Research Methods AS

• Primary research is information gathered specifically for an investigation by the researcher themselves
• Secondary research is data that has already been collected and is available for the researcher
• Strength of Primary research: It is authentic directly from the ppts that are being studied. Internally valid
• Weakness of primary research: It requires time planning, preparing and carrying out
• Strength of secondary research: It is low in cost and require minimal effort
• Weakness of secondary research: It could be outdated or irrelevant
• A pilot study is a small model version of the main study to check procedure
• Qualitative data is information that is not numerical form, like questionnaires. It gathers in-depth information
• Quantitative data is information in form of numbers, figures and statistics. This can be easy to analyse on a graph
• Stages of research: Developing aim of the study -> selecting samples -> pilot studies -> collecting data -> analysing the data -> evaluating the project.
• Hypotheses can be one tailed (directional) or two tailed (non-directional).
• Directional hypothesis: The IV will have an effect on the DV and stated which direction. E.g. Drinking caffeine increases memory compared to if you don't drink caffeine.
• Non-directional Hypothesis: The IV will affect the Dv but no clear direction is stated. E.g. Caffeine affects memory compared to not drinking caffeine.
• Extraneous variables are factors that affect the results of the DV and lead to an error of results.
• Types of extraneous variables are participant, situational, investigator and demand characteristics.
• Participant variables: The characteristics of the ppt affects the results. E.g. age, gender, education
• Situational variables: The environment of the study affects the results. E.g. temperature, noise, lighting
• Investigator variables: The investigator has bias and can influence results of the study.
• Demand characteristics: Answer bias from the ppts since they have guessed the aim of the study.
• Confounding variables are variables not controlled leading to not determining the affect of the IV
• Types of experiment are lab, field, natural and quasi
• Lab experiment: In a controlled environment and the researcher can control all variables.
• Field experiment: In a natural setting, familiar to the ppts. e.g. a class room
• Natural experiment: IV is naturally occurring and researcher has no control over it. E.g. How weather affects your mood
• Quasi experiment: IV is naturally occurring to the ppts. E.g. how gender affects speed of running.
• Strength of Lab: Easily replicable and control over extraneous variables.
• weakness of lab: Ppts can respond to demand characteristics. artificial setting so reduces ecological validity
• Strength of field: high ecological validity and reduction of demand characteristics.
• Weakness of field: Less control over extraneous variables. it is hard to replicate as situational factors are there.
• Strength of natural: Studies real problems such as natural disasters
• weakness of natural: IV can't be manipulated for practical reasons.
• Strength of Quasi: allows comparison of different types of people
• weakness of quasi: IV can't be manipulated for practical reasons
• Experimental designs are repeated measures, independent groups and matched pairs.
• Repeated measures: Ppts are used in both conditions. Good because it is cost effective however increased demand characteristics
• Independent groups: Ppts are randomly allocated to different conditions. Good because reduced demand characteristics however, participant variables can be confounding if not equally distributed.
• Matched pairs: Pairs of ppts are matched, then split into two groups. Good because participant variables are controlled. However, expensive to recruit all ppts
• Population sampling is a group of people that researchers want to study
• sample is a smaller group of a population
• Sampling frame is a list of all members of the population