Podcast
Questions and Answers
What does the experimental method primarily involve?
What does the experimental method primarily involve?
Which type of hypothesis states the direction of the relationship between variables?
Which type of hypothesis states the direction of the relationship between variables?
When should a non-directional hypothesis be used?
When should a non-directional hypothesis be used?
What is the role of the independent variable in an experiment?
What is the role of the independent variable in an experiment?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement best defines the dependent variable?
Which statement best defines the dependent variable?
Signup and view all the answers
What is an aim in the context of research?
What is an aim in the context of research?
Signup and view all the answers
Which type of research design includes field, laboratory, quasi, or natural experiments?
Which type of research design includes field, laboratory, quasi, or natural experiments?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a characteristic of a non-directional hypothesis?
What is a characteristic of a non-directional hypothesis?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a characteristic of controlled observation?
What is a characteristic of controlled observation?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a disadvantage of using structured environments in research?
What is a disadvantage of using structured environments in research?
Signup and view all the answers
What type of observation allows researchers to record participants without their knowledge?
What type of observation allows researchers to record participants without their knowledge?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a potential ethical issue with covert observation?
What is a potential ethical issue with covert observation?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the purpose of environmental campaigns?
What is the purpose of environmental campaigns?
Signup and view all the answers
Which observation type is most likely to lead to unnatural behavior due to participants knowing they are being watched?
Which observation type is most likely to lead to unnatural behavior due to participants knowing they are being watched?
Signup and view all the answers
How can eyewitness testimony be negatively affected?
How can eyewitness testimony be negatively affected?
Signup and view all the answers
What advantage does participant observation offer?
What advantage does participant observation offer?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement is a concern with demand characteristics?
Which statement is a concern with demand characteristics?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a key characteristic of a case study?
What is a key characteristic of a case study?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the case study of HM illustrate about memory?
What does the case study of HM illustrate about memory?
Signup and view all the answers
What is often a drawback of low mundane realism in research?
What is often a drawback of low mundane realism in research?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a major limitation of case studies?
What is a major limitation of case studies?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the significance of Little Hans' case study?
What is the significance of Little Hans' case study?
Signup and view all the answers
What advantage do environmental campaigns offer?
What advantage do environmental campaigns offer?
Signup and view all the answers
What type of data is primarily gathered through case studies?
What type of data is primarily gathered through case studies?
Signup and view all the answers
What type of investigation involves a live encounter between an interviewer and an interviewee?
What type of investigation involves a live encounter between an interviewer and an interviewee?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is a strength of open-ended questions in questionnaires?
Which of the following is a strength of open-ended questions in questionnaires?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a limitation of closed questions in questionnaires?
What is a limitation of closed questions in questionnaires?
Signup and view all the answers
Which type of data is primarily collected through open questions?
Which type of data is primarily collected through open questions?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a common characteristic of Likert scale questions?
What is a common characteristic of Likert scale questions?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a significant advantage of using questionnaires for data gathering?
What is a significant advantage of using questionnaires for data gathering?
Signup and view all the answers
Which limitation is associated with the design of questionnaires?
Which limitation is associated with the design of questionnaires?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the anonymity of questionnaire responses usually encourage?
What does the anonymity of questionnaire responses usually encourage?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the purpose of the critical value in hypothesis testing?
What is the purpose of the critical value in hypothesis testing?
Signup and view all the answers
How is significance determined in hypothesis testing?
How is significance determined in hypothesis testing?
Signup and view all the answers
In a statistical test whose name contains 'R', what must be true for the result to be significant?
In a statistical test whose name contains 'R', what must be true for the result to be significant?
Signup and view all the answers
Under what conditions can deception in a study be considered acceptable?
Under what conditions can deception in a study be considered acceptable?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the null hypothesis (H0) state?
What does the null hypothesis (H0) state?
Signup and view all the answers
When is a p-value typically set at 0.01 (1%)?
When is a p-value typically set at 0.01 (1%)?
Signup and view all the answers
What must researchers do to protect participants during a study?
What must researchers do to protect participants during a study?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a Type I error in statistical testing?
What is a Type I error in statistical testing?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the purpose of a cost-benefit analysis in research?
What is the purpose of a cost-benefit analysis in research?
Signup and view all the answers
What right do participants have regarding their data after a study?
What right do participants have regarding their data after a study?
Signup and view all the answers
What does a significance level of 0.05 generally imply?
