Research Methods

Question 1

What is an aim?

Answer 1

A precise statement of why a study is taking place. It should include:

• what is being studied
• what the study is trying to achieve

Question 2

What are the different types of hypotheses? Give Examples

Answer 2

Directional — alcohol will increase reaction time
Non-directional — alcohol will affect reaction time
Null — alcohol will have no affect in reaction time, any difference will be due to chance

Question 3

What is the independent variable?

Answer 3

The variable that is changed

Question 4

What is the dependant variable

Answer 4

The thing that changes as a result of the IV

Question 5

What is an extraneous variable?

Answer 5

Variables (other than the IV) that can have an effect on the DV if not controlled. They do not vary systematically with the IV.

Question 6

What are the different types of extraneous variables?

Answer 6

Participant variables and situational variables

Question 7

What is a participant variable?

Answer 7

Individual differences that can include things like

Age
IQ
Fitness
Social class

Question 8

What are demand characteristics?

Answer 8

The cues in an experiment which convey the aim of the study to the participant.

Question 9

What is participant reactivity?

Answer 9

The way in which participants react to demand characteristics
Can include please you or screw you effect

Question 10

How do you control participant variables?

Answer 10

Single blind

Question 11

What is a situational variable?

Answer 11

Outside influences thigh may have an effect on the experiment such as time of day, weather, noise levels, type of room the experiment takes place in etc.

Question 12

How do you control situational variables?

Answer 12

Standardisation - making sure RP’s are tested under exactly the same conditions
Randomisation - order of tasks or presentation of data is decided by the toss of a coin (controls order effects)
Counterbalancing - changers order of tasks in an experiment to avoid order effects

Question 13

What is the investigator effect?

Answer 13

If the researcher changes in any way in the experiment (the way they look, behave or speak to the RP’s) this may effect the results.

Question 14

How do you control the investigator effect?

Answer 14

Double blind

Question 15

What is the independent measures design?

Answer 15

Involves using different participants in each condition

Question 16

What is the repeated measures design?

Answer 16

Where one group of participants takes part in both conditions of the experiment.

Question 17

What is the matched pairs design?

Answer 17

Uses different but similar RP’s. The RP’s are matched up based on similar characteristics and then one of each pair is put into different conditions

Question 18

Identify two strengths and two weaknesses of independent groups design

Answer 18

+ no order effects
+ demand characteristics are less likely to affect the results
- individual differences (participant variables)
- less economical as twice as many participants are needed

Question 19

Identify two strengths and two weaknesses of repeated measures design

Answer 19

+ no participant variables
+ fewer RP’s needed than in independent measures
- results can be affected by order effects (counterbalancing can reduce this)
- demand characteristics can affect the validity

Question 20

Identify three strengths and two weaknesses of matched pairs design

Answer 20

\+ no order effects
\+ reduced individual differences
\+ less demand characteristics 
- need lots of RP's - some are wasted 
- hard to match participants exactly

Question 21

What are the 4 different types of experiments?

Answer 21

1. Lab
2. Field
3. Natural
4. Quasi

Question 22

Describe and evaluate the use of lab experiments

Answer 22

Experiment taking place in a highly controlled environment. IV is manipulated and DV is recorded.
+ highly controlled
+ can establish cause and effect
+ can be replicated
+ very scientific equipment = accurate measurements can be made
- lacks generalisability
- demand characteristics can influence behaviour
- lacks Mundane realism

Question 23

Describe and evaluate the use of field experiments

Answer 23

Field experiments take place in a natural environment

+ holds mundane realism
+ high external validity
- lots of extraneous variables that are hard to control
- hard to replicate
- ethical issues (cannot gain informed consent without giving away too much information)

Question 24

Describe and evaluate the use of natural experiments

Answer 24

In these experiments there is no manipulation of the IV as it is naturally occurring. The researcher just records the DV (e.g. The effect of a tsunami on future mental illness)

+ high ecological validity
+ no demand characteristics - RP’s do not know they are being watched
- extraneous variables are hard to control
- sample bias as the researcher cannot control who is in the sample. This may make results unable to be generalised

Question 25

Describe and evaluate the use of quasi experiments

Answer 25

The researcher does not directly control the IV as it is based on a pre existing difference between people like age or gender. The DV is also not controlled as that can be naturally occurring too. They're often carried out under controlled conditions. ``` + highly controlled + can establish cause and effect + can be replicated + very scientific - can lack generalisability - demand characteristics - can lack mundane realism ```

Question 26

What is sampling?

