RM 5&6

Question 1

what does every observational design need?

Answer 1

behavioural categories

Question 2

What are the 6 observational techniques?

Answer 2

naturalistic, controlled, overt, covert, participant, non-participant

Question 3

what is covert?

Answer 3

observer invisible, P unaware they are being observed
(+) natural behaviour, no DC
(-) not ethical, no IC = deception

Question 4

what is overt?

Answer 4

observer visible: P aware they are being observed + ethical: aware - demand characteristics - change behaviour

Question 5

what is participant?

Answer 5

A researcher taking part in the study + inc insight: R experience situations = insight into peoples lives = inc IV - researcher bias; results may be confounded = dec IV, may miss out stuff

Question 6

what is non-participant?

Answer 6

researcher doesnt join group + more likely to get natural behaviour, presence + bias unlikely to confound results - dec insight: may miss important details = dec IV

Question 7

what is naturalistic?

Answer 7

observed in own environment
(+) high eco validity, no control over variables, no DC
(-) low control over EX V: natural event, difficult to replicate

Question 8

what is controlled?

Answer 8

manipulated situation by the researcher + control over EX V: manipulated env = inc IV, replicable - DC, low ecological validity

Question 9

what would a researcher secretly joining a religious cult to see if people are being brain washed?

Answer 9

participant, covert, naturalistic

Question 10

what is a behaviour category?

Answer 10

when target behaviour is broken up into components that are observable and measureable (operationalised)

Question 11

why do we use behaviour categories and when are they made?

Answer 11

beforehand, observers agree on behavioural categories, they tally it down and see it in observation - we use BC to inc reliability of an observation - target behaviour needs to be clear/opertionalised

Question 12

what is observational sampling and the types?

Answer 12

its how the researcher tallies down the behaviour categories they’re researching, there are 2 types; event and time

Question 13

what is event sampling?

Answer 13

A target behaviour (category) or event is first established then the researcher records this event every time it occurs
(+) aims to record all behaviour so results more valid
(-) may be difficult to record all behaviour

Question 14

what is time sampling?

Answer 14

recording behaviour within a specific pre-established time frame e.g. every 30s
(+) time to record all behaviour so results are likely to be valid
(-) some behaviour will happen outside of the intervals so results may not be representative of participant’s behaviour, therefore not fully valid

Question 15

What is inter-rater reliability?

Answer 15

more than 1 observer is present for the observation, using same behavioural categories. IRR can also be completed retrospectively as observations can be video taped/ recorded, then potentially an infinite number of observations can be completed

Question 16

IRR checks?

Answer 16

1. observers create same BC together (operationalised) 2. observers tally down behaviour as it occurs 3. after, they compare tallies 4. results correlated and if tallies correlation coeff is 0.8 +, results have IR (below is likely BC havent been operationalised)

Question 17

why are correlations often used?

Answer 17

to establish the relationship between two naturally occurring variables that would otherwise be unethical to test during an experiment strong > +- 0.5

Question 18

what is a positive correlation?

Answer 18

as one variable increases, so does the other

Question 19

what is a negative correlation?

Answer 19

as one variable increases, the other decreases

Question 20

what is a zero correlation?

Answer 20

there is no relationship between the variables

Question 21

what are the strengths of correlational analysis?

Answer 21

• they suggests trends; if a relationship between two variables is established then an experiment can be conducted for a cause and effect - useful when experiments would be impossible or unethical as it provides an insight into areas of psychology that wouldn’t be able to investigate - high ecological validity because the relationship between two variables are naturally occuring

Question 22

what are the limitations of correlational analysis?

Answer 22

correlations do not establish a cause and effect as they only measure the degree of interrelationship; conclusions may not be valid

Question 23

What’s the difference between a correlation and an experiment?

Answer 23

an experiment has an IV and DV whereas a correlation has two variables an experiment has no cofounding whereas a correlation may be affected by something else

Question 24

what is peer review and why is it done?

Answer 24

a process in which scientists examine other scientists’ work to ensure quality and relevance of research to ensure findings are accurate and to evaluate proposed designs

Question 25

what are the steps in peer review used to validate new knowledge?

Answer 25

- psychologist sends their report manuscript to journal - editor examines report and sends to psychologist that are experts in the topic - peer reviewers read the manuscript and assess - its sent back with comments - using these, the editor decides whether to accept or reject

Question 26

what is the purpose of peer review?

Answer 26

allows researchers to share ideas and to test and evaluate each other's work - prevents dissemination of irrelevant findings - ensures published research is taken serious - inc prob of errors being found

Question 27

what are the 3 methods done in peer review?

Answer 27

single-blind , double-blind, open review

Question 28

what is single blind review?

Answer 28

The reviewers do not know the names of the researchers, the unanimity helps the review to be unbiased.

Question 29

what is double-blind review?

Answer 29

This involves both the reviewers and the researcher being anonymous; bias based on ethnicity, gender, age can be eliminated but they might be recognised through writing style

Question 30

what is open review?

Answer 30

The reviewer and researcher are aware of each others identities, reducing risk of personal comments and plagiarism and encourages open and honest reviewing

Question 31

what are the 3 limitations of peer review?

Answer 31

- problems of validation: fraudulent work has failed to be detected - consistency with previous knowledge: most findings don't 'fit' with previous work so can be rejected meaning that findings that go against existing theories may be rejected - bias in peer review: theoretical views differ, institutional views (prestigious ones favoured) and narrow world

Question 32

what 3 things does a consent form need?

Answer 32

p1: say what study aims to test, describe the experiment and what the participant will have to do, timings p2: ethical issues (right to withdraw, confidentiality and debrief at the end) p3: 3 questions, signature and date

Question 33

what is a pilot study? and why?

Answer 33

small scale study that is carried out before the main study in order to check procedures (nothing to do with results) to find any methodological flaws in procedure but also to make relevant changes/ improvements (need to know potential flaws and improvements)

Question 34

what things do pilot studies check?

Answer 34

timings, participants understanding of the procedure, leading questions, operationalisation of behaviour categories, if SI are clear, num of participants

Question 35

what things should a debrief include? (8)

Answer 35

- thank the participant for taking part - include the full aim of the study - explain what the participants in both conditions of the study were expected to do - remind participants that they can still withdraw from the investigation and that their info is confidential - describe results of study - allow participants the opportunity to ask any questions - let participants know that is they are suffering any psychological harm then they can contact you - ask if participants still consent to results being used in study

Question 36

what is standardised instructions?

Answer 36

giving the exact same instruction about the procedure to all participants - they're usually pre-written ( avoids investigator effects)

Question 37

what must standardised instructions include?

Answer 37

- describing what will happen in the study ( AO2): - ethics ( RTW, confidentiality, debrief) - checking participants understand what they been asked to do - any questions? - needs to be written verbatim as if being said to participants

Question 38

what must a consent form include?

Answer 38

1. an explanation of procedure 2. ethical issues (3 atleast - right to withdraw, confidentiality, debrief 3. signature of participants consent, including 3 questions