Quantitative Research

Question 1

Construct validity

Answer 1

Good measurements of variables

Question 2

Explain and Compare Experimental Studies

Answer 2

Variables are manipulated and effects on other variables are measured

ADVANTAGES
- Best method to establish cause and effect

DISADVANTAGES
- Careful design is essential otherwise confounding can threaten validity of results

Question 3

Identify measurements scales?

Answer 3

• Nominal scale: existing in name only scales
• Ordinal scales: Ratio or rank ordering
• Interval scales: Numerical values, no true zero
• Ratio scales: Has a true zero

Question 4

Name the goals of quantitative research?

Answer 4

• Describing Behaviours
• Predicting Behaviours
• Identify the causes of behaviour
• Explaining behaviour

Question 5

Identify what is in a consent form?

Answer 5

• Overview
• Description procedures
• Risks and inconveniences
• Benefits
• Costs and economic considerations
• Confidentiality
• Alternative treatments
• Voluntary participation
• Questions and further information
• Signature lines

Question 6

Define confounding variables

Answer 6

Variables that interfere with each oher and their possible effects on some other variables of interest

Question 7

Identify the steps of the scientific method?

Quantitative

Answer 7

1. Defining the research question
2. Forming a hypothesis
3. Define variables
4. Testing hypothesis
5. Drawing conclusions + Analyze data
6. Reporting your results
7. More research on theory building
8. New hypothesis derived from theory

Question 8

Explain and Compare Naturalistic Observations

Answer 8

Behaviour observed in the setting where it naturally occurs

ADVANTAGES
- Can provide realistic detailed info about nature, frequency, and context of naturally occuring behaviours
- Researchers can get realistic pictures of certain behviour occuring in natural settings

DISADVANTAGES
- Can’t establish cause and effect
- Observer effect: Observes presence may effect the behaviour of participants
- Observer bias: expects to see something

Question 9

Explain the experimental procedure for informed consent?

Answer 9

• Give consent form
• Outline what is required of them
• Seat at table with pencil
• Identify and exclude confounding variables

Question 10

Name the Two functions of Theories

Quantitative

Answer 10

1. It organises and explains a variety of specific facts or descriptions of behaviour
2. It generates new knowledge by focusing our thinking

Question 11

Define scientific theories?

Answer 11

• Are grounded in actual data from prior research
• Generate hypothesis which can be tested
• = Must be falsifiable

Question 12

Describe and Identify controls for Experimenter Expectancy Effects?

Answer 12

A researchers cognitive bias causes them to subconsciously influence the participants of an experiment

CONTROL
- Train experimenters well so that they behave consistently with all participants
- Run experimental and control conditions simultaneously, if the experimenters instructions are the same for both
- In terms of automated instructions provided they actually have an administered app or software. So the instructor administers the app and all the instructions are automated. There is very little bias possibility.

Question 13

Explain and Compare Correlational Studies

Answer 13

Examine the strength of association between variables.
Statistical technique to look for patterns in data

ADVANTAGES
- Allows prediction
- May help establish how results from experiments generalise to more natural settings
- Can examine issues that cannot be studied practically or ethically in experiments

DISADVANTAGES
- Cannot give causation

Question 14

Explain and Compare Surveys

Answer 14

Questions of tests administered to a sample drawn from a larger population

ADVANTAGES
- A properly drawn representative sample gives accurate info about the broader population
- Can elicit lots of data and private info

DISADVANTAGES
- Unrepresentative samples yield misleading results
- May give innacurate answers
- Questions may be understoof differentely

Question 15

Describe and Identify controls for Placebo Effects?

Answer 15

PLACEBO: is the actual treatment or the actual drug. Refers to the inactive substance or the inactive therapeutic intervention.
PLACEBO EFFECT: is when people that receive the treatment show a change in behaviour because of their expectations not because of the treatment itself. Refers to the effect of taking the medicine or a treatment that can’t be attributed to the treatment.

Question 16

Explain and Identify the direction of correlation?

Answer 16

Direction of correlation tells us how the variables are associated

• Zero = no correlation
• Positive = increases and decreases in same direction
• Negative = one increase and one decrease in opposite directions

Question 17

Explain and Compare Laboratory Observation

Answer 17

Sometimes observing behaviour in natural setting is not practical

ADVANTAGES
- Control to observer

DISADVANTAGES
-Artificial situation could result in artificial behaviour

Question 18

Identify the types of confounding variables?

Answer 18

1. Experimenter expectancy effects
2. Demand characteristics
3. Placebo effect

Question 19

Explain 3 of informed consent?

Answer 19

• Knowledge: Understanding the nature of the experiment, the alternatives available, and the potential risks and benefits
• Volition: Participants must provide their consent free from contsraint or duress, and may revoke their consent at any time
• Competence: The individuals ability to make a well-reasoned decision and to give consent meaningfully

Question 20

Explain how to establish causality?