Answer 26

The process of selecting participants to study from the target population. The sample must be as representative of the target population as possible. It must be big enough for it to be able to be representative however not too large that it makes the study uneconomical in terms of time and resources.

Question 27

Name and describe the different kinds of sampling a researcher might use

Answer 27

Random - all members of the target population stand an equal chance if being selected. There is a very small chance that the sample will be biased however it doesn't guarantee that the sample will be representative. Systematic - RP's are selected from a list as set intervals. The interval number can be produced randomly so it avoids bias. Stratified - the target population is divided into subsets like age or gender and a random sample is taken from each strata. This ensures the sample is representative Opportunity - the simplest form of sampling and means selecting anyone from the target population who happens to be available. Volunteer - participants volunteer to be part of the sample, they can hear about it from a newspaper advert or on a common room notice board.

Question 28

What are the BPS ethical guidelines?

Answer 28

``` Informed consent Deception Protection from harm Confidentiality Right to withdraw Debriefing ```

Question 29

How would a researcher deal with deception in an experiment?

Answer 29

1. Debriefing 2. Retrospective informed consent (the RP's are made aware of the true nature of the study after it has taken place and they can decide whether they would like to withdraw or keep their data in the study)

Question 30

How would a researcher deal with not getting informed consent in a study?

Answer 30

1. Presumptive consent | 2. Prior general consent (asking RP's if they would object to deception)

Question 31

How would a researcher protect his participants from harm in a study?

Answer 31

1. Giving them the right to withdraw | 2. Keeping their information confidential

Question 32

How would a researcher deal with confidentiality in an experiment?

Answer 32

1. Keeping files locked away so only the researcher has access 2. Numbering RP's or referring to them by their initials

Question 33

What is a pilot study?

Answer 33

A small study carried out before the actual research begins. It tests the materials and procedures and if there are any problems, changes are made before the real study.

Question 34

Why do we conduct pilot studies?

Answer 34

To check things like: - whether RP's understand standardised instructions - to check if timings are correct - to check questions are approved and not leading - to see what behavioural categories are appropriate for coding systems - identify potential issues and to save time and money in the long run

Question 35

What is internal validity?

Answer 35

If something is high in internal validity it measures what it claims to.

Question 36

What are the the three types of external validity?

Answer 36

Ecological - can we generalise to different places Temporal - can we generalise to different times Population - can we generalise to different people

Question 37

What is face validity?

Answer 37

Involves looking at the test to see if it measures what it says to

Question 38

What is content validity?

Answer 38

An objective assessment of the items in the test. To see if they measure and relate to the behaviour in question

Question 39

What is concurrent validity?

Answer 39

A comparison of the new test and the old test where the old test is already a valid measure of the behaviour in question. If the results from both tests are the same then the new test is classed as valid.

Question 40

What is predictive Validity?

Answer 40

How well a test predicts future behaviour for example how well a questionnaire diagnoses an illness. If it accurately diagnoses an illness to is classed as valid.

Question 41

Name and describe the two types of reliability.

Answer 41

1. Internal - if the test is consistently measuring the same thing 2. External - the ability to produce the same results every time the test is done

Question 42

How do you test internal reliability?

Answer 42

Split half. You divide the test into two parts and give both to the participant. If the two parts give similar results then it is considered reliable

Question 43

Name and describe the two ways of assessing external reliability

Answer 43

1. Test retest - the RP takes the same test twice and the two results must be very similar for the test to be reliable 2. Inter rater - where two or more researchers observe a study and if they get the same results it is classed as externally valid

Question 44

What are the two types of sampling?

Answer 44

Time sampling - where a record of behaviour is taken at a certain time interval Event sampling - where a researcher keeps count of every time a behaviour occurs

Question 45

What are the 6 kinds of observation types?

Answer 45

1. Naturalistic 2. Controlled 3. Covert 4. Overt 5. Participant 6. Non participant