research methods

Question 1

experimental method

Answer 1

manipulation of an IV to measure the effect on the DV

Question 2

types of experiments

Answer 2

lab
natural
quasi
field

Question 3

aim

Answer 3

general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate, purpose of study

Question 4

hypothesis

Answer 4

clear, precise, testable statement that states the relationship between the variables to be investigated

Question 5

directional hypothesis

Answer 5

states the direction of the difference or relationship

Question 6

non-directional hypothesis

Answer 6

does not state the direction of difference or relationship

Question 7

variables

Answer 7

any thing that can vary or change within an investigation
generally used in experiments to determine if changes in one thing result in changes to another

Question 8

independent variable

Answer 8

some aspect of experimental situation that is manipulated by the researcher or changes naturally so the effect on DV can be measured

Question 9

dependent variable

Answer 9

variable that is measured by the researcher
any effect on DV should be caused by the change in the IV

Question 10

operationalisation

Answer 10

clearly defining variables that states how they can be measured

Question 11

extraneous variables

Answer 11

any variable, other than the IV that may affect the DV if it is not controlled
EVs essentially the nuisance variables that do not vary systematically with the IV

Question 12

confounding variables

Answer 12

a kind of EV but variables vary systematically with the IV
we cannot tell if any change in the DV is due to the IV or CV

Question 13

demand characteristics

Answer 13

Features of a piece of research which allow the participants to work out its aim and/or
hypothesis. Participants may then change
their behaviour and so frustrate the aim of the research

Question 14

investigator effects

Answer 14

any effect of the investigator’s behaviour (conscious/unconscious) on the research outcome
may include everything from the design of study to the selection of, and interaction with, participants during the research process

Question 15

randomisation

Answer 15

the use of chance methods to control for the effects of bias when designing materials and deciding the order of experimental conditions

Question 16

standardisation

Answer 16

using exactly the same formalised procedures and instructions for all participants in a research study

Question 17

experimental designs

Answer 17

the different ways in which participants can be organised in relation to the experimental conditions

Question 18

independent groups design

Answer 18

participants are allocated to different groups where each group represents one experimental condition

Question 19

repeated measures

Answer 19

all participants take part in all conditions of the experiment

Question 20

matched pairs design

Answer 20

pairs of participants are first matched on some variables that may affect the dependent variable
one member of the pair is assigned to condition A and the other to condition B

Question 21

random allocation

Answer 21

an attempt to control for participant variables in an independent groups design which ensures that each participant has the same chance of being in one condition as any other

Question 22

counterbalancing

Answer 22

an attempt to control for the impact of order effects in a repeated measures design

Question 23

cons of repeated measures + how to fix

Answer 23

demand characteristics - randomisation

effects of order - counterbalancing

Question 24

pros of repeated measure

Answer 24

no individual differences

no participant variables

less time consuming

Question 25

cons of independent groups + how to fix

Answer 25

participant variables - change to matched pairs more expensive

Question 26

pros of independent groups design

Answer 26

eliminate order effects less time consuming

Question 27

cons of matched pairs

Answer 27

time consuming more expensive some individual differences

Question 28

pros of matched pairs

Answer 28

control of individual diferences

Question 29

pros of lab experiment

Answer 29

high control over CV + EV replication is possible

Question 30

cons of lab experiment

Answer 30

artificial demand characteristics low mundane realism

Question 31

pros of field experiment

Answer 31

higher mundane realism than lab participants unaware

Question 32

cons of field experiment

Answer 32

loss of control over CV and EV ethical issues difficult to generalise

Question 33

pros of natural experiment

Answer 33

provide opportunities for research that may not otherwise be undertaken for practical and ethical reasons high external validity

Question 34

cons of natural experiment

Answer 34

naturally occurring event may only happen very rarely participants cant be randoly generalised may be conducted in a lab

Question 35

pros of quasi-experiment

Answer 35

carried out under controlled conditions

Question 36

cons of quasi-experiment

Answer 36

cannot random allocate IV is not deliberately changed by researcher

Question 37

bias

Answer 37

when certain groups are over/under-represented within the sample selected limits the extent to which generalisations can be made to the target population

Question 38

generalisation

Answer 38

the extent to which findings and conclusions from a particular investigation can be broadly applied to the population

Question 39

name the different types of sampling

Answer 39

random systematic stratified opportunity volunteer

Question 40

random sampling

Answer 40

ppts have equal chance of being selected

Question 41

systematic

Answer 41

every nth ppts

Question 42

stratified

Answer 42

composition of sample reflects the proportions of people in certain subgroups within target population

Question 43

opportunity

Answer 43

anyone who is willing and available

Question 44

volunteer

Answer 44

participants selecting themselves

Question 45

pros of random sampling

Answer 45

potentially unbiased

Question 46

cons of random sampling

Answer 46

difficult and time consuming participants refuse to take part sample might still be unrepresentative

Question 47

pros of systematic sampling

Answer 47

objective

Question 48

cons of systematic sampling

Answer 48

time consuming participants refuse to take part unrepresentative

Question 49

pros of stratified sampling

Answer 49

representative sample

Question 50

cons of stratified sampling

Answer 50

complete representation of the target population is not possible identified strata cannot reflect all the ways the people are different

Question 51

pros of opportunity sampling

Answer 51

convenient less time consuming

Question 52

cons of opportunity sampling

Answer 52

unrepresentative researcher bias

Question 53

pros of volunteer sampling

Answer 53

easy less time-consuming participants more engaged

Question 54

cons of volunteer sampling

Answer 54

demand characteristics same personality type

Question 55

name ethical issues

Answer 55

informed consent deception protection from harm privacy and confidentiality

Question 56

pilot studies

Answer 56

small-scale trial run of actual investigation check procedures, materials, measuring scales allow researcher to make changes or modifications

Question 57

single-blind study

Answer 57

participants not told the aim researcher knows

Question 58

double-blind

Answer 58

both researcher and participants do not know the aim

Question 59

types of observation techniques

Answer 59

naturalistic controlled covert over participant non-participant

Question 60

pros of naturalistic observation

Answer 60

high external validity

Question 61

cons of naturalistic observation

Answer 61

lack of control over variables make replication hard

Question 62

pros of controlled observation

Answer 62

control of variables replication

Question 63

cons of controlled observation

Answer 63

findings cannot be adapted to real life

Question 64

pros of covert observation

Answer 64

participants unaware they are being watched no demand characteristics internal validity

Question 65

cons of covert observation

Answer 65

ethics

Question 66

pros of overt observation

Answer 66

more ethically acceptable

Question 67

cons of overt observation

Answer 67

knowledge that participants have may act as a significant influence on their behaviour

Question 68

pros of participants observation

Answer 68

give researchers increased insight into peoples lives external validity

Question 69

cons of participant observation

Answer 69

researcher may come to identify too strongly with those they are studying and lose objectivity

Question 70

pros of non-participant

Answer 70

maintain objective psychological distance less danger of them going naive

Question 71

cons of non-participant

Answer 71

lose valuable insight too far from people and behaviour

Question 72

strengths of correlation

Answer 72

useful preliminary tool for research by assessing strength and direction of a relationship quick and economical secondary data can be used

Question 73

limitation of correlation

Answer 73

lack of experimental manipulation and control within a correlation can only tell us how variables are related but not why third variable misused misinterpreted

Question 74

positively skewed

Answer 74

long tail on the right

Question 75

negatively skewed

Answer 75

long tail on the left

Question 76

what is a type 1 error

Answer 76

lenient too much chance false positive falsely reject null

Question 77

what is a type 2 error

Answer 77

strict no room for chance false negative falsely accept null