Research Methods

Question 1

What are the ethical issues in psychology?

Answer 1

Deception = withholding information/ being deliberately dishonest
Right to Withdraw = participants have the right to exit a study at any point if they feel uncomfortable
Informed Consent = giving comprehensive information (purpose/aim of research and role)
Protection from Harm = protected from physical/psychological harm
Privacy = All personal data is protected

Question 2

What are the ways of dealing with ethical issues?

Answer 2

1) Provide a debrief at the end to explain true aims.
- Include summary statement (explain how everything will be okay)
- Tell participant what happens next
2) Never include participants real name or initials
- Refer to them as numbers/letters
3) Provide participants with a consent letter

Question 3

What are the 3 alternatives that can be used instead of a consent form?

Answer 3

1) Presumptive consent = similar group of people are asked if the believe the study is acceptable
2) Prior general consent = give permission to take part on numerous different studies, including the real one
3) Retrospective consent = asked for consent during briefing, after taking part in the study

Question 4

What is random sampling?

Answer 4

• Everyone within a population has equal chance of being selected
• A list of all members within the target population is obtained
• All names are assigned a number
• Sample is generated using a lottery method

Question 5

What is systematic sampling?

Answer 5

• Every nth member of target population is selected from sampling frame
• Sampling frame is created (list of people in target population organised into an order, such as alphabetical)
• Sampling system is nominated based on number of people required for sample
• E.g. target population is 25 people and sample of 5 are needed, every 5th person on list will be chosen

Question 6

What is stratified sampling?

Answer 6

• Before, researcher must identify the different sub-groups in target population (e.g. gender, age)
• Proportions needed for sample to be representative are worked out
• Researcher calculates how many participants are needed from each subgroup to make up sample.
• These participants are selected randomly using a lottery method.

Question 7

What is opportunity sampling?

Answer 7

• Selecting anyone who happens to be willing or available to take part
• Researcher simply takes the chance to ask whoever is around when the study is taken place

Question 8

What is volunteer sampling?

Answer 8

• An advert is produced and published, e.g. in a newspaper
• Individuals self-select themselves
• Also called self-selection

Question 9

What is a directional hypothesis?

Answer 9

Testable statement that states the direction of the difference/relationship

Question 10

What is a non-directional hypothesis?

Answer 10

Testable statement that does not state the direction of the difference/relationship (used when there is no evidence of any previous research)

Question 11

What is a null hypothesis?

Answer 11

Testable statement that predicts that a statistically significant difference/relationship will not be found.

Question 12

What is the control condition in a study?

Answer 12

The condition that provides a baseline measure of behaviour without manipulation of the DV

Question 13

What is the experimental condition in a study?

Answer 13

The condition that involves manipulation of the IV

Question 14

What is an independent variable (IV)?

Answer 14

Variable that is manipulated by the researcher so that they can measure the effect on the DV

Question 15

What is a dependent variable (DV)?

Answer 15

Variable that is measured by the researcher. Any effect on DV should be a result of changes to IV