Researchy Flashcards
Aim
A statement of what the researcher intend to find out in a research study
Hypothesis
A precise and testable statement about the assured relationship between variables. Operationalisation is a key part of making the statement testable
Directional hypothesis
States the direction of the predicted difference between two conditions or two groups of participants
Non-directional hypothesis
Predicts simply that there is a difference between two groups or conditions of participants, without stating the direction of the difference
ETHICS - informed consent
FOR RESEARCHER - means revealing true aims of study/what is going to happen- however could lead to participants trying to guess aims of study —> demand characteristics (so may not want to reveal aim of study
FOR PARTICIPANT- told what they are required to do in study so can make an informed decision as to whether they want to take part. Despite this, however, does not guarantee participants know what they are accepting.
Should be told all the benefits/risks of a situation, however researcher may not know this yet so cannot tell them
ETHICS - DECEPTION
RESEARCHER - necessary to deceive participants about aim , otherwise participant may change their behaviour. Should not however provide deliberately false info, just withhold some info
PARTICIPANT - prevents participants from being able to give informed consent- agree not knowing what they agreed to and may be distressed by experience
Can lead to seeing psychologists as untrustworthy and not want to take part in further research
DIANA BAUMRIND(1985) deception is wrong on basis of 3 rules: 1. Right of informed consent, 2. Obligation to protect welfare of participant 3.responsibility of researchers to be trustworthy. —> however is pointed out that sometimes deception can be harmless
ETHICS - right to withdraw
RESEARCHER - is participants leave, will bias the study as the remaining participants are likely to be more obedient/more hardy leading to a bias sample
PARTICIPANT- if they feel uncomfortable/distressed they should be allowed to withdraw. Ethically important if participant has been deceived. Participant may feel as if they didn’t fully understand what they agreed to do still allowed to withdraw.
Sometimes compromised by payment of participants or some other reward, making participants feel less able to withdraw
ETHICS - protection from physical and psychological harm
RESEARCHER - studying some aspects of psychology may cause a degree of distress. Also difficult to predict outcome of studies, so can’t always guarantee protection from harm
PARTICIPANT - many ways harm is caused, some physical (making them smoke/drink) and some psychological (embarrassing them). Considered acceptable if harm is no greater that participant would experience in normal life, and if participants are in the same state after the study as before
ETHICS - confidentiality
RESEARCHER - researcher will want to publish findings. Participants can be kept anonymous however, if their is a specific reference to their specific group (I.e. children’s hospital in isle of white) then their identity may be easy to guess
PARTICIPANT- data protection act makes confidentiality a legal right. Only acceptable for personal data to be recorded if data not made available in a form that identifies participants
ETHICS-
Privacy
RESEARCHER- may be difficult to avoid invasion of privacy when studying participant without their awareness( field experiment)
PARTICIPANT- people do not expect to be observed in certain situations
DEALING WITH ETHICS- ethical guideline
BPS regularly updates its ethical guidelines - tells psychologists what behaviour is/isn’t acceptable and give guidance in ethical dilemmas
DEALING EITH ETHICS- cost-benefit analysis
Just the cost of doing research against the benefits, which may be judged from the participants point of view
Alternatively, may be judged in terms of society at large - value of improving ppls lives v possibilities ppls lives harmed in the process
Judge in terms of terms of which a group an individual belongs too- finding may not harm individual however may lead to biased treatment of that individuals group
DEALING WITH ETHICS- ethics committees
Must approve any study before it begins
Will look at all the possible ethical issues and how the researcher suggests the issues be dealt with
DEALING WITH ETHICS - punishment
If a psychologist behaves in an unethical manner, then the BOS review the researcher and may decide to bar the person from practicing psychology again
Cost benefit analysis
Strengths as weaknesses
Limitations- difficult, almost impossible, to predict both costs and benefits prior to conducting a study. Also difficult to even quantify costs and benefits
- DIANA BAUMRIND (1959) thins approach legitimises unethical practice - suggests deception and harm are acceptable provided the benefit is high enough
