Psychology > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

(86 cards)

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1
Q

Reliability

A

Extent to which the results of research are consistent

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2
Q

Validity?

A

Extent to which a test or piece of research measures what it claims to be measuring

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3
Q

Internal validity?

A

Extent to which the researcher is measuring what was intended

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4
Q

External validity?

A

Extent to which the results can be generalised beyond the research setting

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5
Q

Ecological validity?

A

Where a measure of a behaviour accurately reflects the way in which the behaviour would occur in normal circumstances

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6
Q

Population validity?

A

Extent to which results from research can be generalised to the target population

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7
Q

Historical/temporal validity?

A

Findings from research that took place at a certain point in time accurately reflects the way that behaviour would occur at different point in time

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8
Q

Quantitative data?

A

Numerical data
Can be easy to quantify/analyse
Very objective and produce reliable results

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9
Q

Qualitative data?

A

Non-numerical data
Rich in detail
Very difficult to analyse
Very subjective and can produce invalid and/or not reliable results

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10
Q

Primary data?

A

Data that has been collected first hand by the researcher

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11
Q

Secondary data?

A

Data that already exists from a previous study but is being used within the current investigation

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12
Q

Hypothesis?

A

General prediction about what the researcher expects to happen of find out in an investigation

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13
Q

Scientific hypothesis should be?

A

Operationalised- clear and stated in well-defined terms
Testable- a research study could show if it’s correct or wrong

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14
Q

Directional hypotheses?

A

Predict the way one variable will affect another in the study

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15
Q

Experimental directional hypothesis usually starts with?

A

“Participants who…”

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16
Q

Correlational directional hypothesis usually starts with?

A

“There will be a positive/negative correlation…”

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17
Q

Non-directional hypotheses?

A

Not as specific in what they predict

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18
Q

Experimental non-directional hypothesis usually starts with?

A

“There will be a difference …”

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19
Q

Correlational non-directional hypothesis usually starts with?

A

“There will be a correlation between…”

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20
Q

Null hypotheses?

A

Written like non-directional hypotheses but predict that there will be no difference between the two conditions of the IV in relation to the DV

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21
Q

Experimental null hypothesis usually starts with?

A

“There will be no difference…”

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22
Q

Correlational null hypothesis usually starts with?

A

“There will be no correlation between…”

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23
Q

Independent variable?

A

The different conditions within the study

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24
Q

Dependent variable?

