Psya1 - Research Methods

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Experiment method - definition

Back 1

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

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Laboratory experiment - definition

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

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Laboratory experiment - advantages

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1. Researcher has a high control over variables

2. Researcher can easily replicate studies conducted by other researchers .

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Laboratory experiment - disadvantages

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

2. Ps may suffer from demand characteristics; adjust their behaviour to what they feel is right

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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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1. Higher level of ecological validity than a laboratory setting

2. Low risk of demand characteristics; 'less aware' of taking part, therefore behave naturally

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Field experiment - disadvantages

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

2. It is more difficult to establish precise control over confounding variables

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Natural experiment - definition

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

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Natural experiment - advantages

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1. can be used to expliot a naturally occurring event which would be unethical or impractical to manipulate

2. The researcher does not intervene directly in the research so realism may be higher

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Natural experiement - disadvantages

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1. The naturally occurring behaviour being investigated may occur rarely

2. Possible confounding variables are not being controlled by the investigator

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Operationalisation - definition

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Front 12

Independent variable - definition

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The I.V is the the characteristic of a psychology experiment that is manipulated or changed

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Dependent variable - defintion

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The D.V is the variable that id being measured in an experiment

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Extraneous variable - defintion

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The E.V's are undesirable variables that influence the relationship between the variables that an experimenter is examining

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Correlational Study - definition

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Reseacher examines the relationship between 2 co- variables

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Correlational Study - advantages

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1. A powerful exploratory research tool which can be used when experiments are inappropriate e.g. stress and illness

2. Provides valuable information on the strength of the relationship between the co-variables

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Corelational Study - disavantages

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1. Cannot asses non linear relationships

2. Impossible to establish cause and effect between variables

Front 18

Observations - Definition

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The researcher records behaviours being exhibited by participants

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Observations - advantages

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1. Can be used when experimentation is inappropriate e.g funerals

2. Is recording ACTUAL behaviour, so results are likely to be valid.

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Observations - disadvantages

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1. Replication may be difficult due to differences in naturalistic settings

2. The presence of an observer may change behaviour of those observed

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Behavioural categories - definition

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A checklist of specific behaviours, which are then recorded when they're being observed

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Questionnaires - definition

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Researcher prepared questions ans asks participants to give a WRITTEN response

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Questionnaires - advantages

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1. Can be used to assess psychological variables that may not be obvious by just observing someone

2. Data can be collected from a large group of ps more quickly than interviewing them

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Questionnaires - disadvantages

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1. There is no guarantee that the P is telling the truth

2. Different Ps may interpret the same question in a different way

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Interviews - definition

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Researcher prepares questions and asks participant to give a VERBAL response

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Interviews - advantages

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1. Can permit issues to be investigated with sensitivity

2. Participants can ask for clarification of a question if they're unsure of its meaning

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Interviews - disadvantages

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1. Tends to be more time consuming to complete than a questionnaire

2. The appearance (e.g ethnicity, gender etc) of the researcher may have an effect on Ps response

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Closed questions - defintion

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Closed questions are when the respondent has a very limited response
mainly YES or NO questions asked

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Closed questions - advantage and disadvantage

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Advantage - produces quantitative data which is easy to analyse

Disadvantage - participants may not feel like the have the opportunity to fully respond

Front 30

Open questions - defintion

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Open questions allow the participants to freely offer their opinion
usually WHY, WHAT,HOW, WHEN questions

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Open questions - advantage and disadvantage

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Advantage - participant may offer an answer that the researcher may not have considered

2. produces qualitative data which can be tricky to analyse

Front 32

Case Study - definition

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

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Case Study - advantages

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1. Can collect data from individuals who have experienced situations which would be unethical to manipulate

2. Can be a good way to describe changes occurring as results of psychological processes which occur over time

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Case Study - Disadvantages

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1. Researcher's assessment may become less objective with familiarity

2. 'Unique' experiences of one person may have little or no application to the lives of others

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Aim - definition

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Front 36

Hypothesis - defintion

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A hypothesis is not a question but a statement which makes certain predictions, research is then designed to test the hypothesis

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Directional Hypothesis - defintion and example

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Directional hypothesis predicts the direction in which the results are expected to go.
e.g. 'studying improves exam results' or 'women are better drivers than men'

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Non-directional Hypothesis - defintion and example

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A hypothesis may not state a direction but simply says that one factor effects another, or that there will be a correlation between the two co-variables
e.g. 'anxiety influences performance' or 'there is a significant difference in driving abilites of men and women'

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Independent Groups - explanation

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Front 40

Independent Groups - advantages

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Independent Groups - disadvantages

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Front 42

Repeated Measures - explanation

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Front 43

Repeated Measures - advantages

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Repeated Measures - disadvantages

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Front 45

Matched Pairs - explanation

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Front 46

Matched Pairs - advantages

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Front 47

Matched Pairs - disadvantages

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Front 48

Random Sampling - definition and method

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Front 49

Random Sampling - advantages and disadvantages

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Front 50

Opportunity Sampling - definition and method

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Front 51

Opportunity Sampling - advantage and disadvantage

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Front 52

BPS Code of Ethics - description

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Front 53

Ethical Issue - definition

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Front 54

Confidentiality - definition of issue and way of dealing with it

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Front 55

Observation - definition of issue and way of dealing with it

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Front 56

Withdrawl - definition of issue and way of dealing with it

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Front 57

Deception - definition of issue and way of dealing with it

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Front 58

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

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Front 59

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

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Front 60

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

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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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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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