RESEARCH METHODS YEAR 2 Flashcards
process of peer review in science
-involves all aspects of the psychological research being scrutinised by a small group of two or three experts in a particular field
-peers should be objective and unknown to the researcher (s)
Aims of peer review
to allocate research funding (government run funding organisations, medical research council), to validate the quality and relevance of research (quality and accuracy- the formulation of the hypotheses, methodology chosen, statistical tests) and to suggest amendments or improvements (minor revisions and improvements- work is not appropriate and should be withdrawn).
(evaluation of peer review) Anonymity
-the peer should remain anonymous to maintain an honest appraisal
-a minority of reviewers may use their anonymity to criticise rival researchers who have crossed them in the past
-direct competition for grants/funding
-some journals make the names of the reviewers public
(evaluation of peer review) Publication
-there is a tendency for editors to publish a significant ‘headline grabbing’ findings to increase credinility and circulation of their publication
• could create a false impression of the current state of psychology if editors are selective in what they publish
• file drawer problem- especially in meta analysis where non-significant or negative results are not published
(evaluation of peer review) Burying ground breaking research
-Reviewers are especially critical of research that contradicts their own and are favourable to those that match theirs
-reviewers tend to be established scientists and are more likely to publish research that ‘fits’ with current opinions rather than new and innovative research that challenges
-this could slow down the rate of change
(Implications of research for the economy) Attachment Research
multiple attachments, particularly in the father. Both parents are equally capable of providing the necessary emotional support for development. This can lead to flexible working arrangements within families
(Implications of research for the economy) Development of treatments for mental illness
Absences at work cost the economy an estimated £15 billion per year
-a third caused by depression, anxiety and stress (the telegraph 2014)
-CBT/SSRIs and anti anxiety drugs have allowed people with mild mental health disorders to return to work and access medical treatment
(Implications of research for the economy) Sleep behaviour and shift workers
-Czeisler et al 1982 studied workers at a factory whose shift patterns appeared to cause sleep and health problems
-recommended rotating shifts every 21 days and changing shifts forward in time
-previously employees had worked during the night for a week, late afternoons for the second week and mornings for the third weel and returning to the night work
-the changes indicated increased productivity and job satisfaction
Title
The title should say what the study is about and include the independent and dependent variables.
For example: ‘An Investigation into the Effect of Happiness on Sport Activities’
Abstract
A concise summary of the report, no more than 200 words that tells the researcher about the study
I should include a brief summary of the aims, hypotheses, method and results
Conclusions and limitations can also be included
Introduction
This is normally a literature review of the general area of investigation
It should begin broadly and then become more specific until the aims and hypotheses are presented
If your research is very new, you may struggle to find existing research that fits into your introduction
Should be written in third person, using formal language
Method
-Design: the research method (field, interview etc) the design (e.g. repeated),how extraneous variables were controlled, how materials were chosen (e.g. word list) and how ethical issues were dealt with
-Sample: this is information bout your participants: number of participants, ages, genders, biographical and demographic information, how participants were allocated to conditions
-Apparatus/materials: anything used and where it came from (should also be referenced)
-Procedure: a recipe style list of everything that happened. It should start with how the researcher and investigation was introduced to the participants/how informed consent was obtained
• what instructions were given to the participants and how were the participants debriefed afterwards
• how was the data collected and recorded
Results
descriptive stats such as tables, graphs, charts and measures of central tendency and dispersion
inferential statistics are choice of test, calculated and critical values and levels of significance
whether hypotheses were accepted or rejected
raw data to be presented in the appendix
if qualitative methods are used results could be presented as analysis of themes in tables/categories or direct quotations
Conclusions/Discussion
explanation of findings- summarising the results and relating them to aim and hypothesis, unexpected findings to be included
implications of the study (application to real life)
limitations and modifications- anything that went wrong needs to be addressed and how it would be corrected
the relationship to previous research, this should echo your introduction. Data should be compared to previous research
suggestions for future research
References
needs to include correct information about journals, books, articles and websites
it should be presented in alphabetical order with the first author’s surname
appendices:
• copies of the questionnaires used
• raw data
• statistical conclusions
• ethical forms-consent/debrief/copy of instructions
