IB Psychology : Research Methods

Qualitative Research

Research methodology that gather descriptive data. Not to investigate effects of variables but to understand subjective experiences of phenomena

Case Studies ( Qualitative Research)

Researchers study a particular person in detail, hoping to discover or collect unique data.

Naturalistic Observation (Qualitative Research)

observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation (IV)

Interviews ( Qualitative Research)

One to one interaction of a researcher and the interviewee. The researcher asks the person about a set of questions and the researcher collects data according to the person's responses.

Quantative Methods

research that gathers numerical data

Experiments ( Quantitative Methods)

a study conducted that investigates the direct effect of an independent variable on a dependent variable . Establishes causation

Field Experiments ( Quantitative Methods)

IV is manipulated in a natural setting

quasi-experiment ( Quantitative methods)

Similar to experiments but the participants don't get randomly assigned to any experimental groups

Natural experiments ( Quantitative methods)

When the independent variable is naturally occurring ( hasn't been manipulated by the researcher).

Correlational Research ( Quantitative methods)

Researching the relationship between 2 variables. (positive or negative). In correlational research , you can't find the causation between the 2 variables.

Research Design (elements of quantitative research)

a detailed plan or method for obtaining data scientifically

Matched pairs (research design)

the ability to assign participants to conditions randomly. Allows researchers to control extraneous variables, such as participant variability ( traits such as aggressiveness) .

Independent samples (research design)

is when the sample is divided into different groups. This means that not everyone will experience all conditions in the experiment.

Repeated measures (research design)

All participants take part in all conditions of the experiment. Treatment is repeated for all participants.

null hypothesis (H0)

A prediction that there is no difference between groups or conditions, or a statement or an idea that can be falsified, or proved wrong.

experimental hypothesis

Alternative hypothesis to the null because if the null is not true, there is an alternate explanation to the phenomenon.

independent variable

The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.

Dependent variable

the effect , or outcome of the independent variable It is what is measured by the researchers.

random sample (sampling techniques)

a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion

convenience/oppturnity (sampling techniques).

involves asking and getting participants that are the closest geographically to you.

Volunteer (self-selected) sampling

involves recruiting people who volunteer to participate in a study, oftentimes for payment

Ethical Considerations ( elements of quantitative methods)

idea of preventing physical suffering, harm, or any form of psychological stress or discomfort

Controls ( elements of quantitative methods)

Something that helps isolate the IV as the only variable influencing the DV

Data presentation ( Analyzing Data)

"The range of techniques, maps, graphs, tables, photographs. diagrams, field sketches, statistical methods, used to represent data."

test-test reliability

if a score gets similar results over many replications

Ecological validity ( external validity)

Describes how accurate of an experiment's conditions are in a real world setting

Population validity (External validity)

extent where the sample is a representative of a wider or different population.

Demand characteristics ( internal validity )

(characteristics) in a study that may lead the participant to figure out how they're supposed to act (according to the demands of the researcher/experiment). It leads to participants behaving in a way that they think they're supposed to, not how they would naturally act in a real-world setting

descripitive statistics

numerical data used to measure and describe characteristics of groups, and this includes measures of variation ( range, variance, standard variance, interquartile range)

inferential statistics

Induce inferences and draw conclusions based on data. Help psychologists decide whether they can generalize (apply) samples to the general population

inter-rater (reliability)

extent to which raters give consistent agreement on a particular phenomenon

inter-rater reliability

measure of agreement among observers on how they record and classify a particular event

Correlation (Drawing Conclusions)

Relationship between two variables but we can't determine if it is due to causation or not.

: Negative and Positive correlation

Replication ( Drawing Conclusions)

copies of the study and researchers evaluate the extent in which these studies similar

Generalization

Making broad and incorrect assumptions about a culture and its values. This type of assumption neglects the specific individuals and fail to acknowledge that not everyone is the same in a culture.

Researcher (triangulation)

use of one or more researcher to collect and analyse data

Methodological (triangulation)

conducting different research methods to attempt to achieve the same results (