Research Methods - Methods and Designs

Question 1

Meta-analysis

Answer 1

Combining the findings from a number of studies on a particular topic for an overall conclusion

Question 2

A positive correlation is

Answer 2

As one variable increases so does the other

Question 3

A negative correlation is

Answer 3

As one variable increases the other decreases

Question 4

Zero correlation is

Answer 4

No relationship between variables

Question 5

How can we tell the strength of a correlation

Answer 5

How tightly packed the points are around the line of best fit or correlation coefficient

Question 6

A statistical measure of the strength and direction of a linear relationship between two variables is known as..

Answer 6

Correlation Coefficient

Question 7

Correlation Coefficient is between..

Answer 7

+1 and -1

Question 8

A correlation coefficient of 0.1-0.3 (positive or negative) is what strength relationship?

Answer 8

Weak

Question 9

A correlation coefficient of 0.4-0.6 (positive or negative) is what strength relationship?

Answer 9

Moderate

Question 10

A correlation coefficient of 0.7-0.9 (positive or negative) is what strength relationship?

Answer 10

Strong

Question 11

A correlation coefficient of 1 (positive or negative) is what strength relationship?

Answer 11

A perfect correlation

Question 12

Name a qualitative method of data analysis

Answer 12

Content analysis or thematic anaylsis

Question 13

In a content analysis what technique is performed on the data?

Answer 13

Coding

Question 14

Content analysis converts qualitative data to

Answer 14

Quantitative data

Question 15

Thematic analysis produces what type of data?

Answer 15

Qualitative

Question 16

Lab experiment is..

Answer 16

IV is directly manipulated under controlled setting to measure the impact on a DV

Question 17

Field experiment is

Answer 17

IV is directly manipulated in natural settings to measure the impact on a DV

Question 18

Natural experiment is

Answer 18

The CHANGE in an IV is natural and would have occurred without the presence of the researcher (e.g. before and after a natural disaster - no direct manipulation by a researcher) DV is measured

Question 19

a Quasi experiment is

Answer 19

IV is already occurring (e.g. ethnicity) and so cannot be directly manipulated - the impact on DV is measured

Question 20

Strength of a lab experiment

Answer 20

controlled conditions increase reliability and internal validity

Question 21

Weakness of a lab experiment

Answer 21

setting isn’t natural = behaviour isn’t natural and results lack ecological validity

Question 22

strength of a field experiement

Answer 22

Higher ecological valdity

Question 23

weakness of a field experiment

Answer 23

lacks control and internal validity

Question 24

strength of a natural experiment

Answer 24

high external validity, unique study opportunity

Question 25

weakness of a natural experiment

Answer 25

rare, less likelihood of causality

Question 26

strength of a quasi experiment

Answer 26

unique insight free from manipulation (less demand characteristics)

Question 27

weakness of a quasi experiment

Answer 27

cannot randomly allocate - less chance of causality (participant variables)

Question 28

Naturalistic observation is

Answer 28

conducted in natural settings

Question 29

Controlled obervation is..

Answer 29

conducted in controlled settings

Question 30

Covert observation is..

Answer 30

participants are unaware they are being studied

Question 31

Overt observation is...

Answer 31

participants are aware they are being studied

Question 32

Participant observation is...

Answer 32

observer is part of the observed group

Question 33

Non-participant observation is..

Answer 33

observer is not part of the observed group

Question 34

1 strength and 1 weakness of naturalistic observations..

Answer 34

+ natural behaviour - uncontrolled EVs

Question 35

1 strength and 1 weakness of covert observations

Answer 35

+ Natural behaviour - ethical issues

Question 36

1 strength and 1 weakness of participant observations

Answer 36

+ increased insight (validity) - loss of objectivity

Question 37

Unlike experiments observations have no...

Answer 37

IV

Question 38

Self report techniques are..

Answer 38

participants explain their own thoughts, feelings or behaviours (questionnaire/interview)

Question 39

A questionnaire is..

