HL: Paper 3 - Question 3 - Bias and Credibility

Vocabulary flashcards covering qualitative, quantitative, and general techniques used to reduce bias in research.

Member Checking

A qualitative research technique where participants review transcripts or findings to confirm data is accurate and conclusions are fair.

Peer Review (Qualitative Research)

A technique where other researchers read the research journal to review data and check that interpretations are fair.

Devil's Advocate Strategy

A qualitative research technique where other researchers review data and highlight as many concerns with bias as possible.

Negative Case Analysis

A technique where the researcher (and/or other researchers) review data to look for any statements from the participant which seem to contradict the conclusions.

Research Journal + Personal Reflexivity

A process where the researcher reads their own research journal to review data and check that interpretations are fair and the risk of bias is low.

Interview Guide

Planned questions for use in a semi-structured interview.

Behavioural Checklist

A list of behaviours (states and events) which have been clearly defined and agreed by researchers, usually through repeated pilot studies.

Single Blind Design

Used in some experiments - participants do not know which condition they are in (or what the conditions are).

Double Blind Design

Used in some experiments - neither participants nor researchers know which condition participants are in.

Counterbalancing

A technique used with a repeated measures design where participants experience the conditions in a different order to control order effects.

Randomisation (random allocation)

A technique where participants are randomly allocated to one condition of the IV to reduce individual differences skewing data.

Researcher Triangulation

A technique used in quantitative and qualitative research where a different researcher collects data on the same topic from the same participant using the same method.

Method Triangulation

A technique used in quantitative and qualitative research where the same researcher collects data on the same topic from the same participant using a different method.

Research Assistants

People employed to collect data who are unaware of the purpose of the research or the manipulation of the IV and condition participants are in.

Standardised Instructions

A script used to make sure data is collected in exactly the same way each time (and by each researcher if more than one person is collecting data).

Anonymity

A technique where no names are collected or recorded with data so that an individual's data cannot be identified.

Research Journal

A record of how the research was done and why it was done that way.

Divergent Data

Data collected by different researchers or methods (or conclusions of different researchers) that are different.

Convergent Data

Data collected by different researchers or methods (or conclusions of different researchers) that are the same, increasing confidence in credibility.

Negative Cases

Statements from the participant which seem to contradict the conclusions drawn by the researcher.