Research methods key terms (paper 2)

Question 1

Research methods?

Answer 1

The process by which information or data is collected usually for the purpose of testing a hypothesis and/or a theory.

Question 2

Case studies?

Answer 2

An in-depth investigation, description and analysis of a single individual, group, institution or event.

Question 3

Content analysis?

Answer 3

A research technique that enables the indirect study of behaviour by examining communications that people produce. e.g. texts, emails, TV and etc.

Question 4

Coding?

Answer 4

The stage of a content analysis in which the communication to be studied is analysed by identifying each instance of the chosen categories.

Question 5

Thematic analysis?

Answer 5

An inductive and qualitative approach to analyse that involves identifying implicit or explicit ideas within the data.

Question 6

Reliability?

Answer 6

Refers to how consistent a measuring device is - and this includes psychological tests or observations which assess behaviour.

Question 7

Test-retest reliability?

Answer 7

A methods of assessing reliability of a questionnaire or psycholigical test by assessing the same person on two separate occasions. This shows to what extent the test produces the same answers.

Question 8

Inter-observer reliability?

Answer 8

The extent to which there is agreement between two or more observers involved in observations of a behaviour. This is measured by correlating the observations of two or more observers.

Question 9

Validity?

Answer 9

The extent to which an observed effect is genuine - does it measure what it was supposed to measure, and can it be generalised beyond the research setting within which it was found.

Question 10

Face validity?

Answer 10

A basic form of validity in which a measure is scrutinised to determine whether it appears to measure what it is supposed to measure - for instance, does a test for anxiety look like it measures anxiety.

Question 11

Concurrent validity?

Answer 11

The extent to which a psychological measure relates to an existing similar measure.

Question 12

Ecological validity?

Answer 12

The extent to which findings from a research study can be generalised to other settings and situations. A form of external validity.

Question 13

Temporal validity?

Answer 13

The extent to which findings from a research study can be generalised to other historical times and eras. A form of external validity.

Question 14

Statistical tests?

Answer 14

Used in psychology to determine whether a significant difference or correlation exists.

Question 15

Sign test?

Answer 15

A statistical test for a difference in scores between related items. Data should be nominal level or better.

Question 16

Levels of measurement?

Answer 16

Quantitative data can be classifies into types or levels of measurement, such as nominal, ordinal and interval.

Question 17

Spearman’s rho?

Answer 17

A test for a correlation when data is at least ordinal level.

Question 18

Pearsons r?

Answer 18

A parametric test for a correlation when data is at interval level.

Question 19

Wilcoxon?

Answer 19

A test for a difference between two sets of scores. Data should be at least ordinal level using a related design.

Question 20

Mann-whitney?

Answer 20

A test for a difference between two sets of scores. Data should be at least ordinal level using an unrelated design.

Question 21

Related t-test?

Answer 21

A parametric test for a difference between two sets of scores. Data must be interval level with a related design.

Question 22

Unrelated t-test?

Answer 22

A parametric test for a difference between two sets of scores. Data must be interval level with an unrelated design.

Question 23

Chi-squared?

Answer 23

A test for an association between two variables or conditions. Data should be nominal level using an unrelated design.

Question 24

Probability?

Answer 24

A measure of the likehood that a particular event will occur where 0 indicates a statistical impossibility and 1 statistical certainty.

Question 25

Significance?

Answer 25

A statistical term that tells us how sure we are that a difference or correlation exists.

Question 26

Critical value?

Answer 26

When testing a hypothesis, the numerical boundary or cut-off point between acceptance and rejection of the null hypothesis.

Question 27

Type I error?

Answer 27

The incorrect rejection of a true null hypothesis (a false positive).

Question 28

Type II error?

Answer 28

The failure to reject a false null hypothesis (a false negative)

Question 29

Abstract?

Answer 29

The key details of the research report.

Question 30

Introduction?

Answer 30

A look at past research on a similar topic. Includes the aims and hypothesis of current investigation.

Question 31

Results?

Answer 31

A description of what the researcher found, including descriptive and inferential statistics.

Question 32

Discussion?

Answer 32

A consideration of what the results of a research study tells us in terms of psychological theory.

Question 33

References?

Answer 33

List of sources that are referred to or quoted in the article and their full details.

Question 34

Objectivity?

Answer 34

All sources of personal bias are minimised so as not to distort or influence the research process.

Question 35

Empirical method?

Answer 35

Scientific approaches that are based on the gathering of evidence through direct observation and experience.

Question 36

Replicability?

Answer 36

The extent to which scientific procedures and findings can be repeated by other researchers.

Question 37

Falsifiability?

Answer 37

The principle that a theory cannot be considered scientific unless it admits the possibility of being proved untrue.

Question 38

Theory construction?

Answer 38

The process of developing an explanation for the causes of behaviour by systematically gathering evidence and then organising this into a coherent account.

Question 39

Hypothesis testing?

Answer 39

A key feature of a theory is that it should produce statements which can then be tested.

Question 40

Paradigm?

Answer 40

A set of shared assumptions and agreed methods within a scientific discipline.

Question 41

Paradigm shift?

Answer 41

The results of a scientific revolution when there is a significant change in the dominant unifying theory within a scientific discipline.