Research Methods

• Experiment:

  • An investigation where a hypothesis is scientifically tested.
  • Tests the effect of the independent variable on a dependent variable.
• Hypothesis:

  • A testable statement about the relationship between two variables.
• Directional Hypothesis:

  • Researcher states the difference that is anticipated.
  • E.g people with bigger brains will get higher scores on intelligence tests.
  • Can be used when the researcher is confident of the outcome.
• Non-Directional Hypothesis:

  • States that there is a difference, but it is not specified.
  • E.g there will be no be difference in IQ depending on the size of someone’s brain.
  • Used when the researcher is less confident of an outcome.
• Variables:

  • Independent - variable that you change.
  • Dependent - variable that you measure.
  • Cofounding - variables that could affect the experiment but cannot be changed e.g someone’s IQ.
  • Extraneous - variable that needs to be controlled that can affect the experiment e.g time of day.
• Operationalising Variables:

  1. Students do better listening to music.
  2. After listening to classical music, students perform better in a 20 minute exam.

  Making it more specific.
• Case Study:

  • An in depth investigation of an individual or a group.
  • Often carried out in hospitals, schools or prisons.
• Case Study: Advantages

  • Provide detail information.
  • Behaviour recorded over time so changes can be observed.
• Case Study: Disadvantages

  • Data can be subjective (down to opinion).
  • Ethical issues.
• Content Analysis:

  • When you review secondary data/information from real life e.g newspapers, tv shows, adverts and transcripts.
  • Used e.g looking at which song is the most christmassy.
• Coding Analysis:

  • Counting the number of something (quantitive data).
• Thematic Analysis:

  • Identifying words that are part of a certain criteria (qualitative).
• Content Analysis: Advantages

  • No demand characteristics.
  • Information is easy to get.
  • High ecological validity.
• Content Analysis: Disadvantages

  • Time consuming if data is qualitative.
  • Can be subjective.
  • Could get researcher bias.
• Target Population - group of people that the researcher wants to study.
• Ecological Validity - how true to real life it is.
• Order Effects - when participants change their behaviour throughout the experiment e.g tiredness.
• Participant Variables - the difference between the participants.
• Investigator Effects - when researchers unconsciously influence the results of their research. E.g acting different to male participants vice versa.
• Demand Characteristics - when participants work out the aim of the experiment. May change their behaviour.
• Counterbalancing - changing the order of the conditions. Mainly done in repeated measures to try and reduce demand characteristics and order effects.
• Bias - not selecting a representative sample from the target population.
• Standardisation - giving someone the same procedure, method etc. How consistent something is.
• Quasi Experiment:

  • Independent variable has not been determined yet.
  • It already exists e.g age, gender or health.
  • E.g the difference in anxiety levels of males and females.
• Control Group:

  • When the participants don‘t experience anything different.
  • Done with a group of participants.
• Double Blind Procedure:

  • When neither the participants or the investigator know the aim of the study.
• Single Blind Procedure:

  • When the participants don’t know the details of the experiment, but the investigator does.
• Pilot Study:

  • It’s a small scale trial run.
  • Checks if the procedure, materials and measurements all work correctly.
  • Usually done with fewer participants.
• Types Of Experiments;

  • Lab.
  • Field.
  • Natural.
• Lab Experiment:

  • Where everything is controlled - done in a controlled environment.
  • All the variables are controlled.
• Lab Experiment: Advantages

  • All variables can be controlled including the extraneous variables.
  • Increases confidence in the results of the experiment.
  • Standardised procedure - everyone is given the same instructions/material.
  • Saves time as you can give people the same instructions.
• Lab Experiment: Disadvantages

  • Not ecologically valid.
  • Easy to have investigator bias.
  • Demand characteristics as participants know that they are part of an experiment.
• Natural Experiment:

  • Cannot control variables.
  • Done in a natural environment.
  • You just watch the natural behaviour.
• Natural Experiment: Advantages

  • Results are true to real life - high ecological validity.
  • No demand characteristics.
• Natural Experiment: Disadvantages

  • Less control over the variables.
  • Time consuming - have to wait for behaviour to occur.
• Field Experiment:

  • Natural setting.
  • Some variables are controlled.
  • Mix of lab and natural.
• Field Experiment: Advantages

  • More realistic than lab experiments.
  • Behaviour is usually natural - don’t always know that they are part of a study.
  • Can use a confederate to help the experiment.
• Field Experiment: Disadvantages

  • More difficult to control the extraneous variables - results may not be accurate.
  • May be ethical issues - participants may of not given their consent.
• Experimental Design:

  • Process of carrying out research and how you do it.
• Types Of Experimental Design:

  • Repeated measures.
  • Independent groups.
  • Matched Pairs.