Psychology-Paper 2 (Research methods)

• Self-report techniques


  Any method in which a person is asked to state or explain their own feelings, opinions, behaviours and experiences related to a given topic.

  
• Questionnaire


  A set of written questions (sometimes called items) used to access a persons' thoughts/experiences

  
• Strengths of questionnaires


  + Cost effective

  + Can gather large amounts of data quickly

  + Can be completed without the researcher being present
• Weaknesses of questionnaires


  - Answers may be affected by response bias e.g. social desirability bias

  - Ps may misunderstand the question or read it incorrectly
• Open Questions


  Questions with no fixed answer/ response and respondents can answer in any way they wish.

  
• Evaluation of Open Questions

  + Get more valid, rich and qualitative data

  - Harder to analyse the data
• Closed Question


  Questions with a fixed answer/ the choice of response is determined by the question setter.

  
• Evaluation of Closed Questions

  + Quantitative data is easier to analyse

  - Lacking detailed or in depth answers, which may not reflect the Ps true meaning.
• Structured Interview


  Made up of pre-determined questions and are asked in a fixed order, face to face.
• Unstructured Interview


  There is a general aim that a certain topic will be discussed and interaction tends to be free flowing.
• Face validity


  Measures whether a test "looks like" it tests what it is supposed to test.
• Concurrent validity


  The results from a test match those from an established test. There should be a high positive correlation between the 2 sets of results (+0.8).
• Evaluation of Structured Interviews

  + Replicable

  + Easier to compare P's answers/analyse

  + Focussed data

  - Less valid data, as information is missed if questions/answers are too restricted
• Evaluation of of Unstructured Interview

  + Can get more detailed answers as people can elaborate

  + Allows the interviewer to follow up interesting answers

  - Not easy to replicate

  - Not easy to compare Ps responses/analyse data

  - Unfocussed data
• Aim


  A general statement that the researcher intends to investigate.

  
• Hypothesis


  A detailed statement which is operationalised and testable that states the affect of the IV on the DV/ relationship between co-variables.

  
• Directional Hypothesis


  The researcher makes it clear what significant difference is anticipated between the 2 conditions/ what relationship is anticipated between co-variables

  (One tailed).
• Non-directional Hypothesis


  Simply states that there will be a significant difference between groups/ relationship between co-variables, but not what the difference/ relationship will be.

  
• Null Hypothesis


  States that there will be no effect of the IV on the DV/ relationship between the 2 co-variables.
• Meta-analysis


  A particular form of research method that uses secondary data. Data from a large number of studies which have involved the same research question and method are combined.
• Quantitative Data


  Numerical data

  
• Evaluation of qualitative data

  +Rich and detailed

  -Difficult to analyse

  -Subjective
• Qualitative Data


  Descriptive data expressed in words.
• Evaluation of quantitative data

  +Easy to analyse

  +More objective

  -Less meaningful
• Primary Data


  Information that has been obtained first hand by the researcher from the Ps. It is also known as field
• Evaluation of primary data

  +High validity as it's collected with specific aim in mind

  -Time consuming to gather
• Secondary Data


  Information that has already been collected by previous researchers. It is also known as 'desk research' and can be found in journal articles, books or websites.
• Evaluation of secondary data

  +Quick to gather

  - Bias in original interpretation can reduce validity
• BPS


  British Psychological Society
• Informed Consent


  Part of the BPS' code of ethics: when research is explained, it must be done in such a way that people are not misled to act in a way which is not in their best interest.If under 16 consent must be obtained from their parents.
• Deception


  When information is withheld from participants/ they misled about the purpose of the study.

  
• Right to Withdraw


  Part of the BPS' code of ethics: Ps should be told this at the start of the research that they can leave (or withdraw their data) when they wish. No attempt should be made to encourage them to remain.
• Protection from harm


  Part of the BPS' code of ethics: should leave studies in the same condition in which they arrived, without suffering any trauma.

  
• Debrief


  Part of the BPS' code of ethics: researchers should discuss the aims of the research with the Ps after they have completed the study.

  
• Contents of a debriefing statement

  •Thank you for taking part

  •Aim of the experiment (NOT results)

  •What happened in the other condition

  •Right to withdraw data

  •Any questions/ provide contact details for follow up questions?
• Contents of standardised instructions

  •NOT the aim of the experiment

  •What the task will be

  •Right to withdraw

  •Ensure confidentiality

  •Ask for consent (check over 16), including a space to sign.
• Areas in which psychological knowledge could impact on the economy

  • The workforce

  • Healthcare
• Independent Variable - IV


  An aspect of the experimental situation that is manipulated by the researcher or changes naturally.

  
• Dependent Variable - DV


  The variable that is measured by the researcher.

  
• Operationalising Variables


  The process of devising a way of measuring a variable. It is a clear statement of what the variable is.