Research Methods

Question 1

Meaning of aim of investigation?

Answer 1

The intent of the study in general terms

Question 2

Meaning of hypothesis

Answer 2

A prediction (more specific than an aim)

Question 3

3 types of hypothesis

Answer 3

• Directional hypothesis
• Non-directional hypothesis
• Null hypothesis

Question 4

Directional hypothesis

Answer 4

Predicts the direction in which results will occur

Question 5

Non-directional hypothesis

Answer 5

Does not predict the direction of the outcome

Question 6

Null hypothesis

Answer 6

Would predict that the IV would have no effect

Question 7

What is a Dependent variable?

Answer 7

The variable the researcher changes

Question 8

What is a Independent variable?

Answer 8

The variable manipulated by the experimenter that is presumed effect the DV

Question 9

Extraneous variables meaning

Answer 9

External factors not considered an independent variable that can affect the dependent variables or controlled conditions

Question 10

Examples of extraneous variables

Answer 10

• Order effect
• Demand Characteristics
• Social Desirability bias
• Investigator effect

Question 11

Social Desirability bias meaning

Answer 11

Participants may not respond truthfully in an attempt to make themselves look better

Question 12

Investigator effect meaning

Answer 12

When the Investigator can get too involved in the experiment resulting in a change of results

Question 13

Order effect meaning

Answer 13

Occurs in a repeated measure where the difference in positioning of tasks affects the final result

Question 14

Practice effect

Answer 14

Improvement in cognitive test due to repeated exposure to tasks

Question 15

Boredom effect

Answer 15

Boredom of the task might skew results

Question 16

what are demand characteristics?

Answer 16

They are cues that might indicate what the study is about to the participant (leading to participant reactivity)

Question 17

Participant reactivity meaning

Answer 17

occurs when participants have been placed in an experiment situation and try to make sense of it and try to predict the outcome and respond accordingly

Question 18

Please-U effect

Answer 18

The participant attempts not to ruin experiment and therefore tries to confirm experimenter hypothesis

Question 19

Screw-U effect

Answer 19

The participant attempts to ruin experimenter’s hypothesis to destroy the credibility of the study

Question 20

Case study meaning

Answer 20

Collected through in-depth study of an individual, group of people or institution carried out in the real world. They are idiographic and individualistic

Question 21

Meaning of Idiographic

Answer 21

Understanding individuals in their unique context.

Question 22

Meaning of Individualistic

Answer 22

more interested in individual people than in society as a whole

Question 23

How can confidentiality of participants of a case study be achieved?

Answer 23

By making sure individuals are non-identifiable when reporting the case study using different names etc

Question 24

pros of Case studies

Answer 24

• They are in-depth and this holistic approach is liked by humanist psychoogists who believe it gives a good insight into a person’s experience
• The result of one unusual case study can result in an established theory
• Can be the only method of ethically investigate unusual or extreme human behaviours

Question 25

Operationalisation meaning

Answer 25

Defining the variables in such a way that they can be precisely measured and tested

Question 26

Sampling meaning

Answer 26

The process of selecting participants from a target population

Question 27

Process of sampling

Answer 27

1) Target population of experiment selected 2) Made smaller by using a sampling frame (e.g yearbooks, phone book) 3) Sample is taken from the sampling frame and these are going to be the participants for the research

Question 28

Why is sampling used as a method to get participants?

Answer 28

This is used because it is too hard and expensive to test everyone and therefore a fraction of people get tested and the result is generalised

Question 29

All sampling procedures

Answer 29

- Simple random sampling - Systematic random sampling - Volunteer sampling - Opportunity sampling - Stratified sampling

Question 30

How can confidentiality of participants of a case study be achieved?

Answer 30

By making sure the individuals are non-identifiable in reports of the case study, which can be done by using different names

Question 31

Main limitation of case studies?

Answer 31

They are unique to each individual so the results are hard to generalise