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psychology - research methods > year 1 (p26-54) > Flashcards

year 1 (p26-54) Flashcards

(75 cards)

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1
Q

what does sampling involve?

A

selecting ppts from a target group/ population.

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2
Q

what is a target population?

A

is the group whom the researcher is interested in, from which the sample is drawn, and which the research findings will be generalised.

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3
Q

why are sampling techniques used?

A

to choose a representative sample from the target group

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4
Q

why does a sample group need to be a reasonable size?

A

so the researcher can make a justified extension of the findings from the sample to the rest of the target population (generalisation of the findings)

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5
Q

name five sampling techniques

A 
random 
opportunity 
volunteer 
systematic 
stratified
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6
Q

define random sampling

A

ppts are chosen at random, either using a computer programme or through pulling names out of a hat

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7
Q

two strengths of random sampling

A

representative of the general population and less bias - all ppts have an equal chance of being chosen

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8
Q

one limitation of random sampling

A

time consuming and difficult to conduct

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9
Q

define opportunity sampling

A

ppts are chosen from whoever is available

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10
Q

one strength of opportunity sampling

A

money and time efficient

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11
Q

one limitation of opportunity sampling

A

researcher bias - may choose ppts based on who they like the look of

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12
Q

define volunteer sampling

A

ppts are asked to volunteer to take part in research

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13
Q

one strength of volunteer sampling

A

quick and easy way of gathering ppts

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14
Q

one limitation of volunteer sampling

A

generalising finding could be different - may not be a truly representative sample
certain people are more likely to volunteer w.g. helpful, curious

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15
Q

define systematic sampling

A

ppts are chosen in a systematic way

e.g. every fourth student on a psychology course

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16
Q

one strength of systematic sampling

A

avoids researcher bias - researcher has no influence over who is chosen

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17
Q

one limitation of systematic sampling

A 
is a chance that the sample is not representative 
e.g. mixed class but by chance only girls chosen
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18
Q

define stratified sampling

A

involves categorising the population and then choosing a random sample which consists of ppts from each category in the same proportion as they are in the target population

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19
Q

two strengths of stratified sampling

A

avoids researcher bias - once target population has been categorised, ppts are chosen randomly.
can be generalised- sample is representative of the target population

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20
Q

one limitation of stratified sampling

A

time consuming and complicated

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21
Q

what is a pilot study?

A

an initial run-through of the procedure to be used in an investigation. it involves selecting a few people and testing the study on them. identifies flaws with the procedure by helping the researcher spot any ambiguities or confusion in the information given to ppts or problems with the task. e.g. task too hard/easy
saves time and money

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22
Q

name the three sets of types of observational techniques

A

naturalistic or controlled
overt or covert
participant or non participant

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23
Q

what are naturalist observations?

A

involves observing behaviour in a natural environment, observer doesn’t interfere with the behaviour in any way

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24
Q

two advantages of naturalistic observations

A

high ecological validity

high mundane realism

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25
one disadvantage of naturalistic observations
can’t be replicated - no control over variables - reliability can’t be checked
26
what are controlled observations?
(laboratory observations) involves the researcher setting up the situation to be observed. they don’t necessarily take place in a lab
27
two advantages of controlled observations
can be replicated to check reliability | extraneous variables can be minimised
28
one disadvantage of controlled observations
low ecological validity because of artificial environment
29
what is a covert observation?
the ppts are not aware that they are being observed
30
one advantage of covert observations
investigator effects are unlikely
31
one disadvantage of covert observations
ethical issues - can’t get fully informed consent
32
what are overt observations?
ppts are aware they are being observed
33
one advantage of overt observations
ethical issues reduced - ppts can give fully informed consent
34
two disadvantages of overt observations
investigator effects social desirability bias - unreliable results
35
what is a participant observation?
when the researcher takes part in the situation as part of the group being observed.
36
two advantages of participant observations
can get in depth data - unlikely to kiss any behaviours. | researcher gains valuable insight.
37
three disadvantages of participant observations
evaluation apprehension- researchers presence may influence ppts. difficult to record data. researcher may become too involved and lose objectivity.
38
what is a non participant observations?
researcher does not take part in the situation
39
two advantages of non participant observations
evaluation apprehension and investigator effects less likely. researcher remains objective.
40
one disadvantage of non participant observations
lack of proximity may cause the researcher to overlook behaviours and lose the valuable insight gained when taking part in the situation.
41
name two sampling methods
event sampling | time sampling
42
what is event sampling?
recording a count of each time w specific behaviour occurs | e.g. every time a football player disagrees with the ref
43
one advantage of event sampling
useful to record occasional behaviours
44
one disadvantage of event sampling
events/ behaviours may be missed if there is a lot happening at once
45
what is time sampling?
recording behaviours within a specific timeframe | e.g. record behaviour every 30 seconds
46
one advantage of time sampling
reduces the number of observations that have to be made
47
one disadvantage of time sampling
those times when behaviour is sampled might be unrepresentative of the observations as a whole.
48
name two ways of recording data in an observational design
unstructured observation | structured observation
49
what is an unstructured observation?
researcher writes down everything they see
50
one advantage of unstructured observations
rich in detail
51
two disadvantages of an unstructured observation
produce qualitative data - difficult to record and analyse | risk of observer bias
52
what is a structured observation?
researcher simplifies target behaviours that become the main focus of the investigation using behavioural characteristics
53
one advantage of a structured observation
produces quantitative data - can analyse and compare easily
54
one disadvantage of a structured observation
lacks detail
55
what are behaviours categories in observational designs?
(behaviour checklist) target behaviours are clearly defined and made observable and measurable e.g. target behaviour = affection - broke down into behavioural characteristics = hugging, kissing etc.
56
define what self report technique is
any method where a person is asked to explain / state their own feelings, opinions, behaviours or experience
57
name two self-report techniques
questionnaires | interviews
58
what are the two types of questions used in questionnaires?
open questions | closed questions
59
what are open questions in questionnaires? and what kind of data do they produce?
no fixed range of answers and respondents are free to answer in any way produce qualitative data
60
positives of open questions
lots of detail
61
limitations of open questions
too much information - difficult to analyse
63
positives of closed questionnaires
easy to analyse
64
limitations of closed questionnaires
lacks detail
66
what are closed questionnaires and what kind of data do they produce?
involve a fixed response | produce quantities data
70
positives of questionnaires
cost effective | data produced is easily analysed and compared (especially closed questionnaires)
71
limitations of questionnaires
social desirability bias
72
what are the two types of interview designs?
structured interviews | unstructured interviews
73
what are structured interviews?
all interviewees are asked pre-determined set of questions
74
strengths of structured interviews
replicable
75
limitations of structured interviews
lacks detail
76
what are unstructured interviews?
no set questions, there is a general aim of which topics will be discussed, the interviewee is encouraging to expand answers
77
strengths of unstructured interviews
flexibility | access to important unexpected information
78
limitations of unstructured interviews
interviewer bias | hard to analyse
79
list three differences between correlations and experiments
1. correlations look at the relationship between two co variable, experiments manipulate the IV (a variable). 2. correlations look at the correlation coefficient, experiments establish cause and effect. 3. correlations are to determine if there is a relationship, experiments are to determine a difference.
80
what kind of data can correlational analyse only be carried out on? and what do we have to do co-variables to get this?
quantitative data and operationalise the co-variables to ensure they are clearly defined and measurable

psychology - research methods (4 decks)

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