Psychology Research methods A level

• Researchers must obtain informed consent from participants before conducting a study.
• They allow researchers to collect data from large numbers of people quickly and easily.
• Researchers should protect the confidentiality and anonymity of participants by avoiding identifying information.
• The researcher must be aware that the participants may not always tell the truth, so it is important to use measures such as self-report questionnaires or interviews.
• Self-report measures are often used as they are easy to administer and cost-effective.
• The researcher must be aware that the participants may not always answer truthfully, which can lead to unreliable results.
• Participants have the right to withdraw at any time during the research process without penalty or negative consequences.
• Confidentiality is important to protect participant data and prevent unauthorized access.
• Questionnaire - a set of written questions that are asked to gather information about attitudes, opinions or behaviour
• Observation - watching and recording what happens without interfering with it
• Non-participant observation - when the researcher remains separate from the group being observed
• Participants are more likely to be honest when answering self-report measures as they feel anonymous.
• Participant observation - when the researcher becomes part of the group being observed, allowing more detailed observations to be made
• The researcher can ask many different types of question, including closed-ended (either/or) or open-ended (more detailed).
• Participants can also be asked to complete anonymous online surveys using websites like Survey Monkey.
• Self-report questionnaires are used when asking about sensitive issues like drug taking or sexual behaviour.
• Participants may be asked to sign a consent form, which outlines their rights and responsibilities as part of the research project.
• Another way to ensure honesty is to offer incentives such as money or course credit.
• Anonymity ensures that no personal identifiers are collected or linked with responses, providing additional protection for sensitive information.
• Naturalistic observation - observing people behaving naturally in their own environment
• Structured interviews have predetermined questions with fixed response options, while unstructured interviews do not have any specific structure or format.
• Deception occurs when participants are deliberately misled about some aspect of the research procedure, usually to avoid influencing their responses.
• Advantages of structured interviews include standardization, reliability, and consistency across different participants.
• Participants may also feel pressure to conform to group norms and avoid being seen as deviant.
• Experiment - manipulating one variable (the independent variable) while keeping all other variables constant to see if there is an effect on another variable (dependent variable)
• Informed consent involves explaining the nature of the research, potential risks and benefits, and giving participants the opportunity to ask questions and make informed decisions about their participation.
• Participants must be informed of the purpose of the experiment at all times.
• Structured observation - using an observer's manual to record specific behaviours according to predetermined categories
• Debriefing occurs after the experiment has been completed and provides participants with all relevant information about the purpose of the study and its findings.
• Debriefing is required if deception has been used, whereby participants are informed of what happened and given the opportunity to ask questions.
• A disadvantage of using questionnaires is that there may be problems with validity due to social desirability bias.
• Questionnaire design is important as it affects how well people understand what they're being asked and whether they respond honestly.
• Deception may be used if it's necessary to keep the true purpose of an investigation secret, but this must always be justified by the potential benefits outweighing any harm caused.
• A disadvantage of using questionnaires is that some questions may be misunderstood by respondents.
• Self-report measures involve asking people questions about their thoughts, feelings, attitudes, beliefs, etc., using either paper-and-pencil tests or computerized versions.
• Questionnaire design involves choosing appropriate questions that will give valid results.
• A disadvantage of participant observation is that it may not always be possible to observe people without them knowing they're being watched.
• Anonymity - keeping personal details confidential and not linking responses to individuals
• Researchers have an obligation to protect their participants from physical or psychological harm.
• Structured observation - using an observation schedule to record specific behaviours