Psychology Research Methods Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the main focus of Dr Rox's mock study?

The main focus is on the effect of caffeine on reaction times.

What is the significance of using randomised control trials in psychological research?

Randomised control trials help minimize bias and establish causal relationships between variables.

What are the differences between one-tailed and two-tailed hypotheses?

One-tailed hypotheses predict the direction of the relationship, while two-tailed hypotheses do not specify a direction.

Why is it important to avoid using the term 'prove' in psychological research?

Because psychological claims cannot be proven definitively, only supported by evidence or findings. Signup and view all the answers

What is temporal validity in the context of psychological studies?

Temporal validity refers to the extent to which research findings can be generalized across time periods. Signup and view all the answers

How can using a postal questionnaire benefit psychological research?

It allows researchers to collect data from a larger, geographically dispersed sample efficiently. Signup and view all the answers

What role do psychometric tests play in psychology?

Psychometric tests assess psychological traits, abilities, and processes quantitatively. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of writing null hypotheses in research?

The null hypothesis serves as a statement that there is no effect or relationship between the studied variables. Signup and view all the answers

What is an independent measures design?

An independent measures design involves using different participants for each condition of the experiment. Signup and view all the answers

What are demand characteristics in an experiment?

Demand characteristics refer to cues that may inform participants about the purpose of the study, potentially influencing their behavior. Signup and view all the answers

How does random allocation benefit an experimental design?

Random allocation helps ensure that participants are evenly distributed across groups, minimizing the impact of participant variables. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the control group in an experiment?

The control group serves as a baseline for comparison with the experimental group, providing insights into the effects of the independent variable. Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential problem of using an independent measures design?

A problem is that individual differences among participants can affect the results, potentially leading to reduced validity. Signup and view all the answers

How could Dr. Rox have improved her independent measures experiment?

Dr. Rox could have improved her experiment by using matched pairs to minimize individual differences between participants. Signup and view all the answers

What are order effects, and how can they be minimized in an experiment?

Order effects refer to the influence that the sequence of conditions has on participants' performance, which can be minimized through counterbalancing. Signup and view all the answers

In the doodling study by Andrade, what was the main variable manipulated?

The main variable was whether participants were allowed to doodle or not during a memory task. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important for Dr. Rox to control variables like temperature in her study?

Controlling variables like temperature ensures that any changes in reaction times can be confidently attributed to the independent variable, caffeine. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'ecological validity' refer to in the context of laboratory experiments?

Ecological validity refers to how well the findings of a study can be generalized to real-world settings. Signup and view all the answers

How can high levels of control in a laboratory experiment benefit researchers?

High levels of control allow researchers to isolate and manipulate independent variables, thus enhancing the reliability of causal inferences. Signup and view all the answers

What might be a potential weakness of Dr. Rox's laboratory experiment?

A potential weakness could be low ecological validity, as the laboratory setting may not mimic real-life scenarios that affect reaction times. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant challenge associated with field experiments?

Field experiments are difficult to replicate due to the limited ability to standardise the procedure. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the study, what could affect reaction time apart from caffeine, according to the content?

Factors like temperature, noise levels, and possible distractions could affect reaction times aside from the caffeine intake. Signup and view all the answers

Why is ethical consent a problem in field experiments?

Participants often do not know they are part of the research, preventing informed consent and the right to withdraw. Signup and view all the answers

Why should researchers ensure participants have a consistent environment during an experiment?

A consistent environment prevents external factors from influencing the results, leading to more valid conclusions. Signup and view all the answers

What is one reason why deception might be used in psychological research?

Deception might be used if the research aims cannot be met without it and if participants are unlikely to feel discomfort. Signup and view all the answers

How does Dr. Rox's study design help infer cause and effect?

By isolating the independent variable (caffeine) and controlling other variables, researchers can confidently attribute changes in reaction time to caffeine. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of using control groups in experiments?

Control groups provide a baseline for comparison to validate that the experimental results are due to the independent variable's manipulation. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of Pozzulo et al.'s experiment illustrates a limitation in laboratory research?

Participants had to identify characters from videos, which may not reflect realistic identification scenarios, highlighting low ecological validity. Signup and view all the answers

In Dr Rox's study, what role does the water group play?

The water group serves as the reaction speed baseline for comparison with the coffee group. Signup and view all the answers

How might the results of a field experiment affect participants' perceptions of psychologists?

If participants are deceived and learn about it later, they may develop doubts about psychologists in the future. Signup and view all the answers

Can you suggest an alternative control group for Dr Rox's coffee study?

An alternative control group could be a group that gets no beverage at all. Signup and view all the answers

What was the focus of the Bandura et al. study?

The study investigated whether children would imitate aggressive behaviour observed in adults. Signup and view all the answers

What is a randomised control trial (RCT) and why is it considered the 'gold standard'?

An RCT is a type of experiment where participants are randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group, increasing the validity of the results. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the purpose of a control group in an RCT.

The control group in an RCT serves to compare outcomes by receiving no treatment or a placebo, helping to isolate the effects of the experimental treatment. Signup and view all the answers

What is a placebo, and how does it relate to the placebo effect in RCTs?