A

Variable which is affected by the IV

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25
Operationalisation?
Precise definition of what is being measured in the study
26
Extraneous variable?
Any variable other than the independent variable that could affect the dependent variable
27
Controlling extraneous variables to?
Increase internal validity
28
Situational variables? (E.g of extraneous variable)
Aspects of participant’s environment or the task that might affect their behaviour in study e.g lighting, temperature ect
29
Participant variable? (E.g of extraneous variable)
Characteristics of individual participants (like age, sex, intelligence) that might influence the outcome of a study
30
Demand characteristics (E.g of extraneous variable)
Cues in the environment that participant can use to work out the aim and hypothesis of study Can lead to social desirability effects and behaves in a way they think researcher will want
31
Control demand characteristics to?
Increase internal validity Can be controlled by using different participants in each condition
32
Investigator effects (E.g of extraneous variable)
Any (unintentional) influence of the researcher’s behaviour/characteristics on participants/data. Results wouldn’t be valid Low internal validity
33
Investigator effects can be controlled by?
Using more than one researcher checking inter-rater reliability Using the double/single blind method
34
Interviews could be minimised by?
Providing a standardised script Interviewers could have been trained to greet participants same way Ask questions in neutral tone Interviewers one gender Interviewers same gender as participants
35
Random allocation?
Participants allocated to conditions in an independent groups design using random method to control for participant variables
36
Random allocation technique?
For example: Allocate each of the participants a number from 1 to n Put the n numbers into a hat Assign the first n number drawn out to condition A and the rest to condition B
37
Counter balancing?
An attempt to control for the effects of order in a repeated measures design
38
Counter balancing technique?
Half the participants experience the conditions in one order and the other half in the opposite order
39
Purpose of counter balancing?
Controls the impact of order effects Allows order effects to be distributed evenly across conditions Making each condition of IV occur as the first task and second task equally
40
Randomisation?
The use of chance methods to control the effects of bias when designing materials and deciding order of experimental conditions
41
Randomisation technique?
For example: Put all n words into a container Draw out n words for list A and remaining for list B Or For each participant flip a coin Heads assigned for condition A and tails for condition B Continue until for all participants
42
Purpose for randomisation?
It eliminates investigator efforts/ bias since researcher has no control over materials/ order of the experimental conditions
43
Control groups?
The group of participants who receive no treatment/condition
44
Standardisation?
Procedures/instructions within an investigation are kept the same for all participants
45
Purpose of standardised instruction?
Include a check of understanding of instructions Inform participants that they will be debriefed at the end of study Remind them they have the right to withdraw from study
46
Laboratory experiments?
Carried out in a controlled environment Researcher exerts high level of control over IV to control extraneous v
47
Strengths of laboratory experiments?
Control over extraneous variables Replicability- high degree of control so high external reliability
48
Limitations of laboratory experiments?
Demand characteristics/investigator effects- participants may find it easy to guess aim of study- decrease internal validity Low ecological validity- may not reflect how participants would behave outside research settings
49
Field experiments?
Carried out in a real world setting rather than laboratory Experimenter deliberately manipulates IV to record effects on DV
50
Strength of field experiment?
High ecological validity- carried out in real world settings and task often resemble real life Reduction of demand characteristics- behaviour unlikely to be affected by dc and will be natural- increase internal validity
51
Limitations of field experiments?
Low control over extraneous variables- reducing internal validity Difficult to replicate- Unethical- researchers often don’t obtain informed consent
52
Natural experiments?
The IV and DV occur naturally and researcher simply measures DV
53
Strengths of natural experiments?
High ecological validity- real world settings Reduction of demand characteristics- increase internal validity Ethical method for socially sensitive research- provide insights into topics that couldn’t be in any other way
54
Limitations of natural experiments?
Low control over extraneous variables- reducing internal validity Difficult to replicate-
55
Quasi experiment?
The IV is pre-existing(e.g gender,age) but researcher manipulates the task that participants are required to complete Taken under controlled conditions
56
Strength of quasi experiments?
Control over extraneous variables-increase internal validity Easy replicate
57
Limitations of quasi experiments?
Potentially reduced ecological validity- task is manipulated by researchers- low mundane realism
58
Independent groups design?
Different participants are used for each condition
59
Strengths of independent groups?
Order effects are avoided Less likely for demand characteristics Same stimulus material can be used for all participants
60
Limitations of independent groups?
Participant variables might confound the results- reduce internal validity More time consuming than repeated measures to gather sample
61
Repeated measures design?
The same people participate in all the conditions of the experiment
62
Strength of repeated measures?
Participant variables don’t confound results Less time consuming to select participants than independent groups
63
Limitations of repeated measures?
Demand characteristics more likely to affect results- reduce internal validity Same stimulus material cannot be used for participants- decrease internal validity More time consuming than independent group to conduct study
64
Examples of order effects?
Practice effects Fatigue Boredom
65
Matched pairs design?
Participants are paired as closely as possible on important or relevant variables and then one from each pair is allocated to each condition
66
Strengths of matched pairs?
Order effects are avoided Participants less likely to be affected by demand characteristics Less time consuming to conduct study
67
Limitations of matched pairs?
Difficult and time consuming to match participants
68
Controlled observation?
Participants behaviour is observed and measured in a controlled environment
69
Strengths of controlled observation?
Control over extraneous variables- increase internal validity Easy to replicate
70
Limitations of controlled observation?
Demand characteristics/ investigator effects more likely to confound results- decrease internal validity Low ecological validity
71
Naturalistic observation?
Participants behaviour is watched and measured in a natural environment Observer simply observes and records naturally occurring behaviour in natural settings
72
Strengths of naturalistic observation?
High ecological validity Reduction of demand characteristics Ethical method for socially sensitive research
73
Limitations of naturalistic observation?
Low control over extraneous variables Difficult to replicate
74
Overt (disclosed) observations?
Observer is clearly visible and participant knows that they are being observed
75
Strength of overt observation?
Not unethical- participants know theyre being observed they can give informed consent and be fully debriefed at the end of study
76
Limitations of overt observation?
Demand characteristics may confound results- decrease internal validity
77
Covert (undisclosed) observations?
Observer is not clearly visible and participants don’t know that theyre being observed
78
Strength of covert observation?
Demand characteristics will not confound results- increase internal validity
79
Limitations of covert observation?
There can be ethical issues
80
Participants observation?
Researcher becomes a member of the group whose behaviour he/she is observing
81
Strength of participant observation?
Increased insight- researcher can experience the situation as the participants do which gives them increased insight- increase internal validity
82
Limitations of participant observation?
Presence of researcher may confound the results- participants may behave unnaturally Researcher bias may confound results
83
Non-participant observation?
Researcher remains outside of the group and doesn’t become a member
84
Strengths of Non-participant observation?
Presence of researcher unlikely to confound results Researcher bias is unlikely to confound results
85
Limitations of Non-participant observation?
Decreased insight
86
Closed questionnaires
Psychology
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