Research Methods

• What do frequency tables represent


  The number of times a score occurs
• What do histograms show

  Vertical columns to show frequencies
• Difference between histograms and bar charts

  The columns touch in histograms
• What do bar charts represent

  Data in categories of discrete information (mutually exclusive)
• Normal distribution curves


  Describes the spread of data

  Shows bell shape curve

  Mean, median, and mode occur in at the same central point
• What do correlations tell us

  The relationship between two co-variables
• Co-variables


  Provide numerical data at each axis of graph
• Positive correlation


  As one variable increases, the other increases
• Negative correlation

  As one variable increases, the other decreases
• No correlation

  No correlational relationship between two variables
• Quantitative data


  Data that can be counted, usually given in numbers
• Strength of quantitative data

  easy to analyse and make comparisons between groups
• Weakness of quantitative data

  lacks depth and detail
• Qualitative data


  Data expressed in words
• Strength of qualitative data


  Detailed, includes people's thoughts

  More information obtained
• Weakness of qualitative data

  Difficult to analyse

  Researcher opinions may result in bias
• Primary data


  First hand data collected only for the purpose of research
• Strength of primary data

  Suits the aim of the researcher, therefore more useful
• Weaknessof primary data

  Takes time and effort

  Example: Interviews / experiment
• Secondary data


  Data collected by someone else

  Already analysed

  Example: books, websites, government statistics.
• Strengths of secondary data

  Quick as data is already analysed
• Weaknesses of secondary data

  Uncertainty of quality of data as it is not conducted by you

  Might be out of date
• Ethical issues


  Conflict between rights of participant to be safe and the goals of research to produce valid results
• Ethical issues include


  • Informed Consent
  • Deception
  • Protection from harm
  • Confidentiality
• Informed consent


  Participants must be given information about the study and their role in it

  Participants must make informed decision to take part
• How to obtain informed consent

  Ask participants to sign consent form before study

  Underage participants require parental consent
• Deception


  Participants misled about aims of study
• In which cases is deception allowed

  If it benefits research

  Debriefing participants post study

  Give option to withdraw their data
• Protection from harm


  Participants should not be placed at risk physically or psychologically
• How to deal with protection from harm

  Offer counselling
• Confidentiality


  Personal details of participants should not be released

  Data should be kept anonymous
• How to deal with confidentiality

  Use code names or numbers instead of names
• Types of non experimental research


  Case studies

  Correlation studies

  Observation studies

  Interviews

  Questionnaires
• Interview meaning


  Conversation between interviewer and interviewee
• Types of interviews


  Structured interviews

  Unstructured interviews

  Semi-structured interviews
• Structured interview


  Prepared beforehand

  Set list of questions

  Read through list
• Unstructured interview


  Like a conversation

  Questions based on answers given
• Semi-structured interview


  some questions prepared before the interview and follow up questions can be asked in response to answers given
• Questionnaires


  Set of written questions used to find out a persons thoughts or feelings

  Can be opened or closed
• Questionnaires can include qualitative or quantitative data