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AQA Psychology: 16 Marker Essay Plans > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

Outline 4 experimental methods

A

Lab: controlled environment, IV manipulated, DV measured

Field: real world setting, IV manipulated, DV measured

Natural: IV not manipulated by researcher, DV measured in real life setting

Quasi: IV is naturally occurring and not manipulated

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2
Q

evaluate lab exp

A

+ high control and replicable
- low ecological validity
- demand characteristics

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3
Q

evaluate field exp

A

+ high ecological validity
- less control
- ethical issues e.g. consent
- hard to replicate

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4
Q

evaluate natural exp

A

+ can study variables that cant be manipulated for ehtical reasons
- no control over Iv
- hard to replicate

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5
Q

evaluate quasi exp

A

+ allows comparisons between pre-existing groups
- p variables may confound resutls

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6
Q

outline types of experimental design

A

independant groups: diff P in each conditions
repeated measures: same P in all conditions
matched pairs: P matched on key variables and then split into groups

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7
Q

evaluate independant groups exp design

A

+ no order effects
- P variables effect results

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8
Q

eval repeated measures exp design

A

+ control P variables as its the same people
- order effects
- demand characteristics more likely

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9
Q

eval matched pairs exp design

A

+ less P variability than independant design
- time consuming
- difficult to match people perfectly

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10
Q

how can you control variables in independant groups and repeated measures

A

IG: random allocation
RM: counterbalancing to mange order effects

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11
Q

define operationalisation + eval

A

defining variables in measurable, testable terms
e.g. memory as num of words recalled
+ essential for reliability and validity > if variables arent clearly defined its hard to replicate

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12
Q

define extraneous variables and eval

A

unwanted variables that could effect DV and vary systematically with the IV
- can reduce internal valdity (IV causing change in DV)

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13
Q

define confounding variables

A

extraneous variables that DO effect the DV and vary systematically with the IV

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14
Q

define demand characteristics

A

P guess the aim of study and change behaviour
causing reduction in the internal validity

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15
Q

define investigator effects

A

researcher unconsciously influences P

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16
Q

define standardisation + eval

A

ensuring all P treated the same so reliabiltiy and controls are increased

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17
Q

define randomisation

A

using change to redcue bias and order effect (RM)

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18
Q

O and E random sampling

A

every member of population has equal chances of being selected
+ unbiased, more representative
- could be unrepresentative by chance
- time consuming

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19
Q

O and E systematic sampling

A

every nth person is selected from a list
+ reduces researcher bias
+ straight forward
- may not be truly unbiased depending on the list

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20
Q

OandE stratified sampling

A

population divided into subgroups and P selected randomly in proportion
+ more representative
- requires prior knowledge of population structure

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21
Q

OandE opportunity sample

A

uses P who are readily available
+ quick and convenient
- biased
- not representative
- lacks generalisability

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22
Q

OandE volunteer sample

A

P self select by responding to advert or request
+ easy and ethical
- volunteer bias (more helpful/motivated people take part)

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23
Q

whats informed consent and how do you deal with it

A

P must be told what the study involves and agree to take part
- can use consent forms or presumptive consent (asking a similar group if they would consent)

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24
Q

whats deception and how do you deal with it

A

P must not be misled unless justified; must be debriefed
- debrief after + right to withdraw

