Research Methods

• content analysis? inter- reliability

  both researchers compare data, look to find common themes + mutually agree on these themes
• content analysis? test- retest

  repeat content analysis on same sample. compare results. similar results then good retest- test ability
• Sampling frame?


  a list of people in the target population.
• Variables in a correlation?

  co-variables
• Weakness of correlations?


  it doesn't control for the effects of third variables, doesn't asses cause and effect.
• Negative correlation?


  as one variable increases, the other decreases.
• Curvilinear correlation?

  relationship between variables that doesn't consistently follow an increasing or decreasing pattern but changes direction after a certain point.
• Situational extraneous variables?

  extraneous variables from the environment that impact how a ppt responds
• confounding variables?

  vary systematically with the independent variable
• right to withdraw?


  let ppt know before, after and during the study.
• who produces the guidelines for British psychologists?


  British Psychological Society- (BPS)
• measures of dispersions?


  range (where you subtract the lowest score from the highest) and standard deviation (SD)– which calculates the spread of scores around the mean.
• Null Hypothesis?


  The null hypothesis is a statement that assumes there is no significant difference or relationship between variables in a study.
• Type 1 error?

  False positive- occurs when the null hypothesis is rejected when it should've been accepted.
• Type 2 error (p<0.05)?

  False negative- occurs when the null hypothesis is accepted when it should've been rejected.
• content analysis- procedure?

  data collection-researcher looks at data and creates coding units- data is analysed with coding units- coding unit appearances tallied.
• weakness of content analysis?

  causality cannot be established, only describes the data so cannot extract deeper meaning or explanantions.
• Investigator Effects?

  non-verbal communication, physical characteristics and bias in data interpretation.
• Meta analysis data?


  Meta analysis uses secondary data
• strength of questionnaires?


  cost effective
• self report methods that provide participants comparison?


  questionnaires and structured interviews
• randomisation?


  using chance in order to reduce the researchers influence on the design of an investigation
• ways to control extraneous variables?


  random allocation of participants to the conditions of the IV, Counterbalancing, standardised instructions.
• confounding variables?


  vary systematically with the independent variable.
• participant reactivity?


  when behaviours and reactions are impacted by the knowledge that they are a part of a study.
• pilot studies?


  A pilot study is used to find out if a hypothesis is correct.
• Inferential statistics?


  NOI/IRAC table

  
• Chi- squared?


  finding the squared difference between the actual and expected data values and dividing that difference by expected data values.
• Negatively skewed data?


  long tail that extends to the left- the median will be greater than the mean
• Positively skewed distribution?


  long tail that extends to the right- the mean is greater than the median
• Repeated measures- strengths and weakness?


  ppt will not be subject to participants variables, extra ppt don't need to be recruited. risk of order effects- can be reduce by counterbalancing.
• Independent groups?


  less time-consuming & order effects cannot be observed. different ppts need more expensive and time consuming, risk of ppts variables.
• Matched pairs?


  order effects not observed, partner matching reduced risk of ppt variables. more difficult due to diff participants needed, matching is a more complex process.
• Consent form?


  Exemplar consent form

  
• Ethical issues?


  Confidentiality, informed consent, deception, debriefing, right to withdraw, protection from harm
• code of ethics- Respect?


  Respect for ppts and psychology as a science. value integrity and dignity of ppts
• code of ethics- competence?


  making sure that researchers have specialist knowledge, training and skill.
• code of ethics- responsibility?


  researcher must make sure that experiments are carried out in a safe manner and must be liable for any outcome. must be mindful of ppt trust in them.
• code of ethic- integrity?


  Honest, truthful and consistent. putting aside self interest, be objective and open to challenge one behaviour.
• design a study?


  pt 2