Research Methods! Flashcards

Question

Define thematic analysis

Answer 1

Themes are chosen from the 1st transcript Quotes are then selected in the next transcripts that fit the theme = qualitative.

Answer 2

Strengths Easy way to access data, without needing to collect participants. Coding Analysis More objective use of data Easy to compare against other sources. Thematic Analysis Deeper understanding of the context behind the themes. Limitations More time consuming as many films, interviews etc must be transcribed. Coding Analysis Lack of detail on the context behind the words. Researcher bias in the choosing of the words to count. Thematic Analysis Difficult to analyse Researcher bias in interpretation of the themes. Subjective interpretations

Answer 3

Longitudinal

Answer 4

Observations Interviews Questionnaires Experiments Content Analysis Brain Scans & Post-mortems

Answer 5

Strengths: Detailed understanding of the person (idiographic) Can be used to prove/disprove nomothetic experiments Have high ecological validity as tend to be studied in natural setting. Limitations: Unable to generalize (as unique) Time consuming

Answer 6

Statement of the purpose of the study. “To investigate the effects of … on …” E.g., “To investigate the effects of colour (red or blue football kit) on performance in football”

Answer 7

Prediction of the studies results. The IV & DV must be OPERATIONALISED Specific (both IV’s stated) & measurable (clear what the data is)

Answer 8

Directional (one-tailed) = “IV1 will be higher/lower in the DV than IV2” Non-Directional (two-tailed) = “There will be a difference/relationship between IV1 & IV2 in the DV” Null Hypothesis = “There will be no difference/relationship between IV1 & IV2 in the DV” Directional Correlational Hypothesis = There will be a positive/negative correlation between CV1 & CV2

Answer 9

Independent Variable (IV): the variable that changes (e.g., two different groups/tasks/settings). Dependent Variable (DV): the variable that is measured (e.g., no of… score… time (secs)… height (cm). Extraneous Variable: any other variable that may affect the DV. Confounding Variable: a variable that is connected to both the IV & DV

Answer 10

pps figures out the aim of the research and changes their behaviour. Either to suit the hypothesis Or alter the results, known as a ‘screw you’ effect.

Answer 11

When the researcher unintentionally alters the outcome of the research. Non-verbal communication, may communicate their feelings changing how pps behave. Physical characteristics, appearance may change way the pps response, e.g., gender. Biased interpretation of data, may analyse data to meet the hypothesis, (i.e., if data is subjective.

Answer 12

Pilot study- A small-scale trial run of an actual investigation. Aim- to check any issues, modify the design or procedure, saving time and money. Pps would be given a questionnaire after the study to check for any issues. For instance: Experiment: Check for extraneous/confounding variables Check the materials measure what they’re supposed to Check that instructions make sense Check timings and correct materials Self report- Remove confusing or inappropriate questions Check that the questionnaire works, e.g., answers can be recorded correctly. Observations- Check that coding & behavioural categories are correct and specific enough Check the inter-observer reliability using the behavioural categories Check the timing of the observation and any issues in location needed for observation

Answer 13

Respect the WIC W: Right to Withdraw I: Informed Consent C: Confidentiality Avoid the DD's D: Deception D: Distress (protection from harm) By doing a D: Debrief

Answer 14

Allocate research funding Validate the quality and relevance of the research (i.e., whether it is socially sensitive). Suggest amendments or improvements to the research paper or study itself

Answer 15

Accept Accept with amendments Reject but with resubmission Outright reject

Answer 16

Editor starts the process; allocating research to a reviewer Reviewer reads and critiques in a 2-4 week deadline Reviewer critiques: Validity of the science, any scientific errors, design or methodology issues The importance of the findings to the scientific community Originality of the work and any inaccurate/ missing references (plagiarism)

Answer 17

Strengths Ensures that only high-quality research is published. Checks that all work is original and not plagiarised. Anonymity of reviewer can ensure honest critique. Criticisms However, anonymity of reviewer’s = can criticise a rival researcher. An ‘open review process’ avoids this. Editors tend to publish significant results more than non; to increase the credibility of their journal (file drawer problem). Slows down rate of change in science – ‘new’ theories going against current opinion are less likely to be passed by a reviewer.

Answer 18

Economy = “production & consumption of goods & services & supply of money” It involves the management of resources: Labour (employees) Land Capital (money) Technology Role of the father = less capital for employers as funding both paternity & maternity leave Less labour in the market to produce goods and services, as both parents are at home & not working Nurseries demand drops – causing unemployment. However, women gain equal pay & position in the labour market. May advance design & technology from female perspective.

