scientific processes ✅

what is opportunity sampling?

using those who are merely available

evaluation of opportunity sampling :

advantages - easy and convenient, less time taken to arrange sample

disadvantages - not representative of the target population, biased

what is the target population?

subset of the general population the researcher is interested in

what is self-selected or volunteer sampling?

participants come to the researcher through an advertisement

evaluation of volunteer sampling :

advantages - easy and quick, gives access to a wide variety of participants

disadvantages - volunteer bias, greater participant reactivity, the participants may be extra enthusiastic

what is volunteer bias?

that people who volunteer don’t represent the general population which could lead to flawed conclusions

what is random sampling?

each person in the target population has an equal chance at being a participant

evaluation of random sampling :

advantages - unbiased sampling, very representative

disadvantages - time consuming, can be biased if not large enough sample

what is systematic sampling?

participants are chosen for the study from a sampling frame at fixed intervals that the researcher decides

evaluation of systematic sampling :

advantages - no bias, objective, easy

disadvantages - not truly random because not everyone has a chance, chosen participate may not want to partake

what is stratified sampling?

a mini reproduction of the target population

• before sampling the population is divided into characteristic subgroups and then randomly sampled within that.

  • e.g. 38% of population is college educated, 38% of the sample will be selected from college educated people

evaluation of stratified sampling :

advantages - high generalisability, very representative to wider population

disadvantages - difficult and time consuming

what is peer review?

the evaluation of work by one or more people of similar competence

what does peer review assess?

• credibility

• quality and appropriateness

• significance of the research

• originality

what is the process of peer review?

• research carried out

• researcher prepares manuscript

• sent to journal editor

• sent to relevant experts who peer review

• experts comment on manuscript

• goes back to editor to publish or not

disadvantages of peer review :

• reviewers may critique harshly to rival researchers

• biased method

• subjective

• publication bias

• ‘file drawer’ problem

what is publication bias?

the tendency for ‘headline grabbing’ research to be published instead of potentially more important but ‘boring’

what is the ‘file drawer’ problem?

positive results are more likely to be published than research that accepts the null hypothesis

how has research into psychopathology impacted the economy?

• more treatment means more people can work

• therefore more money is given to the government which can be used to help the economy

how has research into attachment impacted the economy?

• less pressure on mothers to stay home with children therefore work more

• role of the father by field

how has research into social influence impacted the economy?

• positive changes have been made due to campaigns and protests

• asch’s social support study

what is the purpose to peer review?

• to know which data is worthwhile to allocate funding to

• validate the relevance and quality of the research

• suggest improvements

• retain the integrity of psychological research

how has research into memory impacted the economy?

• less use of eyewitness testimonies therefore less false arrests and convictions

• less time and money wasted

what are the 6 ethical issues?

• informed consent

• deception

• right to withdraw

• protection from harm

• privacy

• confidentiality

what is informed consent?

participants should be told everything about the study

• however this reveals the true aim of the study resulting in social desirability bias

how would a research deal with informed consent?

get informed or presumptive consent

what is presumptive consent?

where you ask a similar target population whether they would be ok partaking in the study

what is deception?

when a researcher intentionally misleads the participants

how would a researcher deal with deception?

deception must be approved by the ethics committee who weigh the benefits vs the cost

what is the right to withdraw?

if participants feel uncomfortable or distressed they should be able to leave

how would a researcher deal with right to withdraw?

make it clear at the beginning of the study

what is protection from harm?

people should leave in the same state they entered and should face no harm greater than everyday life

how would a researcher deal with protection from harm?

avoid any harm and abandon study if harm is supected

what is confidentiality?

personal details can only be recorded and published if the data can not identify the participant

how would a researcher deal with confidentiality?

researcher shouldn’t record names but use numbers

how would a researcher deal with privacy?

do not study anyone without informed consent unless in a public place displaying public behaviour