Research methods

• deception


  purposely misleading experiment participants in order to maintain the integrity of the experiment
• right to withdraw


  A participant's right to leave a study at any time and their ability to do so.
• informed consent


  an ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate
• protection from harm


  the right of research participants to be protected from physical or psychological harm
• privacy and confidentiality


  Protect the privacy of the participant, generally by keeping all responses confidential.
• Lab


  In a controlled setting. It has high internal validity (reduced extraneous variables. True. Researchers manipulate IV. Less demand characteristics. Can be repeated.
• Directional hypotheses


  The prediction specifies a measured difference
• Non directional hypotheses


  Suggests an open ended result. The hypotheses will start with "There will be a difference"
• How to write a hypotheses


  1) identify the DV and both conditions of the IV.

  2) Decide how you could operationalise both of the variables, if it hasn't already been done. (To operationalise the IV, decide on which 2 there are. For the DV, you need to decide exactly how you're going to measure whatever it is you're measuring)

  3)Explain how you think the independent variable will affect the dependent variable. Like a jigsaw.
• Field


  In a natural setting. Researcher manipulates IV. Low internal validity (extraneous variables). Less demand characteristics. Cant be repeated.
• Qualitative data


  How (in words)
• Quantitative data

  How many (numerical)
• Strengths of qualitative data


  - In depth answer

  - Better understanding
• Weaknesses of qualitative data


  - Subjective

  - Hard to condense

  - Time consuming
• Strengths of quantitative data


  - Objective

  - Precise numerical measures

  - High in reliability
• Weaknesses of quantitative data


  - Lacks detail; conclusions can be narrow

  - Collected in artificial settings
• Structured interviews


  Made up of a pre determined list of questions in a specific order. Its conducted face to face/telephone
• Unstructured interviews


  Work more like a conversation. There are no set questions. A general topic will be discussed
• Semi structured interviews


  Fit somewhere in between structured and unstructured. They are a predetermined list of questions to ask, however the interviewer may ask more questions if they feel it is necessary.
• Natural


  When the researcher takes advantage of a pre existing IV that has naturally occurred. High internal validity and provide opportunity for research, however this is rare.
• Quasi


  Involves peoples characteristics and the IV is already set for people.
• True experiments


  Natural and quasi experiments cannot be classified as these experiments because they involve the manipulation of the independent variable and groups aren't randomly selected.