research methods

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Case Studies
An in-depth investigation, description and analysis of a single individual, group, institution or event.
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Content Analysis
A research technique that enables the indirect study of behaviour by examining communications that people produce, for example, in texts, emails, tv, film and other media.
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Coding
The stage of a content analysis in which the communication to be studied is analysed by identifying each instance of the chosen categories (which may be words, sentences, phrases etc).
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Thematic Analysis
An inductive and qualitative approach to analyse that involves identifying implicit or explicit ideas within the data. Themes will often emerge once the data has been coded.
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Reliability
Refers to how consistent the findings from an investigation or measuring device are. A measuring device is said to be reliable if it produces consistent results every time it is used.
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Test-Retest Reliability
A method of assessing the reliability of a questionnaire or psychological test by assessing the same person on 2 separate occassions. This shows to what extent the test produces the same answers.
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Inter-Observer Reliability
The extent to which there is agreement between 2/+ observers involved in observations of a behaviour. A general rule is that if (total no. of agreements) / (total no. of observations) > +8.0, the data has inter-observer reliability.
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Validity
The extent to which an observed effect is genuine - does it measure what it was supposed to measure and can it be generalised beyond the research setting within which it was found?
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Face Validity
A basic form of validity in which a measure is scrutinised to determine whether it appears measure what it is supposed to measure. E.g. does a test of anxiety look like it measures anxiety?
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Concurrent Validity
The extent to which a psychological measure relates to an existing similar measure.
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Ecological Validity
The extent to which findings from a research study can be generalised to other settings and situations. A form of external validity.
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Temporal Validity
The extent to which findings from a research study can be generalised to other historical times and eras. A form of external validity.
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Levels of Measurement
Quantitative data can be classified into types or levels of measurement, such as nominal, ordinal and interval.
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Statistical Tests
Used in psychology to determine whether a significant difference or correlation exists (and consequently, whether the null hypothesis should be rejected or retained).
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Chi-Squared
A test for an association (difference/correlation) between 2 variables or conditions. Data should be nominal level using an unrelated (independent design).
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Mann-Whitney
A test for a significant difference between 2 sets of scores. Data should be at least ordinal level using an unrelated design (independent design).
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Pearson's r
A parametric test for correlation when data is at interval level.
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Related t-test
A parametric test for difference between 2 sets of scores. Data must be interval with a related design (repeated/matched pairs).
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Sign Test
A statistical test used to analyse the difference in scores between related items (e.g. the same pp tested twice). Data should be nominal.
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Spearman's rho
A test for correlation when data is at least ordinal level.
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Unrelated t-test
A parametric test for difference between 2 sets of scores. Data must be interval with an unrelated design (independent groups).
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Wilcoxon
A test for a significant difference between 2 sets of scores Data should be at least ordinal level using a related design (repeated measures).
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Probablility
A measure of the likelihood that a particular event will occur where 0 indicates statistical impossibility and 1 statistical certainty.
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Significance
A statistical term that tells us how sure we are that a difference or correlation exists . A 'significant' result means that the researcher can reject the null hypothesis.
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Critical Value
When testing a hypothesis, the numerical boundary or cut-off point between acceptance and rejection of the null hypothesis.
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Type I Error
The incorrect rejection of a true null hypothesis (a false positive).
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Type II Error
The failure to reject a false null hypothesis (a false negative).
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Abstract
The key details of the research report.
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Introduction
A look at past research (theory+/ studies) on a similar topic. Includes the aims and hypothesis.
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Method
A description of what the researcher(s) did, including design, sample, apparatus/materials, procedure, ethics.
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Results
A description of what the researcher(s) found, including descriptive and inferential statistics.
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Discussion
A consideration of what the results of a research study tell us in terms of psychological theory.
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References
List of resources that are referred to or quoted in the article. E.g. journal articles, books or websites and their full details.
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Paradigm
A set of shared assumptions and agreed methods within a scientific discipline.
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Paradigm Shift
The result of a scientific revolution: a significant change in the dominant unifying theory within a scientific discipline.
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Objectivity
When all sources of personal bias are minimised so as not to distort or influence the research process.
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The Empirical Method
Scientific approaches that are based on the gathering of evidence through direct observation and experience.
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Replicability
The extent to which scientific procedures and findings can be repeated by other researchers.
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Falsifiability
The principles that a theory cannot be considered scientific unless it admits the possibility of being proved untrue (false).
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Content Analysis

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A research technique that enables the indirect study of behaviour by examining communications that people produce, for example, in texts, emails, tv, film and other media.

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Coding

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Card 4

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Thematic Analysis

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Reliability

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