Research Methods - THE PROF

Question 1

What does THE PROF stand for?

Answer 1

Theory construction
Hypothesis testing
Empiricism

Paradigm
Replicability
Objectivity
Falsifiability

Question 2

Theory construction

Answer 2

The process of developing an explanation for the causes of behaviour

Question 3

Inductive reasoning

Answer 3

1. Make a specific observation E.G. students do as they’re told and listen to you whereas husbands do not
2. Recognise a pattern that can be tested E.G. young people are more obedient. how can I test this?
3. Draw a conclusion. E.G. from the resorts I can conclude that young people are moral obedient than adults

Question 4

Deductive reasoning

Answer 4

1. Existing theory E.G. research suggest we obey authority figures
2. Create a hypothesis E.G. researchers predict that young people are moral medium because they have less authority
3. Confirm or deny the theory E.G. the data confirms this, my theory was correct

Question 5

Hypothesis testing

Answer 5

Statements produced that can be tested to prove that it is correct or false

Question 6

Stages of hypothesis testing

Answer 6

State the hypothesis
Conduct experiments
Choose test statistics
Decision making
Conclusion / generalisation about population

Question 7

Aim vs hypothesis

Answer 7

Aim: a question created to investigate something
Hypothesis: clear precise testable statement that predicts the outcome of it

Question 8

Null hypothesis (H0)

Answer 8

Predicts no significant effects or relationship between variables

Question 9

Alternate hypothesis (H1)

Answer 9

Predicts a significant effect of relationship between variables

Question 10

Directional (one-tailed) hypothesis

Answer 10

Has evidence to predict outcome

Question 11

Non-directional (two-tailed) hypothesis

Answer 11

Has no evidence to predict outcome

Question 12

Independent variable

Answer 12

The variable you change
It is the cause in the experiments

Question 13

Dependent variable

Answer 13

Is the variable you measure
It is the effect in the experiment

Question 14

Covariables

Answer 14

When two or more dependent variables are present and are in correlation
E.G. the amount of alcohol (ml) consumed will have an effect on reaction time (secs)

Question 15

Writing your hypothesis

Answer 15

There will be a significant…
Relationship (correlation)…
OR
Effect (difference)
Between (2-tailed/Indirectional)…
OR
Increase/decrease (1-tailed/directional)…
…the IV and the DV.

Question 16

Operationalise

Answer 16

To define your variables in terms of how they are measured

Question 17

Paradigms

Answer 17

Set of share assumptions and agreed methods within a subject discipline

Question 18

Paradigm shift

Answer 18

The results of a scientific Revolution when there is a significant change and the dominant unifying theory

Question 19

Replicability

Answer 19

The extent that experiments can be repeated to

Question 20

What makes it more replicable?

Answer 20

Standardization (giving all participants the same treatment)
Controlled environment (the location of the experiment must be the same each time)
Researchers must be trained
Researchers must follow set instructions when doing an experiment

Question 21

Why is replicability important?

Answer 21

It creates imperial beliefs or proves that something is fact
It helps researchers to generalize the results to the whole population

Question 22

Objectivity

Answer 22

All sources of bias are minimized so is not to distort or influence the research

Question 23

How do you keep research objective?

Answer 23

Keep personal opinions / beliefs out of it
Based on fact only
Blinded research E.G. placebo

Question 24

Falsifiability

Answer 24

A theory cannot be considered scientific unless it can potentially be proven untrue
↓
Most cognitive theories (E.G. all swans think they are pink) are usually unforceifiable unless they can be proven via brain scans