Psychology - Research Methods

Experimental Method

Involves the manipulation of an independent variable (IV) to measure the effects on the dependent variable (DV). Experiments may be laboratory, field, natural or quasi

Aim

A general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate, the purpose of the study

Hypothesis

A clear, precise, testable statement that states the relationship between the variables to be investigated. Stated the outset of any study

Directional Hypothesis

States the direction of the difference or relationship

Non-Directional Hypothesis

Does not state the direction of the difference or relationship

Variables

Any ‘thing’ that can vary or change within an investigation. Variables are generally used in experiments to determine if changes in one thing result in changes to another

Independent Variable (IV)

Some aspects of the experimental situation that is manipulated by the researcher so the effect on the DV can be measured

Dependent Variable (DV)

The variable that is measured by the researcher. Any effect on the DV should be caused by the change in the IV

Operationalisation

Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured

Extraneous Variables (EV)

Any variable other than the independent variable (IV) that may affect the dependent variable (DV) if it is not controlled

Confounding Variables

A kind of EV but the key feature is that a confounding variable varies systematically with the IV. Therefore we can’t tell if any change in the DV is due to the IV or the confounding variable

Demand Characteristics

Any cue from the researcher or from the research situation that may be interpreted by participants as revealing the purpose of an investigation. This may lead to a participant changing their behaviour within the research situation

Investigator Effects

Any effect of the investigator’s behaviour on the research outcome (DV). This may include everything from the design of the study to the selection of, and interaction with, participants during the research process

Randomisation

The use of chance methods to control for the effects of bias when designing materials and deciding the order of experimental conditions

Standardisation

Using exact;y the same formalised procedures and instructions for all participants in a research study

Experimental Design

The different ways in which participants cam be organised in relation to the experimental conditions

Independent Group Design

Participants are allocated to different groups where each group represents one experimental condition

Repeated Measures

All participants take part in all conditions of the experiment

Matched Pairs Design

Pairs of participants are first matched on some variable that may affect the dependent variable. One member is assigned to Condition A and the other to Condition B

Random Allocation

An attempt to control for participant variables in an independent group design which ensures that each participant has the same chance of being in one condition as any other

Counterbalancing

An attempt to control for the effects of order in a repeated measures design: half the participants experience the conditions in one order, and the half in the opposite order

Lab Experiment

An experiment that takes place in a controlled environment within the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV whilst maintaining struct control of extraneous variables

Field Experiment

An experiment that takes place in a natural setting within which the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV

Natural Experiment

An experiment where the change in the IV is not brought about by the researcher but would have happened even if the researcher had not been there. The researcher records the effect on a DV they have decided on

Quasi-Experiment

A study that is almost an experiment but lacks key components. The IV has not been determined by anyone

Population

A group of people who are the focus of the researcher’s interest, from which a smaller sample is drawn

Sample

A group of people who take part in a research investigation. The sample us drawn from a (target) population and is presumed to be representative of that population

Sampling Bias

When certain groups are under/over represented which limits the extent of generalisation that can be made to the target population

Generalisation

The extent to which findings and conclusions from a particular investigation can be broadly applied to the population. This is possible if the sample of participants is representative of the target population

Random Sampling

Is a sampling technique where every member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected

• Potentially biased
• Difficult and time consuming

Systematic Sampling

I a sampling technique that uses a predetermined system to select the participants from a target group

• Objective
• Time-consuming

Stratified Sampling

Researchers divided subjects into subgroups called strata based on characteristics that they share

• Representative sample
• Does not account for individual differences

Opportunity Sampling

Uses the knowledge and attributes of the researcher to identify a sample

• Convenient and cheaper
• Unrepresentative sample

Volunteer Sampling

Occurs when researchers seek volunteers to participate in studies

• Requires minimal researcher input - less time consuming
• Volunteer bias

Informed Consent

Participants can enter research freely (voluntarily) with full information about what it means for them to take part, and they give consent before they enter the research

Deception

Deliberately misleading or withholding information from participants ay any stage of the investigation

Protection From Harm

Participants should not be placed at any more risk than they would be in their daily lives and should be protected from physical and psychological harm

Privacy and Confidentiality

Participants have the right to control information about themselves

Pilot Study

A small scale version of an investigation that takes place before the real investigation is conducted. The aim is to check that procedures, materials, measuring scales, etc, work. The aim is also to allow the researcher make changes or modifications as necessary

Single-Blind Procedure

A type of clinical trial in which only the researcher doing the study knows which treatment or intervention the participant is receiving until the trial is over

Double-Blind Study

A type of clinical trial in which neither the participants nor the researcher knows which treatment or intervention participants are receiving until the clinical trial is over

Naturalistic Observation

Watching and recording behaviour in the setting within which it would naturally occur

Controlled Observation

Watching and recording behaviour within a structured environment

Covert Observation

Participants behaviour is watched and recorded without their knowledge or consent

Overt Ovservation

Participants behaviour is watched and recorded with their knowledge and consent

Participant Observation

The researcher becomes a member if the group whose behaviour he/she is watching and recording

Non-Participant Observation

The researcher remains outside of the group whose behaviour he/she is watching and recording

Behavioural Categories

When a target behaviour is broken up into components that are observable and measurable (operationalisation)

Event Sampling

A target behaviour or event is first established then the researcher records this event every time it occurs

Time Sampling

A target individual or group is first established then the researcher records their behaviour in a fixed time frame

Observer Bias

To make data recording more objective and unbiased, observations should be carried out by at least 2 researchers. Then data from different observers is compared to check for consistency

Self-Report Technique

A method in which participants provide information about their thoughts, feelings, or behaviours through direct questioning or structured interviews.

