Research Methods 1

-Different types of data -Sampling techniques -Ethics

What are the different types of data?

What are the different types of data?

Quantitative: Numerical data, easy to analyse, over simplified

Qualitative: Data in words, Deeper insight, harder to analyse

Primary data: Collected first hand by the psychologist, fits the purpose of the investigation, time consuming

Secondary data: Collected by an external person, less time consuming and easy to access, might not meet exact needs of research

Meta-analysis: Analysing existing studies to draw new conclusions, researcher can analyse lots of data, subjective and selective

What are the different sampling techniques?

1. Random: Every member of the population has an equal chance of being picked eg names out of a hat. Unbiased, not guaranteed to be representative of the sample

2. Systematic: Every nth person from from list of target population. Unbiased, Not guaranteed to be representative

3. Stratified: Target population divided into subgroups, Sample must have some ratios, Random sampling used. Representative, generalisable and not biased, Impracticable and time consuming

4. Opportunity: Asking people who are available, easy and less time consuming, researcher bias so not as representative

5. Volunteer: Participants offer to take part. Practical, Volunteer bias so not representative

What are the different types of ethics, how to deal with them and what are the problems?

1. Informed consent, sign a document giving consent, if they know the aim might cause demand characteristics

2. Deception, Get deception approved by ethics committee and debrief, Can’t judge how they will react to deception

3. Protection from harm, Ethics committee approval, debrief, give right to withdraw, can’t predict what will and won’t be harmful

4. Confidentiality and privacy, Remove personal details, reassure in debrief everything is confidential, sometimes people can still work out who it is.

What is an observation and evaluate?

1. Observation: When researcher will watch/listen to the participants

   • +Allows us to see what people actually do, - Observer bias

What is a Naturalistic and controlled observation and evaluate?

1. Naturalistic observation: Takes place in a setting where the behaviour would normally occur

   • +High ecological validity, - Lack of control of extraneous variables

2. Controlled observation: An environment the researcher has structured eg. Lab

   • +Control over extraneous variables, - Lacks ecological validity

What is a Covert and Overt observation and evaluation?

1. Covert Observations: Participants are unaware they are being observed

   • +Reduced demand characteristics, - Ethics and consent

2. Overt Observations: Participants are aware they are being observed

   • +More ethical, - Demand characteristics

What is a participant and non-participant observation and evaluation?

1. Participant observation: Researcher joins in with group they are observing

   • +Insight and validity, - lose objectivity and could go native

2. Non-participant observation: Researcher observes but doesn’t join in.

   • +Objective as remaining detached from the group, - Not build rapport or have insight

What is a unstructured and structured observation and evaluation?

1. Unstructured observation: Qualitative data where the researcher writes what they see

   • +High in validity, - Subjective

2. Structured: Quantitative data as records the number of times the behaviour happened

   • +Easier to analyse, - Lacks validity

How do you design an observation?

Operationalising behaviour categories: Breaking down a wide category of behaviour, eg. Anger into measurable behaviours like swearing

Inter-observer reliability: Pilot study. More than one researcher. Check results have 0.80 positive correlation. Discuss and resolve discrepancies.

Sampling techniques: In observation this is when you will conduct the observation

Continuous: Used with unstructured observation

Event sampling: Number of times a particular event occurs

Time sampling: A pre-established time frame ed. every minute

Explain what a self-report: Questionnaires is?

List of pre-written questions that participants answer.

Open Questions: Participants can answer any way they wish

Closed questions: Fixed responses eg. always, sometimes and never

Designing a questionnaire: Avoid technical subject terms, leading questions & emotive language

What is the evaluation of Self report: Questionnaires?

+Large data easily distributed

+Cost and time effective

+No researcher presence

+Closed=High reliability

-Socially desirable answers

-Acquiescence bias

-Lack Validity

What is self report Structured, Unstructured and Semi structured interviews and the evaluation?

Structured: Pre set list of questions in a pre set order.

+Reliable,Easier to analyse

-Investigator effects and socially desirable answers, Participants cannot fully explain views

Unstructured: Conversation on a set theme

+Participants open up as rapport is built, Higher validity

-Interviewer bias, Difficult to analyse, Not reliable, More likely to hit on sensitive topics so ethical concerns

Semi structured interviews: List of key questions but further questions can be asked.

What is the relationship between psychology and the economy?

Research can inform governments, businesses, etc. how to make/save/spend money

What is a peer review?

When the work of a psychologist is assessed by peers in the same field to ensure high quality. Aims are to help delegate funding, validation of the quality of research, suggest amendments or improvements and contribute to the rating of university research departments. However, can be flawed process due to anonymity, Publication bias, and a desire to maintain the status quo.

What is a pilot study?

A small scale practice run to identify ethical issues, avoid demand characteristics and check method

What is Investigator effects?

How a researcher can unconsciously affect the research by appearance and behaviour