Research Methods Flashcards Preview

Psychology > Research Methods > Flashcards

Flashcards in Research Methods Deck (46)
Loading flashcards...
1
Q

what is a control group and what is an experimental group?

A

control - not exposed to the IV

experimental - exposed to IV

2
Q

what experimental designs should you use if order effect is a problem? (2)

A
  • counterbalancing or independent groups design
3
Q

What are descriptive statistics? plus example

A

used to describe, organise and summarise data. Does not allow us to make conclusions eg. bar graph, averages

4
Q

What are inferential statistics?

A

(infer) - allow us to draw a conclusion, connect the sample to the wider population and can decide if its likely that IV affects DV eg. p-value

5
Q

What is the p-value?

A

a test that tells us the probability that our results were caused by the dependent variable, not just due to random chance

6
Q

what is a test of statistical significance?

A

provide an estimate of how often experimental results might have occurred by chance alone

7
Q

When is a P-value significant?

A

p below 0.05 - is statistically significant (results provably due to effect of IV not chance)
p above 0.05 - not statistically significant (results probably due to chance)

eg. 0.16 = 16% chance its random

8
Q

what must a research hypothesis include?

A

population, IV, DV, prediction (eg. lower, higher, increased, decreased)

9
Q

what is an extraneous variable? and what is their problem?

A

A variable other than the IV that might cause an unwanted change to the DV
- They make it difficult to determine whether any change in the DV was caused solely by the IV and no other factors

10
Q

what is a cofounding variable? and what is their problem?

A

an uncontrolled variable that might be confused with the effect of the IV
- cofounding variables actually change the cause and effect relationship between the IV and DV

11
Q

what is a mean?

A

measure of central tendency found by adding up all the values and dividing by total number of values

12
Q

what is a median?

A

measure of central tendency found by arranging scores from the lowest to the highest and selecting middle score

13
Q

what is a mode?

A

measure of central tendency found by selecting most frequently occurring score in a group of scores

14
Q

what is a generalisation?

A

a decision or judgement about whether results obtained from a sample are representative of the relevant population

15
Q

What is random sampling?

A

ensures that every member of the population of interest has an equal chance of being selected for the sample being used in a study

16
Q

What is stratified sampling?

A

ensures the sample contains the same proportions of participants that are found in the population (divides population into strata or sub-groups)

17
Q

What is convenience sampling?

A

selection of participants because they are readily available

18
Q

What is a controlled variable?

A

when the extraneous variables influence has been removed from an experiment it has been controlled

19
Q

What is standardisation?

A

standard procedures for administering a test and interpreting scores are used so there is a consistency

20
Q

What are participant variables?

A

individual differences in personal characteristics of research participants that can cofound the results of an experiment e.g. Gender, age

21
Q

What is the order effect?

A

where prior knowledge of a task influences a participants performance, which influences results (improved because of practice or impaired because of boredom)

22
Q

What is counterbalancing?

A

alters the order that participants experience each condition (helps to reduce order effect)

23
Q

What is the experimenter effect?

A

changes in participants behaviour that are caused by the unintentional influence of the experimenter rather than the IV

24
Q

What are self-fulfilling prophecies?

A

refers to a prediction that prompts people to act in ways that make the prediction come true (people become what we expect of them)

25
Q

What is a placebo?

A

a fake treatment that has no active effect

26
Q

what is a placebo effect?

A

changes in behavior caused by the belief that one has been exposed to a treatment that will effect them in some way

27
Q

What is a double-blind procedure?

A

neither the experimenter nor the participants know which experimental condition the participants have been allocated to (single blind just participants don’t know)

28
Q

What is an independent-groups design? (used most frequently) and what is its main goal?

A

participants randomly allocated to either control or experimental group
- ensures each member of sample has equal chance of being selected to control or experimental group

29
Q

what is a matched-participants design?

A

matched participants on variable (sex,age) one put in experimental and one put in control group

30
Q

What is a repeated-measures design? and why is it used? (3)

A

the same group of participants makes up the experimental and control groups

  • results in minimal differences in personality characteristics
  • may result in ‘order effect’
31
Q

What is convenience sampling? (non-probability sampling)

A

chooses participants because they are readily available to the researcher (may not rep the population)

32
Q

what is random allocation?

A

used to assign participants to experimental or control group where all participants have an equal chance of being allocated to either group

33
Q

What design should you use to counteract

experimenter effects?

A

double blind procedure

34
Q

What design should you use to counteract the placebo effect?

A

single blind procedure

35
Q

What design should you use to counteract participant variables?

A

matched-participants design

36
Q

What are case studies? (data collection)

A

an intensive and detailed investigation of a particular event or circumstance and can involve an individual or group of people

37
Q

what are observational studies? (data collection)

A

involve collecting data by observing and recording the behaviors as they occur

38
Q

what are self-reports? (data collection)

A

involve participants replying to written or oral questions, statements and instructions

39
Q

what is an experiment? (data collection)

A

conducted to examine any cause/effect relationship between two variables

40
Q

What is qualitative data?

A

describes the changes in the quality of a behaviour; often accounts of personal attitudes or experiences

41
Q

What is quantitative data?

A

can be described in quantity or ‘amount’. Usually easy to measure as it is usually expressed as numbers e.g. 160cm tall

42
Q

What are the 4 sampling techniques?

A
  • random sampling
  • stratified sampling
  • random stratified sampling
  • convenience sampling
43
Q

What are the 3 types of experimental designs?

A
  • repeated measures
  • matched participants
  • independent groups
44
Q

What are the 2 types of procedures?

A
  • double blind

- single blind

45
Q

What are the four methods of data collection?

A
  • self report
  • experiment
  • case study
  • observational study
46
Q

what are the 6 participant rights? I Will C - a - D V D

A
I - informed consent
Will - withdrawl rights
C - confidentiality
a
D - deception
V - voluntary participation
D - debriefing