Psya1 - Research Methods

Front 1

Laboratory experiment - definition

Back 1

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

Front 2

Laboratory experiment - advantages

Back 2

• High degree of control over variables

• Easily replicated

Front 3

Laboratory experiment - disadvantages

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• Artificial and different from real-life situations

• May suffer from 'demand characteristics' [adjusting behaviour to match interpretation of the research]

Front 4

Field experiment - definition

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I.V manipulated in a controlled but 'real' situation

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Field experiment - advantages

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• Higher levels of ecological validity than a lab

• Lower risk of demand characteristics - less aware, behave normally

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Field experiment - disadvantages

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• Replication is difficult and results can't be generalised

• Difficult to establish precise control over extraneous variables

Front 7

Natural experiment - definition

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An IV is not manipulated but a 'naturally occurring' event is taken advantages of.

Front 8

Natural experiment - advantages

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• Researcher does not intervene directly into situation and so realism is higher

• Can be used to exploit an event which would be unethical or impractical to manipulate .

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Natural experiement - disadvantages

Back 9

• "Naturally occurring" behaviour being investigated may occur rarely.

• Possible extraneous variables (Other factors) are not being investigated and could be effect the results.

Front 10

Operationalisation - definition

Back 10

Identifying the variables.

Front 11

Independent variable - definition

Back 11

Aspect the researcher manipulates (Cause).

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Dependent variable - defintion

Back 12

Effect that the manipulation has (Effect).

Front 13

Extraneous variable - defintion

Back 13

Any other factor apart from the IV that effects the DV.

Front 14

Correlational Study - definition

Back 14

Used to establish whether two or more factors/phenomena are related and if so, how strongly.

Front 15

Correlational Study - advantages

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• A powerful exploratory research tool which can be used when experiments are appropriate, e.g stress and illness.

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

Front 16

Corelational Study - disavantages

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• Cannot assess non-linear relationships.

• Impossible to establish cause and effect between variables.

Front 17

Observations - Definition

Back 17

Describing behaviour objectively and exactly without jumping to conclusions.

Front 18

Observations - advantages

Back 18

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

• Is recording actual events, so results are likely to be more valid.

Front 19

Observations - disadvantages

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

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

Front 20

Behavioural categories - definition

Back 20

List of Specific behaviour

Front 21

Questionnaires - definition

Back 21

Written questions analysed by researcher.

Front 22

Questionnaires - advantages

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• Can be used to access psychological variables that may not be obvious just by observation.

• Data can be collected from a large group quicker than interviews.

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Questionnaires - disadvantages

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• There is no guarantee that they're telling the truth, making the results invalid.

• Questions can be interpreted differently depending on who reads it.

Front 24

Interviews - definition

Back 24

Asking and answering questions.

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Interviews - advantages

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• Can permit issues to be investigated with sensitivity.

• Ask for clarification.

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Interviews - disadvantages

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• More time consuming.

• Appearance may have effect on response.

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Closed questions - defintion

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Respondent has limited response.

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Closed questions - advantage and disadvantage

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Front 29

Open questions - defintion

Back 29

Freely offer an opinion.

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Open questions - advantage and disadvantage

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Front 31

Case Study - definition

Back 31

An in-depth investigation of an individual(s) who've had a certain experience/circumstances.

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Case Study - advantages

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• Can collect data from individuals who have experiences situations which would be unethical to manipulate.

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

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Case Study - Disadvantages

Back 33

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

• "Unique" experiences of one person may have little/no application to the lives of others.

Front 34

Aim - definition

Back 34

General idea of what is being investigated.

Front 35

Hypothesis - defintion

Back 35

Clear statement about what the research intends to prove/disprove

Front 36

Directional Hypothesis - defintion and example

Back 36

• Predict direction which results will go

Front 37

Non-directional Hypothesis - defintion and example

Back 37

• Does not give a predicted direction

Front 38

Independent Groups - explanation

Back 38

Different groups of participants in different conditions

Front 39

Independent Groups - advantages

Back 39

• No order effects as participants only take part in one condition

• Less chance of demand characteristics as participants only take part in one condition

Front 40

Independent Groups - disadvantages

Back 40

• Needs twice as many participants

• There may be unknown intergroup differences that are responsible for any difference in the DV

Front 41

Repeated Measures - explanation

Back 41

Same participants take part in each condition

Front 42

Repeated Measures - advantages

Back 42

• Needs fewer participants

• No chance of intergroup differences as all Ps take part in all conditions

Front 43

Repeated Measures - disadvantages

Back 43

• Order effects may occur and

Front 44

Matched Pairs - explanation

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Front 45

Matched Pairs - advantages

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Matched Pairs - disadvantages

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Front 47

Random Sampling - definition and method

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Front 48

Random Sampling - advantages and disadvantages

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Front 49

Opportunity Sampling - definition and method

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Front 50

Opportunity Sampling - advantage and disadvantage

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Front 51

BPS Code of Ethics - description

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Front 52

Ethical Issue - definition

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Front 53

Confidentiality - definition of issue and way of dealing with it

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Front 54

Observation - definition of issue and way of dealing with it

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Front 55

Withdrawl - definition of issue and way of dealing with it

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Front 56

Deception - definition of issue and way of dealing with it

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Front 57

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

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Front 58

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

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Front 59

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

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Front 60

Reliability - defintion

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Front 61

Internal relaibility - defintion

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Front 62

External reliability - definition

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Front 63

Validity - definition

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Front 64

Internal validity - definition

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External validity - definition

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Front 66

Demand Characteristics - definition

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Front 67

Investigator Effects - definition

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Front 68

Pilot Study - definition

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Front 69

MOCT - Mean - defintion

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Front 70

MOCT - Mean - advantage and disadvantage

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Front 71

MOCT - Median - definition

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Front 72

MOCT - Median - advantage and disadvantage

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Front 73

MOCT - Mode - definition

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Front 74

MOCT - Mode - advantage and disadvantage

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Front 75

Range - definition

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Front 76

Range - advantage and disadvantage

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Front 77

Standard Deviation - definition

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Front 78

Standard Deviation - advantage and disadvantage

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Front 79

Positive correlation - definition

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Negative correlation - definition

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Front 81

Correlation coefficient - definition

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Front 82

Bar chart - definition

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Front 83

Bar chart - advantage and disadvantage

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Front 84

Histogram/Line Graph - definition

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Front 85

Histogram/Line Graph - advantage and disadvantage

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Front 86

Scattergram - definition

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Front 87

Scattergram - advantage and disadvantage

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Front 88

Qualitative Data - definition

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Front 89

Content Analysis - definition

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Front 90

Content Analysis - advantage and disadvantage

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Front 91

Content Analysis - processes involved in...

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Front 92

Volunteer Sample - Definition and method

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Volunteer Sample - advantage and disadvantage

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