Research methods

• What is the aim of a researcher in a study?

  The aim is what the researcher is trying to find out.
• What does empiricism refer to in psychology?

  Empiricism is the philosophy that psychology is a science.
• What are the two main types of variables in an experiment?

  The two main types of variables are independent variable (IV) and dependent variable (DV).
• What is an extraneous variable?

  An extraneous variable is a factor other than the IV that can influence the DV.
• How does a confounding variable differ from an extraneous variable?

  A confounding variable is a factor that cannot be controlled and influences the DV, making results less accurate.
• What does operationalising a variable mean?

  Operationalising means adding detail to the variable.
• What is a hypothesis in the context of an experiment?

  A hypothesis is a prediction about the experiment's result made before performing the experiment.
• What is a directional hypothesis?

  A directional hypothesis makes a specific prediction, such as higher or lower.
• What is a non-directional hypothesis?

  A non-directional hypothesis predicts that there will be a difference but does not specify what that difference will be.
• What are the types of experimental methods?

  • Laboratory experiments
  • Field experiments
  • Natural experiments
  • Quasi experiments
• What characterizes laboratory experiments?

  Laboratory experiments are conducted in a well-controlled environment with a standardised procedure.
• What is a key advantage of laboratory experiments?

  They are easier to replicate and have high validity due to accurate results.
• What is a disadvantage of laboratory experiments?

  They have an artificial setting, which lacks ecological validity and does not reflect real-life situations.
• What defines field experiments?

  Field experiments are conducted in the everyday environment of the participants, where the researcher manipulates the IV.
• What is a key advantage of field experiments?

  They have high ecological validity as they reflect real-life situations.
• What is a disadvantage of field experiments?

  Field experiments are not replicable due to less control over extraneous variables.
• What characterizes natural experiments?

  Natural experiments are conducted in everyday settings where the researcher has no control over the IV.
• What is a key advantage of natural experiments?

  They have high ecological validity as behavior is performed in a natural setting.
• What is a disadvantage of natural experiments?

  Natural experiments have low reliability due to the lack of demand characteristics.
• What defines quasi experiments?

  Quasi experiments are conducted in a natural environment but lack random allocation of participants.
• What is a key advantage of quasi experiments?

  They have high ecological validity as behavior is performed in a natural setting.
• What is a disadvantage of quasi experiments?

  Quasi experiments have low reliability due to the lack of demand characteristics.
• What is sampling in psychological research?

  Sampling is a method used to recruit participants for any kind of psychological research.
• What is a target population?

  The target population is the whole group you are studying.
• What is a sample in research?

  A sample is the group of participants taking part in the research.
• Why is it important for a sample to be representative of the target population?

  If the sample is not representative, the results cannot be generalized to the target population.
• What are the sampling methods used in psychological research?

  • Random sampling
  • Systematic sampling
  • Stratified sampling
  • Opportunity sampling
  • Volunteer sampling
• What is random sampling?

  Random sampling involves picking participants at random from the target population.
• What is a strength of random sampling?

  It is quick and easy, and everyone has a fair chance of being selected.
• What is a weakness of random sampling?

  It may not include all types of people, making it not representative of the target population.
• What is systematic sampling?

  Systematic sampling involves selecting names from the sampling frame at regular, equal, and predetermined intervals.
• What is a strength of systematic sampling?

  It offers an unbiased chance of gaining a representative sample.
• What is a weakness of systematic sampling?

  It is difficult to obtain a complete list of everyone in the population.
• What is stratified sampling?


  Stratified sampling involves selecting a group of people to reflect the target population and then picking from this at random.
• What is a strength of stratified sampling?

  The sample is representative of the target population, allowing for generalization of results.
• What is a weakness of stratified sampling?

  It is time-consuming to work out categories and requires a lot of information about the population.
• What is opportunity sampling?

  Opportunity sampling involves approaching people available in a place at a specific time to take part.
• What is a strength of opportunity sampling?

  It is ethical as people choose to take part in the research.
• What is a weakness of opportunity sampling?

  It can lead to an unrepresentative sample of the target population.
• What is volunteer sampling?

  Volunteer sampling involves asking people to volunteer to take part in the research.