Research Method Formula

Question 1

Identify the IV in this study 2 marks

Answer 1

What variable does the study change

E.g. Environment

Question 2

Identify the DV in this study 2 marks

Answer 2

Identification of dependent variable (measure).

Ensure variable is operationalised

E.g number of verbal errors

Question 3

Write a suitable hypothesis for this study. -3 marks

Answer 3

All hypothesis ensure you :
Operationalise the DV and IV (there should be an and between the IV)

Non-directional

Experiment:There is a difference
Correlation: there is a relationship

Directional

Experiment: There a greater/ less/ more of (ID)
Correlation: there is a higher/ lower relationship between ..

Question 4

Should hypothesis be directional or non- directional for this study. - 2 marks.

Answer 4

It should be directional/ non directional. 1 mark

Judgement- link to study why?

Directional- there is past research that indicates .. link to study

Non directional- there is no past research for the researcher to predict the direction of the results.

Question 5

Explain how the psychologist would have obtained the participants for their random sample–3 marks

Answer 5

AO2!

Give each participant a number
Put (number) of participant names in a hat.
Pick out a certain sample (number) of participants.

Question 6

Explain how psychological would have obtained the participants for their systematic sample-3 marks

Answer 6

Researcher should identify the different sub groups within the target population. E.g age, gender.

The proportion needed for the sample representative need to be worked out.

The researcher works out how many participants are needed from each sub group to make the sample.

Particulants are sampled using the lottery method.

(Look at questions where this is applied AO2)

Question 7

Explain how the psychologist would have obtained the participants for their opportunity sample-3 marks

Answer 7

Researcher goes out into the streets.
Select anyone who happens to be willing or available to take part until you have your full sample.

Question 8

Explain how you h psychologist would have randomly allocated the participants- 3 marks

Answer 8

Give each participant a number
Put all numbers are put into a random number generator.
The first number goes in group one.
The second number goes in group two.
Continue this process until you have your sample of —.

Question 9

Name an appropriate statistical test for this study? Explain why it is suitable- 5,6,7 marks

Answer 9

1 mark) chi-square, sign test, Mann-Witney, W, spearman rho, unrelated t-test, related t-est, persons

Heavily relys on justification!!!

Is it a difference or a correlation?
Why! Is it because it is an experiment that changed the IV or does it just looks at a relationship.

Is the experimental design unrelated (independent) or related ( matched pairs and repeated). WHY? How do you know this? Are they only taking part in one condition, where they matched before this based of a quality?, did they have to take part in two conditions. THIS IS ONLY FOR EXPERIMENTS.

How is the data collected? Is it nominal, ordinal or interval.
Why, how do you know this?
Nominal- collects data in categories
Ordinal- ranks data in order
Interval- universal ranks such as seconds or meters

Question 10

Design a study 9-12 marks

Answer 10

12 marks will usually contain 4 points 9 usually 3 points. Each point is 3 marks each!.
ALL POINTS MUST BE PRESENTED.
Link to the study and give examples in as much detail as possible
Rather than “give a presentation to an audience” explain what the presentation should be on and why?
Examples must be standardised.

When it comes to resolving issues such as confounding variables.Explain how you would resolve it . Why you would/ what would happen if it wasn’t resolved.
Ethical issues need to be applied to study ESPECIALLY!

When it comes to observations such as covert participant explain why you choice that and why you didn’t choose the other one.

Time vs event sampling. Why did you choose one sampling over another. What would happen if you choice the other sampling. Compare them.

A self report technique. Why did you choose interviews or questionnaires. Compare ( why is the one you choose better than the other)and apply to senerio. Is the questions open or closed qualitative or quantitative are question are online or postal. Why? Is the interview structured or unstructured. Why?

Type of sampling or experiment. Why did you choose that over the others what is the strength of that and apply to study.

Majority of marks come from justification!!! Application is key. Design a study is the idea that the study can be replicated therefore needs to be standardised throughout. It should be easy for someone to copy.

Question 11

I hat do the measures of central tendency suggest? Justify your answer - 2 marks

Answer 11

Mean- is the average of all the data in a collum. Apply to study. 1) for interpretation of mean.
2) for the judtification about the difference in the mean score between the two conditions (r.g mean is greater in condition A than B (give numbers ))

Standard deviation-
1)if they are close it suggest a similar performance if it’s greater suggest a unsimilar performance. Is data more consistent in one condition?
2) justification about the difference between the deviations ( give a numbers)

Median - middle number
1) interpretation of what it suggest e.g students are less stress after running at break time/ condition A than if they didn’t run at all

2) justification- difference in the median ratings in each condition- lower or greater in what condition.

2)

Question 12

Explain how a content analysis could be used to analyse data- 4 marks

Answer 12

Identify important recurring categorical themes ( from where e.g interviews, reading through diary’s)

Give an example of a categorical theme. (Apply to study)

Read over (object from study) ,Work through transcribed conversations/ repetitively listening to segments of recording.

Tally the number of occurrences of each of the categorical themes.