Psychology Paper 1

• Theory


  Explanation for behaviour that needs to be tested
• Aim


  Statement of why the study is being carried out
• Independent Variable (IV)


  The thing the researcher changes to find a difference between 2(or more) conditions
• Dependant variable


  The thing the researcher is measuring. The results depend on how the IV is changed
• Operationalistion


  Making variables measurable and testable so that research can be standardised
• Extraneous variable


  Extra aspects of an investigation that might affect the DV that isn't the IV
• Hypothesis


  A clear,precise,testable statement
• Null Hypothesis


  States that the IV wont affect the DV
• Alternative/Suitable Hypotheses Directional


  States how the IV will affect the DV
• Alternative/Suitable Hypotheses Non-Directional


  States the IV will affect the DV, but will not state in which direction
• Quantitative Data


  numerical data -can be tailled

  ✓Easy to analyse

  X Limited depth &detail
• Qualitative Data


  Rich, non-numerical data ,such as words or pictures

  ✓more depth &detail

  X Difficult to analyse
• Primary Data


  First-hand data was collected by researchers themselves, directly from the participants.
• Secondary Data


  Secondhand data taken from previous research or elsewhere

  ✓Easy to access a lot of data

  X No control over the validity of other people's studies
• Type of Experiments


  Laboratory Experiment ,Field Experiment and Natural Experiment
• Laboratory Experiment


  Researcher can control who is allocated to each condition of the IV & it takes place in an artificial setting with an artificial task

  ✓High control over variables-cause and effect relationship can be established

  X Highly artificial
• Field Experiment


  Researcher can control who is allocated to each condition of IV& it takes place in a real-world task

  ✓Get more natural behavior from participants

  X Lower control over extraneous variables
• Natural experiment


  Researcher cannot control who goes in each condition as the participants naturally belong to the groups- the settings don't matter

  ✓Investigates real-world differences

  X Biased participant sample -increased chance of individual differences
• What are Experimental Design


  Independent groups ,repeated measures and matched pairs
• Independent design


  Different participants in different conditions of the IV

  ✓Fewer demand characteristics

  X Individual differences between the groups &need more participants
• Repeated meaures


  All participants do both conditions of the IV

  ✓ No individual differences & fewer participants needed

  X Order effects &demand characteristics
• Matched Pairs


  Participants matched on pre-set criteria ,then divided into separate conditions of IV

  ✓Fewer demand characteristics & individual differences

  X Time consuming &difficult to accurately match
• Standardised procedures


  Keeping everything the same for each participant except the IV
• Standardised Instructions


  Scripts of pre-prepared directions that share all relevant info
• Randomisation


  Using Chance to create to assign participants to a group-lowering bias
• Counterbalancing


  Changing the order that participants do conditions in repeated measures design to reduce order effects
• Mean


  Dividing the total by the number of participants ✓Representative of population

  X Affected by anomalies
• Median


  The middle number when put in order

  ✓More depth &detail

  X Difficult to analyse
• Mode


  Most common

  ✓More depth &detail

  X Difficult to analyse
• Range


  Largest-smallest

  ✓More depth &detail

  X Difficult to analyse
• Random Sampling


  Everyone in the target population has an equal chance of being selected

  ✓Representative-everyone has same participation chance

  X Sample may be unintentionally biased
• Opportunity Sampling


  Using whoever is available at the time

  ✓Quick and easy

  X Sample may be unintentionally biased
• Systematic Sampling


  Every nth person is chosen from a list

  ✓Less researcher bias in selection

  X Might not be representative of the target population
• Stratified Sampling


  Dividing the target population into sub-groups that are then represented in the participant sample

  ✓Very representative sample

  X Very time-consuming to divide participants into subgroups
• Ethical Considerations


  Informed Consent ,Deception, Right to Withdrawn ,Protection from Harm- Physiological ,Protection from harm-psychological, Privacy &Confidentiality
• Informed Consent


  Issue: Participants should know what they signed up for

  Overcome: Get participants to sign a detailed consent form
• Deception


  Issue :Participants should not be lied to

  Overcome: If deception was essential have a through debrief
• Right to Withdraw


  Issue: Participants should be able to leave at any point

  Overcome: Remind participants of their right throughout
• Protection from Harm-Physiological


  Issue: Participants cannot be hurt or injured

  Overcome: Health and safety check &first aider available
• Protection from Harm-Psychological


  Issue: Participants cannot become distressed

  Overcome: Counselling services should be made available