Research Methods

Question 1

Coding: content analysis

Answer 1

Qualitative data put into categories, and then occurrences in each activity are counted

Question 2

Concurrent validity

Answer 2

Comparing new test with existing test (of same nature) to see if they produce simillar results: if they do then the test is said to have concurrent validity

Question 3

What are the 5 features of science?

Answer 3

Paradigms and paradigm shifts, theory construction and hypothesis testing, falsifiability, replicability, and objectivity and the empirical method

Question 4

What did Kuhn suggest about social sciences? (paradigm)

Answer 4

Lack universally accepted paradigm, and are a pre-science. Progress with in established science occurs when there is a scientific revolution

Question 5

Paradigms and psychology

Answer 5

Psychology has too much internal disagreement and has too many conflicting approaches to qualify as a science. Lacks universally accepted paradigms as their is often conflicting research.

Question 6

Theory construction and hypothesis testing

Answer 6

Key feature of a theory is that it should produce statements (hypotheses) which can then be tested. Only in this way can a theory be falsified.

Question 7

Falsifiability

Answer 7

Karl Popper. Principle that a theory cannot be considered scientific unless it admits the possibility of being proved untrue (false)

Question 8

Replicability

Answer 8

Replication used to asses validity of a finding. The extent to which scientific procedures can be repeated by other researchers.

Question 9

Objectivity and the empirical method

Answer 9

Objectivity: all sources of personal bias are minimised so as not to distort or influence the research process
Empirical method: scientific approaches that are based on the gathering of evidence through direct observation and experience

Question 10

Ecological validity

Answer 10

Extent to which findings from a research study can be generalised to other settings and situations

Question 11

Face validity

Answer 11

Basic form of validity in which a measure is scrutinised to determine whether it appears to measure what its supposed to measure

Question 12

Temporal validity

Answer 12

Extent to which findings from a research study can be generalised to other historical times and eras

Question 13

Inter-observer reliability

Answer 13

Extent to which there is agreement between observers involved in observations of a behaviour. Measured by correlating the observations. +0.8 high inter observer reliability

Question 14

Content analysis

Answer 14

Indirect study of of behaviour by examining communications that people produce e.g texts, emails, film

Question 15

Strength and weakness of content analysis

Answer 15

+ Gets around many ethical issues. Material already exists in the public domain so no issues with obtaining permission. External validity. Can produce qualitive and quantitative data
- Indirect study, analysed outside context of which it occurred. Researcher might attribute opinions to speaker that were not intended originally.