A placebo is a treatment with no active ingredients that mimics the real treatment, and the placebo effect occurs when participants experience improvements due to their expectations rather than the treatment itself. Signup and view all the answers

Explain what is meant by a 'single-blind design' in the context of RCTs.

A single-blind design means that participants are unaware of whether they are receiving the actual treatment or a placebo, preventing their knowledge from affecting their behavior. Signup and view all the answers

How do researchers calculate changes in symptoms before and after treatment in an RCT?

Researchers measure symptoms in both the experimental and control groups before and after treatment and compare the changes to assess the treatment's efficacy. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it significant for participants to be unaware of whether they received the drug or the placebo?

It is significant because this lack of knowledge helps prevent bias in their responses and ensures that the results reflect the true effects of the treatment. Signup and view all the answers

What role does expectancy play in the effectiveness of treatments in RCTs?

Expectancy can lead to improvements in symptoms if participants believe they are receiving an effective treatment, which can confound the results of an RCT. Signup and view all the answers

In the study mentioned by Perry et al., what were participants unaware of, and why was this important?

Participants were unaware of whether they had received oxytocin or a saline solution, which was important to avoid bias in their behavior during the experiments. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of double-blind randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in research?

Double-blind RCTs ensure that neither the researchers nor the participants know which group they are in, enhancing the validity of the findings. Signup and view all the answers

Why is valid, informed consent a concern in double-blind RCTs?

Valid, informed consent is a concern because participants do not know whether they are receiving a placebo or genuine treatment. Signup and view all the answers

What potential issue arises from treatment allocation in RCTs?

Participants assigned to the control group may not have access to treatments that could significantly improve their quality of life. Signup and view all the answers

What is a wait-list control group in the context of RCTs?

A wait-list control group is a control group that receives treatment after the study has ended, rather than during it. Signup and view all the answers

How do double-blind RCTs support inter-rater reliability?

In double-blind RCTs, all participants receive the same treatment from experimenters, allowing for consistent assessments. Signup and view all the answers

What ethical arguments support conducting double-blind RCTs despite the lack of informed consent?

The benefits of the research findings are argued to outweigh the costs of not obtaining fully informed consent. Signup and view all the answers

What role does participant consent play in double-blind RCTs, especially regarding the possibility of receiving a placebo?

Participants consent to the possibility of receiving a placebo, which is essential for the integrity of the study. Signup and view all the answers

In Dr. Rox's study, what was the control group's alternative to caffeine?

The control group drank a cup of water instead of caffeine. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Research Methodology

Research methods are crucial components of the science of psychology.
Key methods include experiments (laboratory and field), self-reports (questionnaires and interviews), observations, correlations and longitudinal studies.
Each method comes with its own strengths and weaknesses relating to validity, reliability and generalisability.

Methodological Concepts

Aims: Clearly defined statements of the research's purpose and intended outcomes.
Hypotheses: Testable predictions about the relationship between variables (directional or non-directional).
Variables: Factors that are measured or manipulated (independent/dependent/co-variables).
Operational definitions: Precise definitions of variables specifying how they will be measured.

Sampling of Participants

Population: The entire group of individuals that a researcher is interested in studying.
Sample: A subset of the population selected for the research.
Sampling techniques: Methods for selecting participants from a population (e.g., random, opportunity, volunteer).
Generalizability: The extent to which findings can be applied to the wider population.
Representativeness: How well the sample reflects the characteristics of the population.

Ethical Considerations

Valid consent: Participants must be aware of the study's nature and give their agreement to participate.
Confidentiality: Protecting participant privacy; data must not be identifiable.
Debriefing: Providing participants with information about the study's aims and results after its completion, addressing any concerns.
Right to withdraw: Participants should be free to leave the study at any time without penalty.
Minimising harm: Protecting participants from physical and/or psychological harm throughout the research process.
Use of Deception: Deception in research should be justified and followed by informed debriefing to mitigate potential harm.

Data Analysis

Quantitative data: Numerical data, easily analyzed statistically.
Qualitative data: Non-numerical data, requiring interpretation for analysis.
Descriptive statistics: Summarize the data (e.g., mean, median, mode, standard deviation, range).
Inferential statistics: Assess whether the findings of a study are statistically significant, showing whether the results are likely due to chance or a real effect.

Validity and Reliability

Validity: The extent to which a study measures what it intends to measure and its findings can be generalised.
Reliability: Consistency of a study's results; if the study is replicated, similar results can be expected.
- Test-retest reliability: Consistency of results when repeated over time.
- Inter-rater reliability: Agreement among different observers/raters in their assessment.

Thinking Fast & Slow

System 1 thinking: Fast, automatic, intuitive.
System 2 thinking: Slow, conscious, rational.

Choice Heuristics

Availability heuristic: Decisions based on how quickly examples come to mind.
Representativeness heuristic: Judging things based on how well they fit a prototype or category.
Recognition heuristic: Choosing the more familiar option when faced with unfamiliar choices.
Take-the-best heuristic: Selecting the best-known characteristic that differs between choices.
Anchoring heuristic: Initial information influences subsequent judgments.

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Description

Test your knowledge on various aspects of psychological research methods. This quiz covers key concepts such as randomised control trials, hypotheses, and experimental designs. Dive into the intricacies of psychological research and enhance your understanding of the subject.