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Research methods all Flashcards

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1
Q

Laboratory experiment

A

The independent variable is manipulated by the researcher, and is conducted in a controlled setting

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2
Q

Advantages of a laboratory experiment

A

-Increases the internal reliability due to the controlled nature
-High construct validity, due to reduced extraneous variables

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3
Q

Disadvantages of a laboratory experiment

A

-Low ecological validity as participants aren’t in their natural environment
-Lower construct validity as people may not act how they typically would

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4
Q

Field experiment

A

The independent variable is manipulated by the researcher, but the study is conducted in a participants natural environment

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5
Q

Advantages of a field experiment

A

-Higher ecological validity as it takes place in a natural environment
-Higher construct validity as participants are more likely to act natural

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6
Q

Disadvantages of a field experiment

A

-Lower construct validity due to extraneous variables
-Lower internal reliability due to differing participant experiences

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7
Q

Quasi experiment

A

Where the independent variable is naturally occurring and not manipulated by the researcher, such as gender or ethnicity

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8
Q

Advantages of a quasi experiment

A

-High ecological validity as the IV isn’t manipulated
-Helps to study variables that cannot be manipulated

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9
Q

Disadvantages of a quasi experiment

A

-Difficult to conduct as specific participants are required
-Low construct validity, due to participant/extraneous variables

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10
Q

Structured observation

A

Has set behaviours that researchers are looking for, and produces quantitative data

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11
Q

Advantages of a structured observation

A

-Creates objective data which is objective and easy to analyse
-Easy to conduct/less effort for the observers to record

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12
Q

Disadvantages of a structured observation

A

-The coding frame may not include all displayed behaviours
-Lacks detail

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13
Q

Unstructured observation

A

There are no pre-planned behaviours that the researchers are looking for, and produces qualitative data

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14
Q

Advantages of unstructured observation

A

-Gets more detail
-Behaviours that were not expected by the researcher are still expected

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15
Q

Disadvantages of unstructured observation

A

-The data collected is more subjective
-Takes more time and effort for the data to be recorded

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16
Q

Naturalistic observation

A

The observation is carried out in the participant’s usual environment

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17
Q

Advantages of a naturalistic observation

A

-Higher ecological validity as people are in their natural environment
-May allow for unexpected behaviours

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18
Q

Disadvantages of a naturalistic observation

A

-There could be extraneous variables from the environment
-It could be hard to see and record all data based on the surroundings

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19
Q

Controlled observation

A

The observation is carried out in a laboratory setting manipulated by the researcher

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20
Q

Advantages of a controlled observation

A

-Higher level of controls over extraneous variables
-Easy to set up the environment for ease of viewing behaviours

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21
Q

Disadvantages of a controlled observation

A

-Low ecological validity
-People may alter their behaviour due to the unnatural setting, lowering construct validity

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22
Q

Participant observation

A

The observer is working within the same location as the participants

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23
Q

Advantages of participant observation

A

-View less likely to be obstructed
-Can get more insider information by being up close to the participants

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24
Q

Disadvantages of participant observation

A

-Time consuming to set up
-Could be dangerous
-Could lose objectivity if become friends with the participants

