Research Methods

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What is an Aim?
A general statement outlining what the researcher intends to investigate and the purpose of the investigation.
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How do you phrase an Aim?
"To investigate whether.." / form of a question.
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Can you give an example of an Aim?
Q: Do dogs make better pets than cats? Aim: To investigate whether dogs make better pets than cats.
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What is a variable?
A variable is something that can change or be changed by something else.
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What is the Independent variable?
The one which is manipulated (Changed) by the researcher.
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What is the Dependant variable?
The variable being influenced by the independent variable, which can be measured.
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What is the extraneous variable?
A variable other than the independent variable which has influenced the dependant variable.
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What is the Co-variables?
Two variables which are examined to see whether a correlation exists between them.
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How do psychologists try to determine CAUSE and EFFECT?
They try to reduce the extraneous variables to see how the manipulation of the independent variable influences the participants behaviour.
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What does Operationalisation of Variables mean?
It means defining the variables clearly so that they can be manipulated or measured
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Operationalise the variable of noise?
"Loud music" or "silence"
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What is a Hypothesis?
A testable statement which makes a prediction about the results.
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How do we write a hypothesis?
Avoid the word participants and write using present tense and always operationalise variables to get best results.
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How many Hypothesis do researches propose?
2. They support one and reject the other after analysing there data.
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What is an experimental hypothesis?
Predicts that the independent variable will affect the dependent variable.
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What are the 2 types of experimental hypothesis'?
Directional and non-directional
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What is a directional hypothesis?
It is a one tailed hypothesis that predicts the directions of the results.
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What is a non-directional hypothesis?
It is a two-tailed hypothesis which does not predict the direction of the results.
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What is a Null hypothesis?
Predicts that the results have come through by chance ( The independent variable hasn't affected the dependent variable)
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Give an example of a non directional hypothesis.
There will be a different in...
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Give an example of a Null hypothesis.
There will be no difference... Any differences will be due to chance.
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How do researchers decide to write a directional hypothesis?
When previous research has already taken place.
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How do researchers decide to write a non-directional hypothesis?
Usually if they are looking into new areas of research.
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What is the target population?
The group of individuals that a researcher wishes to study.
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What is a sample of a target population?
A group taken from the target population that should be representative so that generalisations can be made.
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How many sampling techniques are there? And can you name them?
5 (Random,systematic,stratified,opportunity and volunteer)
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What are the 2 main problems associated with the 5 sampling techniques?
Bias and Generalisation
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What does the term Bias mean?
The sample selected is distorted and does not represent the target population.
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What does Generalisation mean?
It means that results from the sample can be applied to the target population. This is usually only possible if an unbiased sample has been selected.
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What is Random Sampling?
It is where every member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected for the sample.
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How do you go about Random sampling?
Putting the names of the participants in a hat and randomly allocating them until your sample has been selected.
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What is a strength of random sampling?
There is no bias in the selection of this sample so it will be representative of the target population.
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What is a weakness of random sampling?
It is not always practical to use this technique especially when the target population is large.
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What is systematic sampling?
Involves taking every nth member of the target population to form the sample.
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What is a strength of systematic sampling?
Results will be generalisable to the target population.
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What is a weakness of systematic sampling?
It is not truly unbiased unless you select you starting point randomly and then select every nth person from this point.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

How do you phrase an Aim?

Back

"To investigate whether.." / form of a question.

Card 3

Front

Can you give an example of an Aim?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What is a variable?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is the Independent variable?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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