Answer 20

1. Temporal Precedence - Experimenter manipulates a variable so that they decide which one comes first
2. Covariation - Experimenter measures whether the change in one variable is associated with a change in the other
3. Elimination of other possible explanations - The experimenter controls extraneous factors that influence the outcome of the experiment

Question 21

Define correlational studies

Answer 21

• A measure of the relationship between two or more variables
• A study that measures one variable (x), measures a second variable (y) and then statitically determines whether x and y are related

Question 22

External Validity

Answer 22

Sampling: are we interested in whether our data can be generalised back to the population

Question 23

Define Theories

Quantitative

Answer 23

Systematic body of ideas about a particular topic or phenomenon

Question 24

Identify the Types of Quantitative Studies?

Answer 24

• Case studies
• Naturalistic observations
• Laboratory observations
• Surveys
• Experimental studies
• Correlational studies

Question 25

Name the importance of ethical clearance characteristics?

Answer 25

- **Participant protection**: Ethical clearance ensures that participants are treated with respect, and their rights and well-being are safeguarded. - **Informed consent**: Ethical clearance requires researchers to obtain informed consent from participants. This means that participants have a clear understanding of the research's purpose, procedures, potential risks, benefits, and their right to withdraw without penalty. - **Confidentiality and privacy**: This includes safeguarding their personal information and ensuring that their responses are not linked back to them individually in any published results. - **Minimising harm**: Ethical clearance helps researchers identify potential risks or harms that participants might experience during the research. Researchers are required to minimize these risks and have plans in place to address any adverse effects. - **Fair treatment**: Ethical clearance ensures that participants are not exploited or unfairly treated during the research process. Researchers must consider the potential impact of the research on participants' lives and well-being. - **Data integrity**: Ethical clearance helps ensure that data collected is accurate, reliable, and collected in a manner that upholds the integrity of the research process. - **Reputation and trust**: Obtaining ethical clearance enhances the reputation of researchers and institutions. It builds trust between researchers, participants, and the broader community. - **Legal and institutional compliance**: Many institutions and jurisdictions require ethical clearance as a legal and institutional requirement. Conducting research without ethical clearance can lead to legal and ethical violations. - **Academic and professional standards**: Ethical clearance is a fundamental requirement in academic and professional research. Failing to obtain ethical clearance can result in a study being disregarded or rejected by academic and professional communities. - **Global research ethics**: Ethical clearance aligns with global standards of research ethics, promoting responsible and ethical research practices that contribute to the advancement of knowledge.

Question 26

Describe and Identify control for Demand Characteristics.

Answer 26

Cues that the participant pick up about the hypothesis of study or how they are expected to behave CONTROL: - **Deception** is a common approach: this involves telling the participant that the study manipulates one thing when they get another thing. Has to be done carefully because of serious ethical fault and approval. Only do it if it’s absolutely necessary. - Conduct a **manipulation check**: In which they ask participants what the true purposes of the study are? - **Double blind study** is a method used where the researchers and the participants are aware of the conditions: (hypothesis or group) they have been assigned. How do the researchers collect data from participants when they are not aware will help reduce the chances of where the participants will guess what the research is about?

Question 27

Explain and compare Case Studies

Answer 27

Examine one subject in detail ADVANTAGES - Provides rich and descriptive detail - Can study rare phenomena in depth - Suggest hypothesis for future study DISADVANTAGES - Cannot establish cause and effect - Case can not be generalised back to the population - Often relies on researchers subjective vulnerable opinion to observer bias

Question 28

Name the components of a sound research design

Answer 28

1. Hypothesis 2. Good measurement of variables (construct validity) 3. Sampling: are we interested in whether our data can be generalised back to the population (external validity) 4. Design: are we interested in cause or in associations between variables 5. Analyse the data: use statistical methods properly (statistical conclusion validity) 6. Report all findings 7. More research

Question 29

Identify and explain the fundamental ethical principles?

Answer 29

* Benefence: Maximise benefits minimize risks * Autonomy: People are treated as capable of making decisions about whether or not to participate in research * Justice: Fairness

Question 30

Statistical Conclusion Validity

Answer 30

Analyse the data: use statistical methods properly

Question 31

Explain Quantitative Research | 4 Marks ## Footnote **Numbers**

Answer 31

* draws on logical positivist paradigm * prediction and causation * produce numeric data for statistical analysis * uses statistical methods | NUMBERS

Question 32

Define the correlation coefficient

Answer 32

Statistical technique indicating the direction and strength of the relationship between 2 variables

Question 33

Define hypothesis

Answer 33

* Testable predictions based on theory * Cannot be proven, only supported by research and data

Question 34

Internal Validity

Answer 34

Design: are we interested in cause or the association between variables

Question 35

Identify what makes a good experiment?

Answer 35

1. Large sample size - Ensures that random assignment leads to experimental and control groups that are the same in all important ways. - Gives statistical power to find effect 2. Random assignment 3. Careful planning so that confounding variables are eliminated