12 research methods

• What are the different types of data that can be collected

  quantitative

  qualitative

  primary

  secondary
• What is a hypothesis


  the effect the independent variable may have on the dependent variable
• What is a experimental hypothesis

  independent variable affects the dependent variable
• What is a null hypothesis


  no affect on the variables
• What is a non-directional hypothesis


  results could go either way
• What is a directional hypothesis


  goes one way (significant increase)
• What are the four experimental methods

  lab

  field

  natural

  quasi
• What is a lab experiment


  controlled conditions to have control over extraneous variables

  independent variable is manipulated

  participants aware of experiment
• What is a field experiment


  ordinary setting

  independent variable is manipulated

  participants may not be aware of experiment
• What is a natural experiment


  independent variable occurs naturally
• What is a quasi experiment


  naturally occurring independent variable is a difference between participants (gender, age)

  participants aren't randomly allocated
• What are the three experimental designs


  independent groups

  matched pairs

  repeated measures
• What is independent groups


  two different groups of participants, only do one condition
• What is repeated measures


  participants take part in both conditions
• What is matched pairs


  participants take part in one condition but are matched with someone with similar characteristics who take part in the other condition
• What are order effects and the two types


  order of conditions affects participants

  practise effect: better in second condition know what to do

  fatigue effect: perform badly in second condition due to boredom or tiredness
• What is the solution for order effects and the definition


  counterbalancing: split participants in half one group done condition A to B other do condition B to A

  ABBA
• What are demand characteristics


  act on demand, perform worse to hinder results or better to help

  occurs in repeated measures, try to guess aim
• What is the solution for demand characteristics


  single-blind when participants aren't aware of the condition they're in so cant guess the aim
• What are participant variables


  differences in conditions may be due to differences in participants instead of the independent variable
• What are the solutions for participant variables


  random allocation

  matched pairs
• What are the five extraneous variables


  participant variables

  situational variables

  demand characteristics

  investigator effects

  order effects
• What are investigator effects


  Investigator influences participants
• What are the six ethical guidelines

  Right to withdraw

  protection from harm and abuse

  maintaining confidentiality

  deception

  informed consent

  debreif
• What is deception


  lying about the true aims so participants behaviour isn't altered
• What is debrief


  told true aims of study
• What is retrospective consent


  consent obtained after study
• What are the two self report methods


  questionnaires

  interviews
• What are strengths and limitations of open questions


  strengths: detailed more understanding

  limitations: difficult to analyse leads to bias conclusions
• What are strengths and limitations of closed questions


  strengths: easy to analyse

  limitations: lacks detail
• What are structured interviews


  pre determined questions in an order
• What are strengths and limitations of structured interviews


  strengths: easy to interpret, increases replicability makes it more reliable

  limitations: no detail
• What ae unstructured interviews


  no set questions works as a conversation
• What are strengths and weaknesses for unstructured interviews


  strengths: goes into detail

  limitations: longer to conduct, decreases replicability and reliability
• What are the six types of observations

  covert

  overt

  controlled

  naturalistic

  participant

  non-participant
• What is a naturalistic observation


  natural environment
• What are strengths and limitations of naturalistic observations


  strengths: high ecological validity

  limitations: hard to replicate, low internal validity, no control over extraneous variables
• What is a controlled observation


  controlled environment
• What are strengths and limitations of controlled observations


  strengths: easy to replicate = more reliable, control of extraneous variables and high internal validity

  limitations: lacks ecological validity
• What is a covert observation


  participants not aware they're being observed