Psya1 - Research Methods

Front 1

Experiment method - definition

Back 1

Assesses a cause and effect relationship. Involving the researcher directly manipulating the I.V.

Front 2

Laboratory experiment - definition

Back 2

The manipulation of an independent variable that takes place in a setting or conditions that allows for the careful control of confounding variables.

Front 3

Laboratory experiment - advantages

Back 3

-Researcher has a high degree of control over variables.

-Can be easily replicated by other researchers.

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Laboratory experiment - disadvantages

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-Can be artificial and different from real-life situations.

-Participant may suffer from demand characteristics; adjust their behaviour the match the research

Front 5

Field experiment - definition

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Researcher manipulates an I.V in a controlled but 'real' situation.

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Field experiment - advantages

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-Higher level of ecological validity than a laboratory experiment.

-Lower risk of demand characteristics as participant isn't aware they're being watched, therefore behave naturally.

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Field experiment - disadvantages

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-Replication is more difficult and results can't be generalised to all real-life situations.

-More difficult to control extraneous variables.

Front 8

Natural experiment - definition

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Researcher does not manipulate the I.V but takes advantage of a naturally occurring I.V.

Front 9

Natural experiment - advantages

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-Can be used to exploit a naturally occurring event which may be seen as unethical.

-Researcher does not intervene directly in the research so realism is high.

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Natural experiement - disadvantages

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-Naturally occurring events may only occur rarely.

-Possible extraneous variables are not controlled by the investigator.

Front 11

Operationalisation - definition

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Where we specify variables an make them physically measurable.

Front 12

Independent variable - definition

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The aspect that the researcher manipulates (varies,changes)

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Dependent variable - defintion

Back 13

We then observe the effect this manipulation of the IV has on the DP.

Front 14

Extraneous variable - defintion

Back 14

An EV is any factor, apart from the IV that has an effect on the DV.

Front 15

Correlational Study - definition

Back 15

Researcher examines the relationship between 2 co-variables.

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Correlational Study - advantages

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-A powerful exploratory research tool which can be used when experiments are inappropriate.
-Provides valuable information on the strength of the relationship between co-variables.

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Corelational Study - disavantages

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-Cannot assess non-linear relationships.
-Impossible to establish the cause and effect between variables.

Front 18

Observations - Definition

Back 18

Researcher records behaviours being exhibited by participants.

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Observations - advantages

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-Can be used when experimentation is inappropriate.
-Recording actual behaviour, so results are likely to be valid.

Front 20

Observations - disadvantages

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-Replication may be difficult due to differences in naturalistic settings.
-The presence of an observer may change the behaviour of those being observed.

Front 21

Behavioural categories - definition

Back 21

A checklist of specific behaviours, which are then recorded when they are observed.

Front 22

Questionnaires - definition

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Researcher prepares questions and asks participant to give a written response.

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Questionnaires - advantages

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-Can be used to assess psychological variables that may not be obvious observing someone.
-Data can be collected from a large group of participants more quickly than interviewing them.

Front 24

Questionnaires - disadvantages

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-There is no guarantee that the P is telling the truth.
-Different Ps may interpret the same question in different ways.

Front 25

Interviews - definition

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Researcher prepares questions and asks participants to give a verbal response.

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Interviews - advantages

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-Can permit issues to be investigated with sensitivity.
-Ps can ask for clarification of a question if they are unsure of its meaning.

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Interviews - disadvantages

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-More time consuming than completing questionnaires.
-The appearance of the researcher may have an effect on the Ps response.

Front 28

Closed questions - defintion

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Questions where the respondent has a limited response.

Front 29

Closed questions - advantage and disadvantage

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Adv- Produces quantitative data which is easy to analyse.
Dis- Ps may not feel they have the opportunity to respond fully.

Front 30

Open questions - defintion

Back 30

Questions which allow the participant to freely offer their opinion.

Front 31

Open questions - advantage and disadvantage

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Adv- Ps may feel more satisfied about their contribution.
- Ps may offer information that the researcher may not have considered.
Dis- Produces qualitative data which can be tricky to analyse.

Front 32

Case Study - definition

Back 32

An in-depth exploration of behaviour and experiences of an individual, who is usually unique.

Front 33

Case Study - advantages

Back 33

-Can collect data from individuals who have experiences situations that would be difficult to manipulate.
- Good way to describe changes in occurring as a result of psychological processes which occur over time.

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Case Study - Disadvantages

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-Researchers assessment may become less objective with familiarity.
- 'Unique' experiences of a person may have little/no effect on the lives of others.

Front 35

Aim - definition

Back 35

General idea that they want to investigate.

Front 36

Hypothesis - defintion

Back 36

Usually based on previous research, is a clear statement about what your research intends to prove or disprove.