Answer 19

Inter-rater/observer reliability 2 or more observers individually record behaviour They compare the scores using a correlation. If there is +0.8 correlation between the scores, there is high inter-rater reliability.

Answer 20

Test-retest reliability Pps take the same test twice, using the same procedure at different times or settings. If there is a +0.8 correlation between the scores there is high test-retest reliability.

Answer 21

Ecological Validity Whether results obtained in an experiment can be generalised to real life settings. Population Validity Whether the results from a sample can be generalised to other types of people in the normal population. Temporal Validity Whether the results can be generalised to other time periods.

Answer 22

Face Validity Whether a test looks like it measures what it intends to measure. Concurrent Validity Compare a new measure against an existing valid measure. If there is a +0.8 correlation between the scores, the new measure has high concurrent validity.

Answer 23

Empirical Methods- Info from direct observation/ experiments Control- Manipulation of IV= causation of DV Replicability- Repeat study to get same results (standardisation) Objectivity- Results not affected by subjective opinion or assumption

Answer 24

To make and test predictions of research results empirically

Answer 25

Work to disprove the hypothesis (accept or reject null)

Answer 26

“Shared set of assumptions about a subject matter & methods used.” Paradigm shift = new information comes to light contradicts an existing theory; the new theory starts to become accepted by scientific community. Scientific Revolution = when disconfirming evidence build and overthrows the dominant theory, e.g., cognitive neuroscience.

Answer 27

Observation Produce theory Create hypothesis Draw conclusions Observe.

Answer 28

Existing theory Create hypothesis Collect data Draw conclusion Accept/reject hypothesis

Answer 29

Journal Article References Surname, initial, year, title of article, title of journal, volume/issue number, page number Example: Loftus, E.F., & Palmer, J.C. (1974). Reconstruction of automobile destruction: An example of the interaction between language and memory. Journal of verbal learning and verbal behaviour, 13(5), 585-589. Book References Surname, initial, year, book title, publishing location, publisher Example: Gleitman, H., Gross, J. & Reisberg, D. (2011). Psychology 8th Edition. New York: W. W. Norton & Co.

Answer 30

Use of numbers E.g., closed questions or coding analysis

Answer 31

Use of words & language E.g., open questions or thematic analysis

Answer 32

Strength- easy to compare data Weakness- lacks detailed understanding

Answer 33

Strength- rich details understanding Weakness- hard to compare

Answer 34

Directly gathered data E.g., experiments or observations

Answer 35

Indirectly gathered from other sources E.g., meta-analysis – study of many other studies results & conclusions drawn.

Answer 36

Strengths- data is specifically related to the hypothesis being tested. Weakness- time consuming to collect & expensive.

Answer 37

Strength- cheap to use, and easy to conduct. Weakness- data is not specific to the hypothesis being tested.

Answer 38

Central Tendency= mean, median, mode Dispersion= range & standard deviation

Answer 39

Maths symbols = equals to < less than << much less than > greater than >> much greater than ∝ proportional to ~ approximately equal to

Answer 40

Bar chart Categories (IV) Experiments Histogram Continuous data Distribution of data Scattergraph Correlation Co-Variables Table Represents descriptive statistics

Answer 41

Normal Distribution Mean, median & mode are equal

Answer 42

Negative Skew (NS) Mode is higher than the median & mean

Answer 43

Positive Skew (PS) Mode is lower than the median & mean

Answer 44

Measure is too easy (NS) or difficult (PS) Sample bias, e.g., opportunity or volunteer sample Outliers in data, affecting the mean

Answer 45

Make the measure harder (NS) or easier (PS) Reduce the sample bias, e.g., stratified or random sample. Remove outliers in data

Answer 46

Interval Data Ordinal Data Nominal Data

Answer 47

Data has fixed intervals between each score. It is on a scale or has a fixed 0. Time, height, score, number of.

Answer 48

It is ranked based on subjective data, the intervals between each pps score varies. Rating of colour preference, rating of attractiveness

Answer 49

Data in categories or labels. Tends to be binary data. Yes or no, 0 or 1, Agree or Disagree, Old or Young.

Answer 50

p<0.05 (5%) Meaning = “there is 95% confidence that there is a significant finding. Only a 5% probability that the results are due to chance.” 5% level of significance strikes a balance between the probability of making a Type I or II error. Only use 1% level of significance if the research is socially sensitive then better to be cautious and make a Type II error (as this could be damaging to society if incorrect).

Answer 51

False Positive Rejected null when should have accepted it. More likely at 10% level of significance.

Answer 52

False Negative Accepted null when should have rejected it. More likely to 1% level of significance.

Research Methods! Flashcards

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