Answer 39

A written set of questions (or items) to assess thoughts and experiences

Question 40

Questionnaires can contain open questions; true or false

Answer 40

True

Question 41

1 strength and 1 weakness of a questionnaire

Answer 41

+ cost effective to gather large datasets quickly and easy to analyse - limited/socially desirable responses

Question 42

An interview where there are no set questions - only the topic is set

Answer 42

Unstructured interview

Question 43

An interview where all questions are pre-determined

Answer 43

Structured interview

Question 44

An interview where some questions are pre-determined but researchers can ask follow up questions as needed

Answer 44

Semi-structured interview

Question 45

1 strength and 1 weakness of a structured interview

Answer 45

+ Easy to replicate - limits richness of data

Question 46

1 strength and 1 weakness of an unstructured interview

Answer 46

+ rich in depth data - increased bias and hard to compare/replicate

Question 47

A correlation measures..

Answer 47

relationships

Question 48

The variables in a correlation are called

Answer 48

Co-variables

Question 49

The three outcomes of a correlational study are;

Answer 49

positive, negative and no correlation

Question 50

Correlations cannot guarantee what..

Answer 50

Causation! (a relationship, not a different or affect - always could be 3rd variables)

Question 51

1 strength and 1 weakness of a correlational study

Answer 51

+ starting point for future research, quick and easy as uses secondary data often - is not causation, always a risk of 3rd variables, can be misused

Question 52

A case study is

Answer 52

an indepth study of one or a small group of people

Question 53

Case studies can be carried out over a long period - this is called

Answer 53

Longitudinal research

Question 54

1 strength and 1 weakness of case studies

Answer 54

+ in depth, can be longitudinal and use lots of measures to understand the individual so can check for concurrent validity - cannot be replicated, many EVs, subjective

Question 55

A content anaylsis is

Answer 55

used to quantify qualitative data by changing it into frequencies using coding

Question 56

1 strength and 1 weakness of content analysis

Answer 56

+ useful, ethical, reliable (inter-rater) - hard to establish objective coding units, loses richness of data, time consuming

Question 57

Thematic analysis is

Answer 57

a qualitative method which identifies, analyses and reports themes (patterns) within data

Question 58

1 strength and 1 weakness of thematic analysis

Answer 58

+ useful, check concurrent data as you apply themes to new data sets, keeps richness of data - Subjective, time consuming

Question 59

Name the experimental design: all participants take part in all conditions of the experiment and the two groups are them compared.

Answer 59

Repeated measures design

Question 60

1 strength and 1 weakness of an independent measures deign

Answer 60

+ no order effects, less chance of demand characteristics - more participant variables, more time consuming and costly

Question 61

1 strength and 1 weakness of repeated measures design

Answer 61

+ controls for participant variables, more economical - more chance of order effects, more chance of demand characteristics

Question 62

1 strength and 1 weakness of a matched pairs design

Answer 62

+ controls for participant variables, reduces order effects and demand characteristics - can never match participants exactly, time consuming/costly

Question 63

In a structured observation how does the researcher record behaviour?

Answer 63

Using a predetermined set of behavioural categories (or behavioural checklist)

Question 64

Which type of observation records behaviour continuously?

Answer 64

Unstructured observations

Question 65

In an observation the researcher counts the number of instances a particular behaviour is displayed. This is known as...

Answer 65

Event sampling

Question 66

In an observation the researcher records what behaviour is occurring a pre-established intervals of time (e.g. every 10 seconds). This is known as...

Answer 66

Time sampling

Question 67

Questions for which there is no fixed choice and participants are free to answer in as much or little detail as they choose

Answer 67

Open questions

Question 68

Questions which have a fixed set of responses determined by the question setter

Answer 68

Closed questions

Question 69

A form of closed question where respondents indicate their agreement with a statement on a 5 point scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree)

Answer 69

Likert Scale

Question 70

A form of closed question where respondents indicate their strength of feeling towards a statement/between two semantic opposites (e.g. happy to sad)

Answer 70

Rating Scale

Question 71

A form of closed question where there is a list of possible options and respondents select those which apply to them

Answer 71

Fixed choice options

Question 72

What should be avoided during question design?

Answer 72

- Jargon - emotive language - leading questions - double barrelled questions (two questions in one) - double negatives (I am not unhappy - agree or disagree)