about participants during an investigation is confidential unless otherwise agreed in advance

70
Q

What info goes in an informed consent form?

A

-The topic being investigated
-Explain what they are expected to do during the study
-Explain anything that might affect the participant s willingness to participate
-Inform participants that their results and name will remain confidential
-Leave space for the participants to sign
-Give the participant the opportunity to ask any questions

71
Q

What information goes into a debriefing form?

A

-Thank participants for taking part
-Tell the participants the research question they were investigating
-Give participants the opportunity to ask any questions
-Lower participant’s levels of anxiety if needed and if necessary guide them to sources of support

72
Q

What is a peer review?

A

When research papers are subjected to independent scrutiny by other psychologists before publication

73
Q

What is reliability?

A

The consistency of the research

74
Q

What are the 2 types of reliability?

A

-Test-retest method
-Inter-observer reliability

75
Q
A

Psychology (11 decks)

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