Questionnaire

A research tool is used to collect data from participants by asking a set of standardized questions

Structured Interview

Participants are asked the same set of questions in a standardized manner. Used to ensure fairness and objectivity in the interview process

Unstructured Interviews

Works like a conversation, there is no set questions just a general aim and a certain topic discussion

Semi-Structured Interview

A list of questions that have been worked out in advance but interviewers are free to ask follow up questions

Acquiescence Bias

The tendency to agree with items on a questionnaire regardless of the content of the question

Social Desirability Bias

Tendency to give socially acceptable responses instead of truthful ones due to fear of judgement or desire to please others

Open Questions

Questions for which there is no fixed choice of response and respondents can answer in any way they wish

Closed Questions

Questions for which there is a fixed choice of responses determined by the question setter

Questionnaire Types:

• Likert Scale
• Rating Scale
• Fixed-Choice Option

Correlation

A mathematical technique in which a researcher investigates an association between 2 variables, called co-variables

Co-Variables

Factors that are related to each other and can affect the outcome of an experiment or study. They are often controlled or measured to ensure accurate results

Qualitative Data

Data that is expressed in words and non-numerical

Quantitative Data

Data that can be counted

Primary Data

Information collected directly from its source is called Primary Data. It is original and new data collected through surveys, experiments, or observations

Secondary Data

Definition: Data that has already been collected by someone else for a different purpose. Can be obtained from sources such as government agencies, research institutions, or commercial data providers

Meta-Analysis

A statistical technique that combines results from multiple studies to draw a conclusion about the overall effect size, providing a more accurate estimate of the true effect than any single study alone

Measures of Central Tendency

The general term for any measure of the average value in a set of data

Mean

The arithmetic average calculated by adding up all the values in a set of data and dividing by the numbers of values

Median

The central value in a set of data when values are arranged from lowest to highest

Mode

The most frequently occurring value in a set of data

Measures of Central Tendency

A statistical measure that represents the center of a distribution of data. It includes mean, median, and mode.

Measures of Dispersion

Used to describe the degree of variation or spread of data in a dataset. Examples include range, variance, and standard deviation

Range

A simple calculation of the dispersion in a set of scores which is worked out by subtracting the lowest score from the highest score and adding 1 as a mathematical correction

Standard Deviation

Measure of the spread of data from its mean. It indicates how much the data deviates from the average value. A low SD indicates data is clustered around the mean, while a high SD indicates data is more spread out

Statistical Testing

A method used to determine if the difference between two groups is due to chance or a real effect

Peer Review

A process where experts in a field review and evaluate a piece of work to ensure its quality and accuracy. It helps to identify errors, gaps, and strengths in the work

Publication Bias

The tendency of researchers and journals to only publish studies with positive or significant results, leads to an incomplete and potentially biased representation of the research on a particular topic

Case Studies

An in-depth investigation, description and analysis of a single individual group, institution or event

Content Analysis

A research technique that enables the indirect study of behaviour by examining communications that people produce

Coding

The stage of cintent analysis in which the communication to be studied is analysed by identifying each instance of the chosen categories

Thematic Analysis

An inductive and qualitative approach to analysis that involves identifying implicit or explicit ideas within the data. Themes will often emerge once the data has been coded

Reliability

Refers to how consistent a measuring device is - and this includes psychological tests or observations which assess behaviour

Test-Retest Reliability

A method of assessing reliability of a questionnaire or psychological test by assessing the same person on two separate occasions. This shows to what extent the test produces the same answers

Inter-Observer Reliability

The extent to which there is agreement between two or more observers involved in observations of a behaviour. This is measured by correlating the observations of a behaviour. This is measured by correlating the observations of two or more observers

Validity

The extent to which an observed effect is genuine

Face Validity

A basic form of validity in which a measure is scrutinised to determine whether it appears to measure what it is supposed to measure

Concurrent Validity

The extent to which a psychological measure relates to an existing similar measure

Ecological Validity

The extent to which findings from a research study can be generalised to other settings and situations. A form of external validity

Temporal Validity

The extent to which findings from a research study can be generalised to other historical times and eras. A form of external validity

Internal Validity

Refers to whether the effects observed in an experiment are due to the manipulation of the independent variable and not some other factor

Choosing a Statistical Test

1. Difference or correlation
2. Experimental design
3. Levels of measurement

Statistical Test Mnemonic

Carrots Should Come Mashed With Swede Under Roast Potatoes

Probability

A measure of the likelihood that a particular event will occur where 0 indicates statistical impossibility and 1 statistical certainty

Significance

A statistical terms that tells us how sure we are that a difference or correlation exist. A ‘significant’ result means that the researcher can reject the null hypothesis

Critical Value

When testing a hypothesis, the numerical boundary or cut-off point between acceptance and rejection of the null hypothesis

Type 1 Error

The incorrect rejection of a true null hypothesis (a false positive)

Type 2 Error

The failure to reject a false null hypothesis (a false negative)

Level of Significance

Equal or less than 5%