RM YR2

Question 1

What is reliability in psychological research?

Answer 1

Refers to the consistency of a measurement or research method
High reliability means results are consistent when repeated

Question 2

What are the two types of reliability?

Answer 2

Internal reliability: Consistency within a test (e.g., all questions measuring the same concept)
External reliability: Consistency when the test is repeated at different times

Question 3

How can reliability be assessed?

Answer 3

Test-retest method: Same participants repeat the test at a later time
Inter-observer reliability: Two or more observers produce consistent observations

Question 4

What is validity in psychological research?

Answer 4

Refers to whether a test measures what it claims to measure

Question 5

What is population validity?

Answer 5

Whether findings can be applied to different groups of people

Question 5

What is ecological validity?

Answer 5

Whether findings can be applied to real-life settings

Question 5

What are the different types of validity?

Answer 5

Internal validity: Whether the results are due to the IV rather than extraneous variables
External validity: Whether the results can be generalised to other settings or populations

Question 6

What is the difference between reliability and validity?

Answer 6

Reliability: Consistency of results
Validity: Accuracy of what the test measures

Question 6

What is temporal validity?

Answer 6

Whether findings remain true over different periods of time

Question 7

How can internal validity be improved?

Answer 7

Controlling extraneous variables
Using standardised procedures

Question 8

What are demand characteristics?

Answer 8

When participants guess the aim of the study and alter their behaviour

Question 9

How can demand characteristics be controlled?

Answer 9

Use of single-blind procedures
Deception about the true aim of the study

Question 10

What is the difference between quantitative and qualitative data?

Answer 10

Quantitative data: Numerical, measurable data
Qualitative data: Descriptive, non-numerical data

Question 11

What are the strengths of quantitative data?

Answer 11

Easier to analyse and compare
Allows for statistical testing

Question 11

What are the strengths of qualitative data?

Answer 11

Provides detailed insights into participants’ experiences
Helps understand subjective perspectives

Question 12

What are the limitations of qualitative data?

Answer 12

Difficult to analyse objectively
Prone to researcher bias

Question 12

What are the limitations of quantitative data?

Answer 12

Lacks depth and detail
May not fully represent human behaviour

Question 13

What is the difference between primary and secondary data?

Answer 13

Primary data: Collected directly by the researcher for their study
Secondary data: Data collected by someone else, used by the researcher

Question 14

What are the strengths of primary data?

Answer 14

More relevant to the research aim
Higher accuracy

Question 15

What are the limitations of secondary data?

Answer 15

May not be specific to the study
Could lack accuracy

Question 15

What are the strengths of secondary data?

Answer 15

Saves time and effort
Allows access to large datasets

Question 16

What is thematic analysis?

Answer 16

Identifies and analyses patterns or themes in qualitative data

Question 16

What is meta-analysis?

Answer 16

Combines results from multiple studies on the same topic

Question 17

What is the strength of meta-analysis?

Answer 17

Provides a more comprehensive view of research evidence

Question 17

What is the limitation of meta-analysis?

Answer 17

Prone to publication bias (only positive results are published)

Question 18

What is content analysis?

Answer 18

Systematic method for analysing qualitative data by categorising information

Question 19

What is the difference between independent and dependent variables?

Answer 19

Independent variable (IV): The variable manipulated by the researcher Dependent variable (DV): The variable measured in response to the IV

Question 20

What is a null hypothesis?

Answer 20

A statement predicting no relationship or effect between variables

Question 21

What is a directional hypothesis?

Answer 21

Predicts the specific direction of the relationship between variables

Question 22

What is a non-directional hypothesis?

Answer 22

Predicts that there will be an effect, but does not specify the direction

Question 23

What is a pilot study?

Answer 23

Small-scale trial run to test the feasibility of the study design

Question 24

What is random sampling?

Answer 24

Every member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected

Question 24

What is opportunity sampling?

Answer 24

Selecting participants who are available at the time

Question 25

What is the difference between correlation and causation?

Answer 25

Correlation shows a relationship between two variables Causation shows that one variable directly affects another

Question 25

What is standard deviation?

Answer 25

A measure of the spread of scores around the mean

Question 25

What is stratified sampling?

Answer 25

Dividing the population into subgroups and selecting participants in proportion to their numbers

Question 26

What is volunteer sampling?

Answer 26

Participants self-select to take part in the study

Question 27

What is systematic sampling?

Answer 27

Selecting every nth person from a list

Question 27

What are the aims of peer review?

Answer 27

Check for validity Detect fraud or bias Ensure research is suitable for publication

Question 28

What is peer review?

Answer 28

Independent assessment of research by other experts in the field

Question 29

What is the purpose of inferential statistics?

Answer 29

Allows researchers to determine whether results are due to chance or an effect

Question 30

What is a Type I error?

Answer 30

When the null hypothesis is rejected incorrectly (false positive)

Question 30

What is the significance level in psychology?

Answer 30

Typically set at 0.05 (5%) Means there is a 5% probability that results occurred by chance

Question 31

What is a Type II error?

Answer 31

When the null hypothesis is accepted incorrectly (false negative)

Question 32

What is the purpose of counterbalancing?

Answer 32

Controls for order effects in repeated measures designs

Question 33

What is a double-blind procedure?

Answer 33

Neither the participants nor the researcher know which condition participants are in

Question 34

What is the demand characteristics

Answer 34

When participants alter their behaviour because they know they are being observed

Question 34

What is test-retest reliability?

Answer 34

Assessing the consistency of a test by repeating it with the same participants

Question 34

What is interval data?

Answer 34

Data measured on a scale with equal intervals between values No true zero point Example: Temperature in degrees Celsius

Question 34

What is ordinal data?

Answer 34

Data that can be ranked or ordered Differences between values are not equal Example: Positions in a race (1st, 2nd, 3rd)

Question 35

What is face validity?

Answer 35

Whether the test appears to measure what it claims to measure at face value

Question 35

What is nominal data?

Answer 35

Categorical data where participants are placed into distinct categories No numerical value or order Example: Eye colour (blue, brown, green)