research methods

week 7

quantitative research

typically involves experiments that gather data that can be statistically analysed to test particular hypotheses

description

involves summarizing the relationships b/w variables in an easily understandable way

scientific method

the standardised procedures of research used to gather and interpret objective info. in a way that minimises error

theory

a systematic way of organising and explaining observations

hypothesis

a tentative belief about the relationship b/w 2/more variables

variable

any phenomenon that can differ from one situation to another

continuous variables

can be placed on a continuum
e.g. degree of optimism, intelligence

standardised procedures

procedures applied uniformly to participants to minimise unintended variation

population

the group of interest to a researcher from which the sample is drawn

sample

subgroup of the population that is likely to be representative of the population as a whole

generalisability

refers to the applicability of the findings to the entire population of interest to the researcher

sampling bias

occurs when the sample is not representative of the population as a whole

internal validity

the extent to which a study is methodologically adequate

external validity

the extent to which the findings of a study can be generalised to situations outside the lab

reliability

refers to a measure’s ability to produce consistent results

retest reliability

refers to the tendency of a test to yield relatively similar scores for the same individual over time

validity

refers to the measure’s ability to assess the variable it is supposed to assess

experimental design

manipulation of variables to assess cause and effect

descriptive case study

in-depth observation of a small number of cases

naturalistic observation

in-depth observation of a phenomenon as it occurs in nature

survey research

asking people questions about their attitudes, behaviour, etc.

• involves asking questions of a large sample of people, usually about their attitudes or behaviours

correlational

examines the extent to which two or more variables are related and can be used to predict one another

steps to conducting an experiment

1. framing a hypothesis

2. operationalising variables

3. developing a standardised procedure

4. selecting and assigning participants

5. applying statistical techniques too the data

6. drawing conclusions

quasi-experimental designs

research designs that employ the logic of experimental methods but lack absolute control over variables

descriptive research

attempts to describe phenomena as they exist rather than to manipulate variables

case study

an in-depth observation of one person or a small group of individuals

researcher bias

systematic errors in measurement due to the researcher seeing what they expect to see

stratified random sample

specifies the percentage of people to be drawn from each population category

neuroimaging techniques

use computer programs to convert the data taken from brain-scanning devices into visual images of the brain

qualitative research

typically involves in-depth analysis of relatively few participants to gather data that provide a richer and deeper understanding of the research topic than afforded by quantitative research

informed consent

a participant’s ability to agree to participate in a study in an informed manner

confidentiality

the act of keeping information gained while engaging in psychological research safeguarded

deception

the deliberate act of not revealing the true purpose of an experiment to a participant before the study commences