Research Methods

Question 1

What is an ethical issue?

Answer 1

A conflict between the needs of researchers and the rights of participants.

Question 2

What does BPS stand for?

Answer 2

BPS stands for British Psychological Society.

Question 3

What is the purpose of the BPS code of ethics?

Answer 3

The BPS code of ethics is a set of rules guiding psychologists to act responsibly and ethically in their work.

Question 4

What is informed consent? (EI)

Answer 4

The process where participants are provided with information about the risks and benefits of a study before agreeing to participate. Usually with a form.

Question 5

What is deception in research? (EI)

Answer 5

When participants are misled or when important information about the true purpose of the study is omitted.

Question 6

What is the right to withdraw? (EI)

Answer 6

Participants have the right to leave a study at any time without any penalty.

Question 7

What is protection from physical and psychological harm? (EI)

Answer 7

Researchers must ensure participants are not harmed and don’t experience stress beyond normal.

Question 8

What does confidentiality mean in research? (EI)

Answer 8

Keeping participants’ personal information private so they cannot be identified.

Question 9

What is privacy in the context of research? (EI)

Answer 9

Participants have control over what personal info is shared and can keep aspects private.

Question 10

What is debriefing in research?

Answer 10

Participants are fully informed after a study on its true purpose.

Question 11

What is Presumptive Consent?

Answer 11

When a researcher assumes that the participants would agree to take part.

Question 12

What is an Ethics Committee?

Answer 12

A group that reviews research plans to ensure they are ethical and protect participants.

Question 13

What is Cost-Benefit Analysis?

Answer 13

When researchers weigh the potential harm to participants against the benefits.

Question 14

What does Reliability refer to in research?

Answer 14

The consistency of a study and reproducibility of it.

Question 15

What is Replication in research?

Answer 15

Repeating a test for the same results obtained.

Question 16

What is Validity?

Answer 16

Accuracy of a study; measures what it’s supposed to measure.

Question 17

What is Internal Validity?

Answer 17

The extent to which a study accurately shows one thing causes another without outside influence.

Question 18

What is External Validity?

Answer 18

How well the results of a study can be applied to real life or to other people.

Question 19

What is ecological validity? (EV)

Answer 19

The extent to which the findings of a study can be GENERALIZED to real world settings.

Question 20

What is temporal validity? (EV)

Answer 20

The extent to which the findings of a study remain relevant and applicable over time (different time periods).

Question 21

What is population validity? (EV)

Answer 21

The extent to which the results of a study can be generalized to other people beyond participants.

Question 22

What is generalisability?

Answer 22

Generalisability is how well the results of a study can be applied to people/situations beyond the study.

Question 23

What is an independent variable?

Answer 23

An internal variable is a variable that changes or is manipulated to see its effect.

Question 24

What is a dependant variable?

Answer 24

A dependant variable is a variable that is measured or observed.

Question 25

What is operationalisation?

Answer 25

Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured.

Question 26

What is an extraneous variable?

Answer 26

Unwanted, additional variables that interfere with the independent variable (IV) and dependent variable (DV) and are a threat to internal validity.

Question 27

What is a control group?

Answer 27

A group that does not participate in a study to compare with the experimental group.

Question 28

What is standardisation?

Answer 28

All participants in a study have the exact same experience so participants don't act differently.

Question 29

What are laboratory experiments?

Answer 29

Laboratory experiments are conducted in a controlled environment.

Question 30

What does the researcher manipulate in a laboratory experiment?

Answer 30

The researcher manipulates the independent variable (IV).

Question 31

What does the researcher measure in a laboratory experiment?

Answer 31

The researcher measures the dependent variable (DV).

Question 32

What is maintained during a laboratory experiment?

Answer 32

Strict control of extraneous variables is maintained.

Question 33

What is a benefit of laboratory experiments?

Answer 33

Laboratory experiments are replicable due to operationalization.

Question 34

What is the level of internal validity in laboratory experiments?

Answer 34

The internal validity is high.

Question 35

What might participants be aware of in a laboratory experiment?

Answer 35

Participants are aware of the experiment but might not know the true aims of it.

Question 36

What is a limitation of laboratory experiments?

Answer 36

Laboratory experiments have low ecological validity and may lack generalizability due to high control.

Question 37

What are laboratory experiments more prone to?