What does a significance level of 0.05 generally imply?
Signup and view all the answers
What must participants be reminded of throughout the investigation?
What must participants be reminded of throughout the investigation?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the role of the degrees of freedom in hypothesis testing?
What is the role of the degrees of freedom in hypothesis testing?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the role of an ethics committee during a study?
What is the role of an ethics committee during a study?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following indicates participants are subject to harm?
Which of the following indicates participants are subject to harm?
Signup and view all the answers
In what circumstance is it necessary to inform participants about the true nature of the study?
In what circumstance is it necessary to inform participants about the true nature of the study?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Research Methods
- Research methods are used to investigate psychological topics.
- Different research methods have different strengths and weaknesses.
- Researchers use various types of experiments and observational techniques.
- Sampling methods are used to obtain participants for a study.
Experimental Method
- The experimental method involves manipulating an independent variable (IV) to observe its effect on a dependent variable (DV).
- Aims are general statements of the study's purpose.
- Hypotheses are precise statements about the relationship between variables, either directional or non-directional.
- Independent variables are manipulated; dependent variables are measured.
- Operationalisation clearly defines variables in terms of how they are measured.
- Extraneous variables are variables besides the IV that can affect the DV, and confounding variables systematically change with the IV.
- Control of extraneous variables improves the validity of the study.
- Demand characteristics are cues that participants may use to guess the study's aim, and investigator effects are the researcher's influence on participants and measures.
Types of Experiments
- Laboratory experiments are conducted in controlled environments.
- Field experiments are conducted in natural settings.
- Quasi-experiments investigate pre-existing groups or conditions.
- Natural experiments study naturally occurring events.
Sampling Methods
- Opportunity sampling involves selecting participants who are readily available.
- Random sampling gives each member of the population an equal chance of selection.
- Systematic sampling selects participants at fixed intervals from a sampling frame.
- Stratified sampling ensures representation of subgroups within the population.
- Volunteer sampling relies on self-selection of participants.
Observational Techniques
- Naturalistic observation involves observing behaviour in its natural setting.
- Controlled observation involves observing behaviour in a controlled environment.
- Covert observation is where participants are unaware they are being observed.
- Overt observation is where participants are aware they are being observed.
- Participant observation is where the researcher becomes part of the group being observed.
- Non-participant observation is where the researcher remains separate from the group.
Correlations
- A correlation investigates the relationship between two co-variables.
- Positive correlation: as one variable increases, the other increases.
- Negative correlation: as one variable increases, the other decreases.
- Zero correlation: no relationship between variables.
- Correlational studies do not establish cause-and-effect relationships.
- Curvilinear relationships show a non-linear relationship.
Data Analysis
- Descriptive statistics summarise data, including measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode) and dispersion (range, standard deviation).
- Inferential statistics are used to determine if results are statistically significant.
- Qualitative data involves descriptions; quantitative data involves numbers.
- Data can be presented in tables, charts (bar charts, histograms, line graphs), and scattergrams.
- The sign test is a statistical test used for non-numerical data from related groups.
- A variety of other statistical tests are employed for other types of data and research designs.
Data Analysis for Experimental Design
- Measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode) summarise data, and measures of dispersion (standard deviation, range) illustrate the variability within data sets.
- Histograms, bar charts, and scatter plots are used to graphically display results.
Validity and Reliability
- **Internal validity: ** assesses if the IV caused the change in the DV.
- **External validity: ** assesses if the findings generalise to other populations or settings.
- **Reliability: ** assesses consistency and repeatability. Factors affecting reliability are demand characteristics and observer bias.
- Improving reliability and validity requires careful design, clear procedures, and good participant control.
Peer Review
- Peer review is the assessment of research by other experts in the same field.
- It aims to evaluate research quality and prevent fraud.
- However, anonymity problems, publication bias, and the difficulty in finding experts can hinder accurate and unbiased assessments.
Ethical Considerations
- Ethical principles guide research practices to protect participants' rights.
- Informed consent, deception, protection from harm, and privacy/confidentiality are crucial ethical considerations.
Reporting Psychological Investigations
- A scientific report (often used in academic publications) includes an abstract, Introduction, Method, Results, and Discussion.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
Test your understanding of the experimental method in psychology with this quiz. Explore concepts such as hypothesis types, variables, and research design. Enhance your knowledge of how experiments are structured and their significance in psychological research.
