RESEARCH METHODS

• Variable

  Something that can be changed, such as a characteristic or value
• Independent variable (IV)

  The variable that is controlled and manipulated by the experimenter
• Dependent variable (DV)


  The variable which is measured by the researcher as a result of the manipulation of the IV
• Extraneous variables

  • Participant variables
  • Situational variables
• Extraneous variables


  • Generally unwanted variables that can have an impact on the relationship between the IV and DV
• Ways to reduce extraneous variables

  • Standardisation
  • Random allocation
  • Single/double blind technique
• Experimental designs

  • Independent groups design
  • Repeated Measures
  • Matched pairs design
• Null Hypothesis

  States that there is no relationship between the two variables being studied
• Alternative Hypothesis

  States that there is a relationship between the two variables being studied
• Experiment types

  • Laboratory Experiments
  • Field Experiments
  • Natural Experiments
• Self-report methods

  • Interviews
  • Questionnaires
• Interview types

  • Structured
  • Unstructured
  • Semi-structured
• Qualitative data

  Data that is mainly words
• Quantitative data

  Data that is mainly numerical
• Graph types

  • Bar Charts
  • Scatter Graphs
  • Line Graphs
• Correlation

  Tells us whether there is an association or a relationship between two variables
• Normal distribution

  • Bell-shaped
  • Symmetrical
  • Mean, median and mode all fall on the same central point
  • The two tails never touch the horizontal axis
• Observation

  The process of watching what people do
• There is no relationship between the number of clothes we wear as we get older
• Strengths of using correlations

  • Correlations are objective because they use quantitative data
  • Correlations opens doors for new research
• Weaknesses of using correlations

  • Correlations can't show cause and effect
  • Correlations lack detail as they only use quantitative data
• Normal distribution

  A normal distribution describes spread (distribution) of data. If you plotted everyone's data on a graph you would get a bell shaped curve which means that the majority of values are clustered around the middle (the average).
• Characteristics of a normal distribution curve, also know as a bell-shaped curve

  • It is bell-shaped
  • It is symmetrical
  • The mean, median and mode all fall on the same central point
  • The two tails never touch the horizontal axis
• Observation

  The process of watching what people do and there are many different types of observations in Psychology
• Types of observation

  • Participant observation
  • Non-participant observation
  • Covert observation
  • Overt observation
  • Naturalistic observation
  • Structured observation
• Reliability

  Refers to whether the research can be repeated or replicated - is it consistent?
• Validity


  Refers to whether the study reflects the truth
• Inter-rater reliability

  When two or more researchers agree on what they see
• Ecological validity


  Refers to whether the setting is natural for example a setting which participants are familiar with
• Ethical considerations for observations

  • Overt observations are the most ethical because participants are aware they're being observed
  • Covert observations are the least ethical because participants are unaware they're being observed
  • Structured observations are the most reliable because the event is planned and staged
  • Natural observations are the least reliable because it is harder to control variables
  • Natural and covert observations are the most valid because they have ecological validity
  • Structured and overt observations are the least valid because they reduce ecological validity
• Case studies

  An in depth study of one person or a small group of participants
• Strengths of case studies

  • They are rich in about people you want to study which increases the validity of the data
  • They have high ecological validity as often in a natural setting
• Weaknesses of case studies

  • They are time consuming especially if a researcher is collecting data over many years
  • It is hard to generalise the findings as the sample is only a small amount of participants which means they do not represent the wider population
• Ethical guidelines for research

  • Consent
  • Debrief
  • Confidential
  • Deception
  • Withdraw
  • Protection from harm
• Calculations

  You can make calculations using your data to find out the number or amount of something
• Types of calculations

  • Mean
  • Median
  • Mode
  • Range
  • Standard Form
  • Ratios
  • Decimals, fractions and percentages
  • Significant figures
  • Conversions
  • Percentage change
• Mean


  The average of the numbers
• Median


  The middle of a sorted list of numbers
• Mode


  The number which appears most often
• Range


  The difference between the lowest and highest values