Research Methods

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  • Created by: bio_bro
  • Created on: 09-11-21 00:29

Aim - intention of investigation

                     Hypothesisstatements of expected outcome, must be clear + operationalised

Null hypothesispredicts IV has no effect on DV

         -         Directional (one tailed) = specific about effect that IV will have on DV 

         -         Non-directional (two-tailed) = Say IV will affect DV but not specific about how this will be 

         -         Directional = sufficient background evidence (previous research)

         -         Non-directional = if evidence is unclear + researcher wants to suggest they are avoiding bias

Extraneous variables - things that could influence DV = therefore should be controlled e.g. individual differences

Confounding variables - variables that have already effected DV

         -         Should have been controlled

Operationalised - made specific so that the hypothesis is clear and testable

Types of experiments

  • Lab
  • Field
  • Quasi
  • Natural

Lab experiments (AO3) 

         -         In environment that allows high degree of control over extraneous variables e.g. skinners box

         -         Controls variation of IV and measures change of DV

         -         Advantages:

              More confident of relationship between IV + DV being casual

              High degree of control = method more easily reliable = method is reliable

         -         Disadvantages:

              High degree of control = situation is artificial = lack ecological validity (do not reflect natural behaviour)

              Lack mundane (everyday) realism

Field experiments (AO3)

         -         In real world setting

         -         Researcher still manipulates IV but little control over extraneous variables

         -         Pts don’t know they are taking part in experiment

         -         Advantages:

              Ppts don’t know they are in a study = no demand characteristics

              Ppts behaving naturally = research has higher validity = behaviour reflects real life

         -         Disadvantages:

 Loss of control over potential extraneous variables = harder to find causal relationship between IV + DV

 Harder to replicate – because of lack of control over extraneous variables, unreliable

Natural VS Quasi

         -         IV cannot be manipulated by researcher (for ethical/practical reasons)

         -         Natural = IV refers to a situation or environmental factor e.g. kind of education system a child has been through

         -         Quasi = when IV is an individual difference e.g. gender, intelligence

         -         Advantage of Natural + Quasi:

ü  Can study variables that we would not be able to (ethical/practical reasons)

         -         Disadvantages of Natural + Quasi:

            ý  Can’t manipulate the IV = must be cautious about assuming a causal relationship relying on natural variation = no control over potentially important extraneous variables

Experimental design?

         -         Allocating participants to conditions

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