Front 37

Directional Hypothesis - defintion and example

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Predicts the direction in which the results are expected to go.
Example- 'studying improves exam marks'

Front 38

Non-directional Hypothesis - defintion and example

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One factor affects another, or that there will be a correlation between two variables.
Example- 'anxiety influences performance'

Front 39

Independent Groups - explanation

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Involved using different participants randomly allocated to each condition.

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Independent Groups - advantages

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-No order effects as Ps can only take part in one condition.
-Less chance of demand characteristics as Ps only take part in one condition.

Front 41

Independent Groups - disadvantages

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- Needs twice as many Ps as a RM design.
-There may be unknown intergroup differences as all Ps take part in all conditions.

Front 42

Repeated Measures - explanation

Back 42

Using the same participants in each condition of an experiment.

Front 43

Repeated Measures - advantages

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-Needs fewer Ps than IG or MP designs.
-No chance of intergroup differences that are responsible for any difference in the DV.

Front 44

Repeated Measures - disadvantages

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-Order effects may occur and demand characteristics more likely.
-Some research cannot use RM.

Front 45

Matched Pairs - explanation

Back 45

Using different but similar participants in each condition.

Front 46

Matched Pairs - advantages

Back 46

-No order effects as participants only take part in one condition.
-Less chance of demand characteristics as Ps only take part in one condition.

Front 47

Matched Pairs - disadvantages

Back 47

-Takes time and resources to match Ps.
-Even with our best match in there could still be an uncontrolled intergroup difference that is responsible for any difference in the DV.

Front 48

Random Sampling - definition and method

Back 48

A sample of the target population where no one has a grater chance of being chosen than any other.
Method- Pulling names out of a hat.

Front 49

Random Sampling - advantages and disadvantages

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Adv- Unbiased as everyone in the target population has equal chance of being selected.
Dis- The selected sample could be biased (more of one sub-group than the other)

Front 50

Opportunity Sampling - definition and method

Back 50

Where those easily available are selected.
Method- Students at colleges and universities are often used by their tutors to take part in their research.

Front 51

Opportunity Sampling - advantage and disadvantage

Back 51

Adv- Sample tend to be quick to locate than using another sampling technique.
Dis- Sample is likely to be biased.

Front 52

BPS Code of Ethics - description

Back 52

Guidelines set out by the governing body.

Front 53

Ethical Issue - definition

Back 53

Dealing with morals or the principles of morality.

Front 54

Confidentiality - definition of issue and way of dealing with it

Back 54

Data collected from the participant is not to be told to other people.

Front 55

Observation - definition of issue and way of dealing with it

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The Ps are in a situation where they might expect their behaviour to be observed.

Front 56

Withdrawl - definition of issue and way of dealing with it

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Participants are allowed to withdraw from the research at any time.

Front 57

Deception - definition of issue and way of dealing with it

Back 57

Are the participants being actively or passively deceived.

Front 58

Informed Consent- definition of issue and way of dealing with it

Back 58

Are they fully informed of the aim of the research?

Front 59

Protection from physical harm - definition of issue and way of dealing with it

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Might the Ps be physically harmed in any way?

Front 60

Protection from psychological harm - definition of issue and way of dealing with it

Back 60

Might the Ps be psychologically harmed in any way?

Front 61

Reliability - defintion

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Front 62

Internal relaibility - defintion

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Front 63

External reliability - definition

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Front 64

Validity - definition

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Front 65

Internal validity - definition

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Front 66

External validity - definition

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Front 67

Demand Characteristics - definition

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Front 68

Investigator Effects - definition

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Front 69

Pilot Study - definition

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Front 70

MOCT - Mean - defintion

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Front 71

MOCT - Mean - advantage and disadvantage

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Front 72

MOCT - Median - definition

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Front 73

MOCT - Median - advantage and disadvantage

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Front 74

MOCT - Mode - definition

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Front 75

MOCT - Mode - advantage and disadvantage

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Front 76

Range - definition

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Front 77

Range - advantage and disadvantage

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Front 78

Standard Deviation - definition

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Front 79

Standard Deviation - advantage and disadvantage

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Front 80

Positive correlation - definition

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Front 81

Negative correlation - definition

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Front 82

Correlation coefficient - definition

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Front 83

Bar chart - definition

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Front 84

Bar chart - advantage and disadvantage

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Front 85

Histogram/Line Graph - definition

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Front 86

Histogram/Line Graph - advantage and disadvantage

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Front 87

Scattergram - definition

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Front 88

Scattergram - advantage and disadvantage

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Front 89

Qualitative Data - definition

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Front 90

Content Analysis - definition

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Front 91

Content Analysis - advantage and disadvantage

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Front 92

Content Analysis - processes involved in...

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Front 93

Volunteer Sample - Definition and method

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Front 94

Volunteer Sample - advantage and disadvantage

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