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25
whats right to withdraw and how do you deal with it
P can leave at any time and withdraw data - make it clear before and after study
26
whats protection from harm and how do you deal with it
P shouldnt experience any physical or psychological harm - screen P, stop study if distress noticed
27
whats confidentiality and how do you deal with it
P data is kept private and anonymous - use numbers/aliases instead of real name
28
whats privacy
researcher shouldnt invade private life of P without consent
29
why would ethical costs be justified
if the study has major scientific or social value
30
whats a pilot study and why is it carried out
a small scale study of the full study carried out to: - identify flaws in design, methods, materials, instructions etc - check clarity of questions, timing - ensure standardisation is achievable
31
benefits of pilot studies
- imporves internal validity by helping to identify confounding variables or unclear procedures - saves time and money by fixing issues early on - increases reliability by helping to standardise procedures - ethical prep as it can highlight risks to P
32
OandE naturalistic observations
observing behaviour in a natural environment withut interference + high ecological validity - less control over variables - harder to replicate
33
OandE controlled observation
observation in a structured environment + greater control over variables + more replicable - lower ecological validity
34
OandE covert observation
P do not know theyre being observed + reduces demand characteristics - lack of consent
35
OandE overt observation
P know theyre being observed + more ethical - behaviour may be unnatural
36
OandE participant observation
researcher becomes part of the group being studied + researcher gains insider perspective - risk of losing objectivity
37
OandE non-particpant observation
researcher remains seperate from P + maintains objectivity - may miss key behavours due to lack of involvement
38
OandE quantitative data
numerical data + easy to analyse statistically + objective - may lack depth or context
39
OandE qualitative data
descriptive data + deeper understanding + detailed - subjective interpretation - harder to analyse
40
OandE primary data
data collected firsthand + tailored to research aims + greater control over method - time consuming - costly
41
OandE secondary data
data collected by someone else, used by the researcher + easy to access + less time - may be outdated or irrelevant or biased
42
whats triangulation
using both quan and qual data to get a more complete picture which increases the valdity
43
what are the central measures of tendency
mean mode median
44
OandE mean as a measure of central tendency
arithmetic average + uses all data - representative - affected by outliers
45
OandE mode as a measure of central tendency
most frequently occurring value + useful for categorical data -unrepresentative in small samples
46
OandE median as a measure of central tendency
middle value in an ordered data set + not affected by outliers - doesnt consider all values
47
OandE the range as a measure of dispersion
difference between highest and lowest values + simple and quick - affected by extremes, ignores distribution
48
OandE standard deviation as a measure of dispersion
average spread of scores from the mean + precise measure of variability - more complex to calculate
49
when should you use mean + SD
when data is normally distributed
50
when should you use median + range
when data is skewed
51
what are correlations
statistical technique that shows relationship between two variables
52
positive corelation
as X increases so does Y
53
negative correlation
as X increases, Y decreases
54
zero correlation
no relationship between X and Y
55
evaluate using correlations
+ useful to identify relationships + quick and easy with secondary data + can be done when experiments are unethical or impossible - doesnt show cause and effect - misinterpretations - no explanation why variables re related
56
whats content analysis
type of observational research where you indirectly observe people via written, verbal or visual communications
57
process of content analysis
1. choose sample 2. create categories 3. count how many times ctegories appear 4. optionally interpret the content for meaning
58
evaluate content analysis
+ can use on secondary data + both quan and qual data + ethical - researcher bias in interpretations - may lack context - time consuming
59
whats thematic analysis
qualitiative method to identify, analyse and report themes or patterns in data
60
process of thematic analysis
1. familiarise with data 2. generate initial codes 3. search for themes among codes 4. review, define and name themes 5. produce report or analysis
61
evaluate thematic analysis
+ detailed insights into P experiences + flexibly used across diff data types + captures meaning and emotion - subjective interpretation - time consuming - researcher bias when selecting themes
62
whats reliability
consistency of results over time or across researchers
63
outline test-retest reliability
giving the same test to the same people at diff times and comparing scores
64
outline inter-rater reliability
two or more observers record behaviour and compare results for consistency
65
how can you improve reliability
- use standardised procedures - improve clarity of questions or coding categories - train observers thoroughly
66
whats validity
whether or not we are measuring what we think we are measuring
67
internal validity
whether the results are due to IV and not extraneous variables
68
external validity
can findings be generalised to other settings, people, times
69
ecological validity
do findings reflect real life behaviour
70
temporal validity
are results relevant over time
71
concurrent validity
do results correlate with a well-established test
72
face validity
does it look like it measures what its supposed to (subjective)
73
how can you improve validity of experiments
control extraneous variables using a placebo random allocation
74
how can you improve validity of questionnaires
anonymous responses no leading questions
75
how can you improve the validity of observations
covert observations clarify behavioural categories
76
how can you improve the validity of qualitative researcj
triangulation
77
whats an abstract
short summary of entire report including aims, methods results and conclusions
78
whats in intro in terms of a scientific report
includes hypothesis and aims of experiment background theory
79
method in a scietifc report
enough detail to enable replicability
80
results in a scientific report
include inferential stats
81
whats a discussion in terms of a scientific report
explains findings in relation to aims, strengths and weaknesses aswell as implications etc
82
format of a reference
Author, (Year). Title of article. title of journal. volume(issue). page numbers

AQA Psychology: 16 Marker Essay Plans (7 decks)

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