Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Psychology A-level {AQA} > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

(82 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

🎯 What is an aim in psychological research?

A

An aim is a general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

💡 What does an aim usually start with?

A

It usually begins with a statement like: ‘To investigate whether…’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

📊 What is a hypothesis?

A

A testable statement predicting the relationship between variables.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

➕ What is a directional hypothesis?

A

Predicts the direction of the results (e.g., ‘greater than’, ‘more’, ‘faster’).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

🔁 What is a non-directional hypothesis?

A

States there will be a difference but doesn’t predict the direction.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

❌ What is a null hypothesis?

A

States there will be no difference or relationship between the variables.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

🔍 AO3: Why are hypotheses important in research?

A

They provide a clear focus for the study, making the research more scientific and replicable.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

🔄 What is a variable in psychological research?

A

Anything that can change or be manipulated, measured, or controlled in an experiment.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

🧪 What is the independent variable (IV)?

A

The variable that is manipulated by the researcher to observe its effect.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

📏 What is the dependent variable (DV)?

A

The variable that is measured by the researcher, affected by changes in the IV.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

🌫️ What is an extraneous variable (EV)?

A

A variable other than the IV that could affect the DV if not controlled.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

🚫 What is a confounding variable (CV)?

A

A variable that has not been controlled and actually affects the DV, confounding the results.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

🧠 AO3: Why is controlling variables important?

A

To ensure internal validity – that the changes in the DV are due to the IV and not other factors.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

⚙️ What is operationalisation?

A

The process of clearly defining variables in a way that they can be measured.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

📏 Why is operationalisation important?

A

It ensures the variables are measurable and allows replication of the study.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

🧠 AO3: What is a potential issue with operationalisation?

A

If done poorly, it may not truly reflect the concept being studied, affecting validity.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

👥 What is a sample in psychological research?

A

A group of participants selected from the target population to take part in the study.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

🎯 What is a target population?

A

The larger group from which a sample is drawn and to which the researcher wants to generalise findings.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

🎲 What is random sampling?

A

Every member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

✅ Advantage of random sampling?

A

Reduces researcher bias – increases representativeness if large enough.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

❌ Limitation of random sampling?

A

May still produce unrepresentative samples by chance. Can be time-consuming.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

🚶 What is opportunity sampling?

A

Participants are selected based on who is available and willing at the time.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

✅ Advantage of opportunity sampling?

A

Quick and convenient to carry out.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

❌ Limitation of opportunity sampling?

