Research Methods

Question 0

Deception

Answer 0

Lying to someone so they don’t know what’s going on and can’t make their own decision

Question 1

Informed consent

Answer 1

Telling someone everything they need to know to make a decision

Question 2

Protection from harm

Answer 2

Can’t harm the patient physically or mentally anymore then they could be on an everyday basis

Question 3

Confidentiality

Answer 3

Publishing results anonymously so all participants names are protected

Question 4

Right to withdraw

Answer 4

Being able to leave an experiment at anytime without having your results published

Question 5

Ethics

Answer 5

What’s morally right or wrong

Question 6

Debriefing

Answer 6

Telling the participant after the research what it was about to see if they have concerns and can withdraw

Question 7

Presumptive consent

Answer 7

Asking a group of people if they feel a planned study is acceptable. If they say yes you presume you can do it on a different group

Question 8

Aim

Answer 8

Main focus area of your study

Question 9

Hypothesis

Answer 9

A prediction about what will happen

Question 10

Directional hypothesis

Answer 10

A clear prediction of the results. Eg Boys will have higher grades then girls in the exams

Question 11

Non directional hypothesis

Answer 11

No clear direction in prediction. Eg boys will have different results then girls in exams

Question 12

Independent variable

Answer 12

Something you change

Question 13

Dependent variable

Answer 13

Something you measure

Question 14

Operational

Answer 14

Make your hypothesis specific enough to test

Question 15

Lab experiment

Answer 15

Experiment done in a lab where all variables can be controlled

Question 16

Field experiment

Answer 16

In the real world but variables can still be controlled to some extent

Question 17

Natural experiment

Answer 17

In the real world but you can’t control the variables, you have to let it happen

Question 18

Opportunity sampling

Answer 18

The nearest available people

Question 19

Volunteer sampling

Answer 19

Advertise then people would offer to do it

Question 20

Random sampling

Answer 20

Random selection of everyone in your target section. Eg names out of a hat

Question 21

Validity

Answer 21

How far you can trust the results/ how true it is. Does it measure what you’re aiming to measure

Question 22

Internal validity

Answer 22

Things inside the study, you are measuring what you want

Question 23

External validity

Answer 23

How the results can be used to fit lots of people. Apply the results to everyone

Question 24

Ecological validity

Answer 24

Can you apply the results to other people around the world

Question 25

Population validity

Answer 25

Apply results to different types of people

Question 26

Historical validity

Answer 26

Apply results to different time periods

Question 27

Investigator effects

Answer 27

When the researcher gives clues to bring about the results they want

Question 28

Demand characteristics

Answer 28

When the participants work our what the experiment is wanting due to the way the experiment is designed and changes their behaviour to meet these demands

Question 29

Controlled observation

Answer 29

A form of investigation in which behaviour is observed but under controlled conditions

Question 30

Naturalistic observation

Answer 30

A research method carried out in a natural setting, the investigator does not interfere but just observes. Involves use of structured observation

Question 31

Unstructured observation

Answer 31

An observer records all relevant behaviour but has no system. Behaviour to be studied is largely unpredictable

Question 32

Behavioural categories

Answer 32

Different types of behaviour can be done using a behavioural checklist or coding system

Question 33

Sampling procedure

Answer 33

How you organise an observation to get the results

Question 34

Questionnaire

Answer 34

The collection of data through the use of written answers

Question 35

Open questions

Answer 35

When the respondent uses their own answers and tends to produce quantitive data

Question 36

Closed question

Answer 36

Questions with a range of different answers which produces quantitive data

Question 37

Structured interviews

Answer 37

Questions are decided in advance

Question 38

Unstructured interviews

Answer 38

Interviews has a general aim abs possible questions

Question 39

Pilot study

Answer 39

Trial run of your study before the real thing to see if the study has to be changed

Question 40

Content analysis

Answer 40

Indirect observation where you observe something that people produce. Eg TV adverts

Question 41

Case study

Answer 41

A investigation not an experiment of a single individual, group or community

Question 42

Longitudinal

Answer 42

A study over a number of years

Question 43

Measures of dispersion

Answer 43

How spread out your data is. (Standard deviation or range)

Question 44

Measures of central tendency

Answer 44

The average, mean, median, mode