Psychology Research Methods

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  • Created by: E3student
  • Created on: 05-11-19 17:37
Dependant variable
What the researcher measures
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Independent variable
What the researcher changes to make conditions of a study
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Extraneous variable
Something that the researcher cannot control
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Hypothesis
A testable statement about the relationship between two variables
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Null hypothesis
No variables affect other variables
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Alternative hypothesis
attempts to show the null hypothesis is not supported
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Opportunity sampling
Chosen people from the target population are willing and able to take part
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Advantages/ Disadvantages of opportunity sampling
A= Accurate, simple D=might not be a generalised sample, may be biased
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Random sampling
Every member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected
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Advantages/ Disadvantages of random sampling
A= no researcher bias, likely to be representative D= time consuming
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Systematic sampling
selecting every nth person in the target population
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Advantages/ Disadvantages of systematic sampling
A= not biased, accurate D=time consuming
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Stratified sampling
identifying subgroups in the target population then working out what proportion each group represents
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Advantages/ Disadvantages of stratified sampling
A= very representative D=time consuming
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Target population
the large group of people the researcher wants to study
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Sample
small group of people who represent the target population
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Experimental design
how participants are used in conditions of an experiment
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Independent groups
2 or more separate groups are used where each group takes part in a different condition
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Advantages/ Disadvantages of independent groups
A= no order effects, use same material, pts can't work out the aim D= participant variables, lots of people needed
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Repeated measures
one group takes part in both conditions
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Advantages/ Disadvantages of repeated measures
A= no participant variables, less people D=could guess the aim, more material needed, order effects
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Matched pairs
Participants of similar abilities are grouped into pairs and each member takes part in a different condition
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Advantages/ Disadvantages of matched pairs
A= less pts variables, no order effects, use same material D=time consuming, hard to match, variables still present
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Order effects
pts performance in 2nd condition is effected because they have already done the first condition. they could do better because of practice or worse due to tiredness
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Laboratory experiments
an experiment conducted in a controlled environment
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Advantages/ Disadvantages of lab experiments
A= control EVs, high standardisation, easily replicated D=artificial and unrealistic tasks, lack ecological validity, pts aware they're in a study so behaviour could alter
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Field experiment
An experiment conducted in a natural setting. Experimenter manipulates the IV.
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Advantages/ Disadvantages of field experiments
A= more realistic, high ecological validity, pts unaware they're in a study D= less control of EVs
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Natural experiment
An experiment conducted in a natural or laboratory setting.
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Advantages/ Disadvantages of natural experiments
A= high validity, EVs can be well-controlled because standardised procedures can be followed D= no random allocation, setting could be artificial, pts aware they're being studied
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Questionnaires
a set of standard questions given to pts about a topic
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Advantages/ Disadvantages of questionnaires
A= collect lots of data quickly, ethical as pts fully aware what they're doing, standardised D= can't monitor behaviour, can't see if answers are true, if closed question then pts can't expand their answer
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Interviews
a method to collect data by asking questions directly
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Structured interview
pre-set questions in a fixed order
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Unstructured interview
questions determined on pts answers
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Advantages/ Disadvantages of interviews
A= large amounts of data, provide thoughts and feelings, collate and analyse data easily D= pts may lie, structured lack detail and may be frustrating for interviewee
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Case study
an in-depth investigation of an individual, small group of organisation
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Advantages/ Disadvantages of case studies
A= provide detailed information, record changes over time, encourage researchers to change theory to become more accurate D= subjective data, memories may not be reliable, researcher bias, can't apply to everyone as its unique data
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Observation study
collecting data by watching actions and behaviour
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Categories of behaviour
separate actions that are recorded as examples of target behaviour
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Inter-observer reliability
how closely the record sheets of 2 or more people match
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Advantages/ Disadvantages of observational studies
A= high ecological validity, reliable, record real behaviour D= don't know why behaviours occurred, ethical issues- informed consent, privacy, mistakes when recording behaviour would affect accuracy
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Correlation
technique used by researchers to establish a strength of a relationship between 2 variables
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Scatter diagram
used to show correlations
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Advantages/ Disadvantages of correlations
A= see if 2 variables are linked, used if its unethical to carry out an experiment D= doesn't say which variable caused the relationship, need lots of data, not reliable on small populations
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BPS
British psychological society
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Ethical issues
points of concern about what is morally right
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Code of ethics by BPS
Respect, competence, responsibility, integrity
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How to deal with the code of ethics
Respect - confidential and anonymous data, informed consent. Competence- only give advise if qualified. Responsibility- protect from harm, debrief. Integrity- honest and fair with interactions
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PCDRIP
Privacy, confidentiality, deception, right to withdraw, informed consent, protection from harm
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Qualitative data
data in descriptive form e.g. verbal answers
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Quantitative data
data in numerical form e.g test scores
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Primary data
data collected firsthand from the source by the researcher
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Secondary data
data already published and collected by someone else
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Mean
adding all the values and dividing by total value
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Mode
most common value
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Median
middle value
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Range
difference between the highest and lowest value
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Normal distribution
an arrangement of data in which most values group in the middle of the range and the rest taper off symmetrically towards each end (mean, mode and median all middle on the graph)
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Reliability (planning)
study would be redone and similar results would be found. random sampling is more reliable as it removes researcher bias and increases reliability. Quantitative data is more reliable as its accurately measured not opinion based. Repeated measures.
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Validity (planning)
Questionnaires are valid
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What the researcher changes to make conditions of a study

Back

Independent variable

Card 3

Front

Something that the researcher cannot control

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

A testable statement about the relationship between two variables

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

No variables affect other variables

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
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