research methods 2

Question 1

cons to cat scans

Answer 1

• high radiation

- no info on activity

Question 2

cons to PET scans

Answer 2

• interpretation difficulties
• can’t pinpoint locations
• may damage tissues

Question 3

cons to FMRI scans

Answer 3

• expensive
• person has to stay very still
• time lag may cause interpretation difficulties

Question 4

CAT scan

Answer 4

Structure

• Xrays beams creat cross sectional images of the brain
• 20-30 mins on scanner table
• Injection, black dye to highlight blood vessels

Question 5

PET scan

Answer 5

Function

• Scanner detects radioactive material
• Oxygen and glucose accumulate in metabolically active parts
• Radioactive material breaks down and gives off positron and neutron
• When positron hits electron gamma rays released and detected by gamma ray detectors as it moves to the part fo the brain that are working at that moment

Question 6

FMRI scan

Answer 6

function

• Detects change in blood oxygenation
• Increased activity = increased o2 levels
• Shows which part of the brain is involved in particular process’
• head may be placed in brace to steady

Question 7

case studies

Answer 7

• descriptive research fro analysis of group or person
• good/specific/detailes
• not generalisable
• does not conduct empirical research

Question 8

cross sectional data

Answer 8

• ppts diff age same time
• less time consuming
• individual differences
• cohort effect

Question 9

longitudinal data

Answer 9

• measured over specific time period at certain intervals
• time consuming
• high attrition rates

Question 10

meta-analysis

Answer 10

statistical data from multiple studies

• identify common effect
• improves estimates
• only selection of studies (bias)
• research aims and methodologies can be somewhat different

Question 11

cross cultural

Answer 11

• study of behaviour and mental processes under different cultural conditions
• establish behaviour patterns
• highlights bio cause of AN
• subjectivity so lacks validity

Question 12

order effects

Answer 12

differences in research participants’ responses that result from the order in which the experimental materials are presented to them

Question 13

spearman

Answer 13

• relationship

- ordinal

Question 14

mann whitney U

Answer 14

• independant groups design
• difference
• ordinal

Question 15

chi2

Answer 15

• independant
• difference/relationship
• nominal

Question 16

wilcoxon

Answer 16

• repeated/matched pairs
• difference
• ordinal

Question 17

nathaniel 2007 - grounded theory

Answer 17

Glaser and Strauss 1960s

1. gathered info from nurses
2. codes and categories were drawn from data
3. researchers code everything in the same way until patterns are seen
4. as more patterns are discovered the codes become more specific
5. researchers memo their work adding comments to try and develop an idea of what research is
6. this helps identify links between different concepts that are emerging
7. once a clear theoretical concept has emerged researchers will conduct more research around that theory

Question 18

Evaluate grounded theory

Answer 18

evidence integrated into a theory so increased validity

• long time
• researchers biased if based off subjective opinion and not actually grounded
• by selectively sampling data researchers are forcing data to support this theory and may unintentionally miss crucial evidence
• reliability issue as same person may come to a different conclusion

Question 19

inductive method for grounded theory

Answer 19

research is conducted to gather info about something and theory emerges gradually from data as it is gathered and analysed

Question 20

objectivity

Answer 20

= researchers remain natural and unbiased when investigating a topic
field and lab = quantitative = objective
case study = qualitative = subjective

Question 21

credibility

Answer 21

= research is credible if it is valid and objective and reliable

Question 22

conventions of published psychological research

Answer 22

Abstract
summary of the study covering aims hypothesis, method, results, conclusions

introduction
outlines what a researcher intends to investigate
review of related research

aims and hypothesis
focus of the review should lead logically to the aims so reader is convinced of the reasons for this particular research

method
design
sample
apparatus
procedure

results
what researchers found, includes descriptive statistics (tables, graphs, significance level)

discussion
include;
summary of results
consideration of relationship to previous research
possible methodological problems and improvements
suggestions from future research
applications to real world

references
list of other articles, books and or websites referred to

appendices
contains examples of materials e.g. questionnaire, standardised instructions, calculations

Question 23

peer review

Answer 23

assessment of scientific work by others who are experts in the same field
- to ensure any research that is conducted and published is of high quality

Question 24

the decision about whether to publish a research article depends on:

Answer 24

• the article being seen to make significant contribution to knowledge
• the strength of the methodology and results analysis
• usefulness of the conclusion that are drawn
• whether the study follows ethical guidelines

Question 25

pros and cons of peer review

Answer 25

• allows for replication by other researchers
• criticisms of methodology mean original researchers revise their producers and enhance validity
• anonymous to honest and objective
• anonymous so researchers may try to bury or sabotage rival research

Question 26

ethics in criminological

Answer 26

protection of participants
real life crimes = unethical so use film clip however, film clip can remind them of past similar experience

deception and consent

• deception minimises demand characteristics which increases validity
• when there is deception there is lack of informed consent as not aware of nature and consequences

right to withdraw

• less of an issue in field exp as they are likely to experience the situation in their everyday life
• lab and case studies studies should always offer R2W

Question 27

animal legislations

Answer 27

• researchers use species most suited (as little as possible)
• housed in naturalistic environments
• supplied from breeding establishments
• after care maintained

Question 28

practical issues with animals

Answer 28

• small and easy to handle
• short lifespan
• similar brain structure
• human lives are complex and do not occur in isolation

Question 29

ethical issues with animals

Answer 29

• not in natural surroundings so distressed

- ethical guidelines try to limit this

Question 30

skewed distribution

Answer 30

when the values in data do not conform to a normal distribution