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25
Non-participant observation
The observer is working in a separate location to the participants, such as watching through CCTV
26
Advantages of non-participant observation
-Less risk of observer bias -Less safety concerns -Less time to set up
27
Disadvantages of non-participant observation
-Less control -Likely to have view obstructed in some way
28
Overt observation
The participants are aware they are being watched
29
Advantages of overt observation
-Abides by the ethical guidelines -Easier to observe and take notes when participants are aware
30
Disadvantages of overt observation
-Participants may change their behaviour (social desirability bias or demand characteristics) -Takes effort and time to obtain consent
31
Covert observation
The participants are unaware they are being watched
32
Advantages of covert observation
-May mean participants are more natural in their behaviour (increasing validity) -Takes less effort from the researchers
33
Disadvantages of covert observation
-Breaks ethical guidelines -Might be hard to record data without participants being made aware that you are observing
34
Random sampling
Each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected
35
Advantages of random sampling
-Sample isn't as subject to researcher bias -Representative of target population
36
Disadvantages of random sampling
-Those selected may not consent to taking part -Hard to ensure generalisability
37
Self-selecting sample
The sample volunteers to take part, likely finding out about the experiment from adverts
38
Advantages of a self-selecting sample
-Already give consent to participate and more likely to continue for entirety of study -No researcher bias
39
Disadvantages of a self-selecting sample
-Expensive if give money incentive -Could mean a small sample size -Lower population validity as only a certain type of person may be likely to volunteer
40
Opportunity sample
Using participants that are readily available at the point of research
41
Advantages of opportunity sampling
-Easy to obtain at the time of the study -Good way of obtaining target population
42
Disadvantages of opportunity sampling
-Unrepresentative sample (low population validity) -Researcher bias
43
Snowball sampling
Participants are asked to contact people they know to also take part
44
Advantages of snowball sampling
-Easy to obtain sample (especially if difficult target population)
45
Disadvantages of snowball sampling
-Participant variables -Not able to generalise sample - family and friends often have similar characteristics
46
Nominal data
The lowest level of data, it is a headcount of what participants do/choose as opposed to another option
47
Ordinal data
The medium level of data, there is analysis of participants scores in relation to each other
48
Interval/ratio data
The highest level of data, analysis is made of the scores of individual participants in universal standard scales (eg kg, cm), but only in relation to each other
49
Quantitative data
Numerical data collected by the researcher
50
Advantages of quantitative data
-Easy comparisons to be made between participants/conditions -No researcher bias as results can't be interpreted multiple ways -Easy to summarise -Easier to establish reliability of results
51
Disadvantages of quantitative data
-Low ecological validity as it can't tell us about everyday behaviour -Less rich, so doesn't explain behaviour
52
Qualitative data
Data that is descriptions, words, pictures, etc. It can be converted to quantitative data
53
Advantages of qualitative data
-More detail about participant experience -Richer data to improve validity of results, as it can explain why participants behaved the way they did
54
Disadvantages of qualitative data
-Harder to compare participants/conditions -Harder to analyse and present -Subject to researcher bias as it can be interpreted in multiple ways
55
Advantages of calculating the mean
-It includes all the data
56
Disadvantages of calculating the mean
-Allows outliers to skew data -Can produce decimals
57
Advantages of calculating the median
-It discounts outliers, so the data isn't skewed
58
Disadvantages of calculating the median
-Does not include all data collected, so isn't representative -May produce a decimal figure
59
Advantages of calculating the mode
-Can be applied to qualitative data -Easy to calculate -Always a whole value
60
Disadvantages of calculating the mode
-May have none or more than one mode -Doesn’t include all data collected, so isn't representative
61
Advantages of calculating the range
-Easy to calculate -Shows the spread between the min and max values
62
Disadvantages of calculating the range
-Does not show if the spread is even -Can be skewed by outliers -Does not include all data, so isn't representative
63
Advantages of calculating the variance
-Takes into account all values in the data set -Less likely to be affected by outliers
64
Disadvantages of calculating the variance
-More time consuming to calculate -Not in the same units as the original measure
65
Advantages of calculating the standard deviation
-Same units as original measure -Easy to calculate if variance already done
66
Disadvantages of calculating the standard deviation
-Uses all the data, so may be skewed by outliers
67
Advantages of using a repeated measures design
-As participants takes place in both conditions we can remove the effect of any participant variables on the cause and effect -Easier to obtain sample as less participants are needed
68
Disadvantages of using a repeated measures design
-More subject to demand characteristics as participants may identify the aim and change how they act -Order effects may influence results unless counter-balanced
69
Advantages of an independent measures design
-As the participants in each condition are unaware of the other they will show reduced demand characteristics -No order effects as only take part in one condition
70
Disadvantages of an independent measures design
-Effort to collect more participants -Findings may be influenced by participant variables
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Disadvantages of a matched participants design
-Effort to find matched participants -Cannot control all extraneous variables by perfectly matching participants
73
Criteria for a parametric test
-Interval or ratio level data -A normal distribution of data -Similar variances between results from the different conditions
74
Criteria to use chi-squared
-Nominal data -Independent measures
75
Criteria to use Mann-Whitney U test
-Ordinal data -Independent measures
76
Criteria to use unrelated t-test
-Interval/ratio data -Independent measures
77
Criteria to use binomial Sign test
-Nominal data -Repeated measures
78
Criteria to use Wilcoxon Signed Ranks
-Ordinal data -Repeated measures
79
Criteria to use related t-test
-Interval/ratio data -Repeated measures
80
Criteria to use Spearman's Rho
-Ordinal data -Correlation study
81
Criteria to use Pearson's Product Moment
-Interval/ratio data -Correlation study
82
Type one error
A false positive, when a researcher thinks they have found a significant result when they haven't
83
Type two error
A false negative, when a researcher thinks they haven't found a significant result but they have
84
Internal reliability
Relates to the extent to which the procedure is standardised and replicable
85
External reliability
Relates to the extent to which the sample is large enough to establish a consistent effect
86
Inter-rater reliability
When you check one observer’s findings against those of another observer to see if they are consistent with each other
87
Split-half reliability
When you compare items within a test to see if they are giving the same findings
88
Test-retest reliability
When you repeat the study with the same/very similar participants to see if the same results are obtained the second time
89
Internal construct validity
Whether the test has been shown to measure what is supposed to be measuring
90
External ecological validity
Whether the study represents a real life situation
91
External population validity
Whether the sample used can be generalised to the wider population
92
Internal face validity
Whether, on the face of it, the test looks like it is measuring what is supposed to measure
93
Internal criterion validity
Whether the test can predict results on other (similar) tests in the future
94
Internal concurrent validity
Whether results on one test concur (agree) with the results on another test
95
Demand characteristics
When participants change their behaviour/responses in line with what they believe is demanded of them
96
Social desirability bias
When a participant changes their behaviour to what seems to be more desirable
97
What ethical guidelines does respect cover?
-Informed consent -Right to withdraw -Confidentiality
98
What ethical guidelines does competence cover?
No specific guideline, just only doing research that is within the researcher's knowledge
99
What ethical guidelines does responsibility cover?
-Protection from harm -Debrief
100
What ethical guidelines does integrity cover?
-Deception
101
What does the abstract of a report include?

OCR Psychology (36 decks)

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