Psychology Research Methods

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what is a lab experiment
pros+cons
controlled environment, IV deliberately changed by researcher.
p= standardised procedures and high internal validity
c= low ecological validity and demand characteristics
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what is a field experiment
pros+cons
naturally occurring environment, IV deliberately changed, and measured effect on DV.
p= high ecological validity and reduce the chances of demand characteristics
c= ethical issues and low internal validity
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what is a natural experiment
pros+cons
IV occurs without researcher - happens by itself.
p=external validity and suitability for topics that can't be studied in a lab setting
c= low internal validity and researcher bias
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what are independant groups
pros+cons
pps allocated to diff. groups where each group represents 1 experimental condition.
p= no order affects and external validity
c=time consuming and pvs
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what are repeated measures
pros+cons
pps take part in all conditions of the study.
p=control pvs and fewer pps required
c= order effects and demand characteristics
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what are matched pairs
pros+cons
pairs of pps are matched in terms of variables relevant to study, 1member of each pair takes part in condition A, 1 takes part in condition B.
p=no order effects and reduced pvs
c= time consuming and not perfect match
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what is demand characteristics
cues that might indicate the study aims to participants. These cues can lead participants to change their behaviours or responses based on what they think the research is about= bias
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what is social desirability
occurs when participants automatically try to respond in ways that make them seem likeable in a study, even if it means misrepresenting how they truly feel.
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pros and cons of the mean
p= sensitive as represents whole data set
c=distorted by outliers
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pros and cons of the median
p= not sensitive as not affected by extremes
c- not sensitive (doesn't include whole data set= not rep.)
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pros and cons of the mode
p= easy calculation
c= unrepresentative
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pros and cons of the range
p= easy calculation
c= distorted by outliers
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difference between bar charts and histograms
b= space between bars (discontinuous data)
x axis= IV/possible answers

h= no spaces between bars (continuous data)
x axis= categories

both= start at 0, y axis=frequency, title= bar chart/histogram to show...
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what is the normal distribution represented by
a bell curve
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random sampling
pros+cons
p= less chance of researcher bias
c= may still end up bias
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opportunity sampling
pros+cons
p= easy to do
c= not representative
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systematic sampling
pros+cons
p= no researcher bias
c= may still end up bias
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stratified sampling
pros+cons
p= most representative
c= lengthy
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what are the 5 ethical issues written by the BPS
1) informed consent
2) deception
3)protection from harm
4)privacy
5) confidentiality
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how to deal with these issues
1) presumptive, prior general, retrospective
2) told at debrief
3) offered counselling
4) personal data not made public
5) anonymity/ data locked/ stored away + not shared
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questionnaires pros+cons
p= lots of info quickly= can gather lots of responses= generalisations
c= pps may lie= social desirability= not genuine feelings= reduced validity
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interviews pros+cons
p= lots of detailed info= gain insight= validity
c=can be difficult to analyse= researcher has to interpret= researcher bias
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observations pros+cons
p=better indication of behaviour, look at real=life behaviour
c= may be ethical issues and observer bias
(behaviour categories= target behaviour and categories)
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naturalistic, controlled and covert pros+cons
p=high in external validity
c=can't control EVs

p= some control over EVs
c= low in external validity

p=increased validity
c= ethics
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overt, non-pp, pp pros+cons
p= no ethical issues
c= decreased validity (sd)

p= remain objective
c= may lose valuable insight

p=increased validity
c= lose objectivity (going native)
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case studies pros+cons
p=best way to study unusual forms of behaviour(insight on general functioning), detailed

c=often concern unique people/events= can't generalise, ethical issues
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primary data and secondary data pros+cons
p= suits aims of research
c= time/effort

p=easy access
c=may not fit
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qualitative and quantitative pros+ cons
p= depth/detail
c=difficult to analyse

p=easy analysis
c= lacks depth/detail
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internal vs. external validity
Internal validity examines whether the study design, conduct, and analysis answer the research questions without bias.
External validity examines whether the study findings can be generalised to other contexts.
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what is ecological validity/ mundane realism
how applicable something is to real life
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correlational study advantages
May predict causal relationships
May predict human behaviours
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correlational study disadvantages
There is no cause and effect
No inferences can be found by results
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

what is a field experiment
pros+cons

Back

naturally occurring environment, IV deliberately changed, and measured effect on DV.
p= high ecological validity and reduce the chances of demand characteristics
c= ethical issues and low internal validity

Card 3

Front

what is a natural experiment
pros+cons

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

what are independant groups
pros+cons

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

what are repeated measures
pros+cons

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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