Research methods

• What types of data displays are important in Psychology?

  Frequency tables, bar charts, histograms, scatter graphs
• Why are frequency tables useful in data analysis?

  They summarize how often scores occur
• What is the lowest score in the provided study results?

  2
• What is the highest score in the provided study results?

  17
• What does a frequency score represent?

  The number of times a score occurs
• If three people scored 65% on a test, what is the frequency of that score?

  3
• How do histograms visually represent data?

  Using vertical columns to show frequencies
• What is plotted on the x-axis of a histogram?

  Scores
• What is plotted on the y-axis of a histogram?

  Frequency
• How do histograms differ from bar charts?

  Histograms have touching columns; bar charts do not
• When are bar charts used in data representation?

  To describe categorical data
• What type of data do bar charts represent?

  Categorical data
• What is a normal distribution curve?

  A bell-shaped curve representing data spread
• What does a normal distribution curve indicate about most scores?

  Most scores cluster around the middle
• What are the characteristics of a normal distribution curve?

  Bell-shaped, symmetrical, mean=median=mode
• What does it mean if the mean, median, and mode are similar?

  The data is likely normally distributed
• What is the shape of a normal distribution curve?

  Bell-shaped
• What does symmetry in a normal distribution curve imply?

  Equal distribution of data on both sides
• What types of data can be represented by a normal distribution curve?

  Shoe size, height in a year group
• What types of data must be known in research methods?

  Quantitative and qualitative data
• What is quantitative data?

  Data that can be counted and is numerical
• What is a strength of quantitative data?

  Easy to analyze and compare between groups
• What is a weakness of quantitative data?

  Numbers lack depth and detail
• How is qualitative data expressed?

  In words and not numbers
• What is a strength of qualitative data?

  Provides detailed insights into thoughts and feelings
• What is a weakness of qualitative data?

  Difficult to analyze and may be biased
• What is primary data in psychology?

  Data collected firsthand for research purposes
• What is a strength of primary data?

  It suits the aim of the research
• What is a weakness of primary data?

  It takes a lot of time and effort to collect
• What is secondary data?

  Data collected by someone else that already exists
• What is a strength of secondary data?

  It is quick to access as it already exists
• What is a weakness of secondary data?

  Quality of data may be uncertain
• What are descriptive statistics used for?

  To describe and summarize data
• What does the range tell us about data?

  How spread out the data is
• How do you calculate the range of a data set?

  Subtract the lowest score from the highest
• What is a strength of using the range?

  It is quick and easy to calculate
• What is a weakness of the range?

  It can be affected by extreme scores
• What is the mean?

  The average calculated by dividing total by count
• What is the median?

  The middle number when values are ordered
• What is the mode?

  The most common number in a data set