research module

Question 1

Introduction to Psychological Research

Answer 1

-It important to think critically about the claim
-psychology is an evidence-based discipline
-the evidence comes from research
that follow a process

Question 2

Constructs and Operational Definitions

Answer 2

psychology research is challenging because it focuses on phenomena that are not directly observable

• Construct are intangible, abstract attribute that are theorised to underline a behaviour. They are not directly observed or measurable
• operational definition refers to the process of defining and measuring an unobservable construct indirectly

Question 3

Research Questions and Hypotheses

Answer 3

Research progress begins with a question

• research question are a board question that typically ask about either association, differentiation or causation
• hypothesis are logical, specific, testable,refutable and predictive statement about what would happen in a study

Question 4

Variables and Measurement

Answer 4

-Variable are operationalise by using a mesure in psychological research
+continuos data
-interval (there is true zero)
-ratio(there is no true zero)
+discrete
-ordinal( ordered category use to rank)
-nominal (unordered category use for categorise )

Question 5

Study Design

Answer 5

research design is a strategic approach to conducting research

• descriptive (measurement of trait, no actual experiment)
• correlational (relationship of two variable,no actual experiment)
• expirimental (cause and effect, there are two group and malipulation is involved)
• quasi-expirimental(same with expirimental but controll is introduced)
• non expirimental (observation of relationship and comparision; 2 group of participant)

Question 6

Sampling

Answer 6

population is people relevence to the research question
sample is the group of people that paticipate
-probability sampling (when the characteristic of the population are know)
-non-probability sampleing when the characteristic isnt know
-sampling bias can be controll
-transparent reporting of sampling is important

Question 7

Ethics

Answer 7

• Consideration of Ethics influences the entire research process
• Human psychological research is governed by the national health and medicinal research council
• core ethic principles set out in the NHMRC statement include merit, integrity, justice, beneficence and respect
• a committee must approve of a research before it can commence

Question 8

Distributions of Data

Answer 8

Raw data can be difficult to interpret so graph and figure are used

• frequency histogram
• frequency table
• boxplot

Question 9

Critical Thinking and Logical Arguments

Answer 9

• Critical thinking (the process of scrutiny)
• deductive argument (valid, conclusion from a premise)
• Inductive argument( strong, premise provide good support for conclusion)

Question 10

Central Tendency

Answer 10

Central tendency-what is most representative in a distribution
Mean-the average. used in interval/ratio data and normal distribution
Mode-the most common score. used in discrete and nominal data
median- the middle score. used in ordinal data and skew distribution when outliers are present