Answer 37

Laboratory experiments are more prone to demand characteristics.

Question 38

What are field experiments?

Answer 38

Field experiments are conducted in an everyday setting, manipulate the independent variable (IV), and measure the dependent variable (DV).

Question 39

What is a strength of field experiments?

Answer 39

Field experiments have high ecological validity and reduce demand characteristics.

Question 40

What is a limitation of field experiments?

Answer 40

Field experiments have lower internal validity and raise major ethical issues.

Question 41

How does the researcher manipulate the IV in field experiments?

Answer 41

The researcher deliberately manipulates the independent variable (IV).

Question 42

Are participants aware they are in an experiment?

Answer 42

Participants are often unaware they are in an experiment.

Question 43

What are natural experiments?

Answer 43

Natural experiments occur in everyday settings and are not controlled by the researcher.

Question 44

How does a researcher utilize natural experiments?

Answer 44

The researcher takes advantage of a pre-existing independent variable (IV) that is naturally occurring.

Question 45

What does the independent variable (IV) in natural experiments imply?

Answer 45

The IV is not manipulated, meaning nothing would have changed if it were not studied.

Question 46

What is a strength of natural experiments?

Answer 46

Participants' behavior is compared to their behavior before, or a control group is used, providing high ecological validity.

Question 47

What opportunities do natural experiments provide?

Answer 47

They allow for research that may usually not be done in a controlled lab setting.

Question 48

What is a limitation of natural experiments?

Answer 48

They are difficult to replicate and are low in internal validity.

Question 49

What are the four types of experimental methods in AQA A-Level Psychology?

Answer 49

Laboratory, field, natural, and quasi-experimental methods.

Question 50

True or False: A laboratory experiment is conducted in a controlled environment.

Answer 50

True

Question 51

Fill in the blank: A _____ experiment takes place in a real-world setting.

Answer 51

field

Question 52

What is a key characteristic of a natural experiment?

Answer 52

It occurs in a natural setting without manipulation by the researcher.

Question 53

Which experimental method allows for manipulation of the independent variable?

Answer 53

Laboratory experiment

Question 54

True or False: Quasi-experimental methods do not use random assignment.

Answer 54

True

Question 55

What is one advantage of laboratory experiments?

Answer 55

High levels of control over variables.

Question 56

What is a disadvantage of field experiments?

Answer 56

Less control over extraneous variables.

Question 57

Fill in the blank: In a quasi-experiment, the groups are _____ rather than randomly assigned.

Answer 57

pre-existing

Question 58

What is a primary benefit of natural experiments?

Answer 58

They study real-world phenomena without intervention.

Question 59

Multiple choice: Which type of experiment is typically the most ecologically valid?

Answer 59

Field experiment

Question 60

True or False: Laboratory experiments are usually low in internal validity.

Answer 60

False

Question 61

What is one ethical concern associated with field experiments?

Answer 61

Lack of informed consent from participants.

Question 62

Fill in the blank: Laboratory experiments often use _____ to ensure reliability.

Answer 62

standardized procedures

Question 63

What is a common use for quasi-experimental methods?

Answer 63

When random assignment is not possible, such as in educational settings.

Question 64

Multiple choice: Which experimental method is least affected by demand characteristics?

Answer 64

Natural experiment

Question 65

True or False: Field experiments can achieve high external validity.

Answer 65

True

Question 66

What is one limitation of natural experiments?

Answer 66

They may lack control over variables, making causation difficult to establish.

Question 67

Fill in the blank: The _____ method is often used in psychology to test theories in a controlled setting.

Answer 67

laboratory

Question 68

What is the primary focus of a field experiment?

Answer 68

To measure the effect of an independent variable in a natural environment.

Question 69

Multiple choice: Which method is most commonly used in psychological research?

Answer 69

Laboratory experiments

Question 70

True or False: Quasi-experiments can provide insight into real-world issues.

Answer 70

True

Question 71

What type of data is typically collected in a field experiment?

Answer 71

Behavioral data in a natural setting.

Question 72

Fill in the blank: The _____ method can be more time-consuming due to the need for natural settings.

Answer 72

natural

Question 73

What is a common criticism of laboratory experiments?

Answer 73

They may lack ecological validity.

Question 74

Multiple choice: Which experimental method is least likely to have ethical concerns?

Answer 74

Laboratory experiment