A

Prone to bias – not representative of the population.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
📝 What is volunteer (self-selecting) sampling?
Participants choose to take part, often by responding to adverts or notices.
26
✅ Advantage of volunteer sampling?
Easy to conduct and ethical – participants consent themselves.
27
❌ Limitation of volunteer sampling?
Leads to volunteer bias – participants may be more motivated or different from general population.
28
📊 What is stratified sampling?
The population is divided into strata (e.g. age, gender) and a proportional sample is randomly taken from each.
29
✅ Advantage of stratified sampling?
Very representative of key characteristics – reduces bias.
30
❌ Limitation of stratified sampling?
Time-consuming and difficult to identify relevant strata accurately.
31
🏛️ What is a laboratory experiment?
An experiment conducted in a highly controlled environment where the IV is manipulated.
32
✅ Strength of lab experiments?
High control of variables – easier to establish cause and effect.
33
❌ Limitation of lab experiments?
Lacks ecological validity – artificial setting may affect behaviour.
34
🌳 What is a field experiment?
An experiment conducted in a natural environment where the IV is still manipulated.
35
✅ Strength of field experiments?
Higher ecological validity – behaviour more natural.
36
❌ Limitation of field experiments?
Less control over variables – harder to replicate.
37
🌍 What is a natural experiment?
The IV occurs naturally and is not manipulated by the researcher.
38
✅ Strength of natural experiments?
Allows research into variables that would be unethical or impractical to manipulate.
39
❌ Limitation of natural experiments?
Lack of control – limits ability to infer cause and effect.
40
🔖 What is a quasi-experiment?
The IV is based on an existing difference (e.g. gender) and is not manipulated.
41
✅ Strength of quasi-experiments?
Useful when IVs cannot be ethically or practically manipulated.
42
❌ Limitation of quasi-experiments?
Cannot randomly allocate participants – may involve confounding variables.
43
🔁 What is repeated measures design?
Same participants take part in all conditions of the experiment.
44
✅ Strength of repeated measures?
Reduces participant variables and requires fewer participants.
45
❌ Weakness of repeated measures?
Order effects (e.g., fatigue or practice) may influence results.
46
👬 What is independent groups design?
Different participants are used in each condition of the experiment.
47
✅ Strength of independent groups?
No order effects – each participant only does one condition.
48
❌ Weakness of independent groups?
Participant variables may affect the results; more participants needed.
49
🔗 What is matched pairs design?
Participants are paired based on similar characteristics, with each person doing a different condition.
50
✅ Strength of matched pairs?
Reduces participant variables and avoids order effects.
51
❌ Weakness of matched pairs?
Time-consuming to match participants and can't match on all variables.
52
🧪 What is a pilot study?
A small-scale trial run of the investigation to identify and fix issues before the real study.
53
👥 Why are pilot studies important?
They allow researchers to refine procedures, check timing, and test materials.
54
⚖️ Name 3 ethical issues in psychology.
Informed consent, deception, protection from harm, confidentiality, right to withdraw.
55
📜 How are ethical issues addressed in studies?
Through informed consent forms, debriefs, ethics committees, and right to withdraw reminders.
56
✍️ What is qualitative data?
Non-numerical data that provides rich detail, e.g., interview transcripts.
57
📊 What is quantitative data?
Numerical data that can be statistically analysed, e.g., test scores.
58
📥 What is primary data?
Data collected directly by the researcher for the purpose of the investigation.
59
📤 What is secondary data?
Data that already exists, such as journal articles or government stats.
60
✅ Strength of qualitative data?
Provides rich, detailed insights into thoughts and behaviours.
61
❌ Weakness of qualitative data?
Harder to analyse – may be subjective or difficult to summarise.
62
✅ Strength of quantitative data?
Easier to analyse statistically and more objective.
63
❌ Weakness of quantitative data?
Lacks depth – may oversimplify complex behaviours.
64
✅ Advantage of primary data?
Specifically collected for the study – more relevant and up-to-date.
65
❌ Disadvantage of primary data?
Time-consuming and expensive to collect.
66
✅ Advantage of secondary data?
Quick, easy, and inexpensive to obtain.
67
❌ Disadvantage of secondary data?
May be outdated, biased, or not specific to the research aims.
68
📈 What is the mean?
The average of a data set – total of all scores divided by number of scores.
69
📊 What is the median?
The middle score in a ranked data set.
70
🔢 What is the mode?
The most frequently occurring score in the data set.
71
📏 What is the range?
The difference between the highest and lowest values in the data set.
72
📉 What is standard deviation?
A measure of the spread of scores around the mean.
73
📊 What is a bar chart used for?
Displaying categorical (discrete) data – bars are separate.
74
📉 What is a histogram used for?
Showing continuous data – bars touch.
75
🔁 What is a scattergram used for?
Displaying correlation between two variables.
76
🧪 What is the sign test used for?
A statistical test used to analyse repeated measures data with a nominal level of measurement.
77
🔢 What is a critical value in statistics?
The value the test result must reach to be considered statistically significant.
78
📉 What is the p-value?
The probability that the results occurred by chance. Usually, p ≤ 0.05 is considered significant.
79
👨‍🔬 What is peer review?
The assessment of research by others who are experts in the same field to ensure validity and quality.
80
✅ Advantage of peer review?
Prevents publication of flawed or invalid research – improves scientific credibility.
81
❌ Limitation of peer review?
May be biased or influenced by rivalries or status of researchers.
82
💷 How can psychological research impact the economy?
Improving mental health treatments, reducing unemployment, and boosting productivity.

Psychology A-level {AQA} (12 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions