Research Methods - Booklet 1

Question 1

define independent variable

Answer 1

-the variable which can be altered/manipulated in order to see if it has an effect on another variable

Question 2

define dependent variable

Answer 2

-variable which is measured to see if it has been affected

Question 3

define extraneous variable

Answer 3

-‘nuisance variable’ which should be controlled as it can affect the dependent variable

Question 4

define confounding variable

Answer 4

-a variable which is not the independent variable but can affect the dependent variable
-it is a variable which can change within the independent variable but cannot be controlled

Question 5

how do we test the effect of the IV

Answer 5

-control condition
-experimental condition

Question 6

describe variables in correlational studies

Answer 6

-known as co-variables

Question 7

define operationalise

Answer 7

-the process of ensuring variables are in a form which can be easily tested and specifically defined in order to be fully understood

Question 8

why must variables be operationalised

Answer 8

-the researcher needs to know what they are looking for
-if they don’t the validity and reliability of the data is reduced

Question 9

define an aim

Answer 9

-a general statement about the purpose of the investigation

Question 10

define a hypothesis

Answer 10

-a precise, testable statement about the expected outcome of an investigation

Question 11

name the three types of hypothesis

Answer 11

-one tailed (directional)
-two-tailed (non directional)
-null

Question 12

define a directional hypothesis

Answer 12

-a hypothesis which states the direction of the results (predicts an outcome)

Question 13

define a non directional hypothesis

Answer 13

-a hypothesis which suggests a difference between the independent variables but not a direction

Question 14

name when a directional hypothesis should be used

Answer 14

-if there is previous, consistent research to support it

Question 15

define a research method

Answer 15

-a particular way of studying something in order to discover new information about it or to understand it better

Question 16

name the 4 types of experimental methods

Answer 16

-laboratory experiment
-field experiment
-natural experiment
-quasi experiment

Question 17

define a laboratory experiment

Answer 17

-an experiment that controls all other variables except the independent variable
-conducted in an artificial setting

Question 18

define a field experiment

Answer 18

-experiments conducted outside of the laboratory in a natural environment
-a key variable is altered

Question 19

define a natural experiment

Answer 19

-looks at how a naturally occurring independent variable affects a dependent variable without manipulating the independent variable

Question 20

define a quasi experiment

Answer 20

-researcher is unable to use random allocation to put participants into different conditions as the independent variable is a particular feature of the participants

Question 21

advantages of a lab experiment

Answer 21

-highly controlled
-replication
-causal relationship established

Question 22

disadvantages of a lab experiment

Answer 22

-lacks ecological validity
-demand characteristics
-unethical - deception, no informed consent

Question 23

advantages of a field experiment

Answer 23

-causal relationship established
-high ecological validity
-less demand characteristics

Question 24

disadvantages of a field experiment

Answer 24

-less control over confounding variables
-unethical - cannot debrief

Question 25

advantages of a natural experiment

Answer 25

-more ethical -less demand characteristics -high ecological validity

Question 26

disadvantages of a natural experiment

Answer 26

-hard to establish causal relationship -unethical - deception, confidentiality

Question 27

advantages of a quasi experiment

Answer 27

-high control -high ecological validity

Question 28

disadvantages of a quasi experiment

Answer 28

-lack of participant allocation leads to confounding variables -hard to establish causal relationship if IV not directly manipulated

Question 29

define investigator effects

Answer 29

-when the researcher unintentionally influences the participants' behaviour or the outcome of the study -this can happen through body language, tone of voice, leading questions, expectations

Question 30

define demand characteristics

Answer 30

-cues in an experiment that might reveal the aim of the study to participants -when this happens participants may change their behaviour, either to help confirm the hypothesis or deliberately act differently

Question 31

define ecological validity

Answer 31

-how well the findings of a study apply to real life settings -if a study takes place in a highly controlled/artificial environment, its results may not generalise to the real world

Question 32

define mundane realism

Answer 32

-the extent to which the tasks participants perform reflect everyday activities -a study with high mundane realism uses tasks that are typical or daily life

Question 33

define self report

Answer 33

-when a person reports on their own feelings/thoughts/behaviours themselves

Question 34

how does psychological research gather self report data

Answer 34

-questionnaires -interviews

Question 35

describe how a questionnaire is designed

Answer 35

-set of written questions used to assess a persons thoughts and/or experiences -make questions clear -use simple language -avoid fixed responses -open questions = qualitative -closed questions = quantitative

Question 36

describe how an interview is designed

Answer 36

-a 'live' encounter where one person (interviewer) asks a set of questions to assess an interviewee's thoughts and/or experiences -pre-set/structured questions or unstructured questions where they develop

Question 37

evaluate how a questionnaire is designed

Answer 37

-ethical when a debrief is given -time efficient -not flexible

Question 38

evaluate how an interview is designed

Answer 38

-flexible -better qualitative data -investigator effects

Question 39

name the strengths of questionnaires

Answer 39

-cost effective -the data is straightforward to analyse

Question 40

describe how questionnaires are cost effective

Answer 40

-can gather large amounts of data quickly as they can be easily distributed -so can be completed without the researcher involved, reducing the effort/cost

Question 41

describe how questionnaires have straightforward data to analyse

Answer 41

-if the questionnaire comprises of mainly fixed choice, closed question, they provide quantitative data -so statistical analysis can be used so we are able to compare groups of people using graphs and charts