Research methods 1

A technique for gathering data on the mind and behaviour.

It involves an IV and a DV.

The variable in an experiment which is changed or manipulated.

The variable in an experiment which is measured, to see how it has been affected by the IV.

To make it specific and measurable.

Variables, other than the IV, which could have an effect on the DV.

Whether we are measuring what we inteded to measure.

They can reduce the validity of findings, as they mean the experimenter is no longer measuring what they intended (no longer just the affect of the IV on the DV).

Situational variables are to do with the environment or situation. Participant variables are to do with differences between participants.

Whereby the order in which participants complete the different conditions of an experiment influence how they behave (this includes gaining practise, becoming tired or bored).

When participants think they know the aim of the research and change their behaviour, acting in a way that they think the psychologist wants them to.

When the researcher unintentionally gives clues to participants about how they should behave, which then alters their behaviour.

Where the procedure of a study is the same across all conditions, and for all participants.

Counterbalancing: where half of the participant group experience condition A then condition B, while the other half experience condition B then condition A. Randomisation: when participants are randomly assigned to condition A or B as their first or second test condition. Both control order effects.

Single-blind: when information about the study is withheld from participants (to prevent demand characteristics). Double-blind: when the aims of the study are withheld from both participants and researchers (also prevents investigator effects).

A statement of predicted outcomes based on a theory being tested.

A prediction that the result or outcome will find no effect or very little effect.

A prediction that the result or outcome will find a significant effect. It is known as an alternative hypothesis because it is 'alternative' to the null hypothesis.

There will be no significant difference in the short-term memory ability (measured through their score on a digit span test) between older participants and younger participants. Any difference will be due to chance.

There will be a significant difference in the attention span (measured through time spent concentrating in a lesson) between children who it lots of sweets and children who eat few sweets.

The group of people being investigated, to which the findings will be generalised.

A selection of the target population that is directly studied in an investigation.

The people who take part in a study.

Whether results of a study represent the whole population, not just the sample used.

Extent to which results can be generalised to groups of people other than the sample.

Every member of the target pop. has equal chance of being selected. Every member given a no. which is placed in a hat and then a selection are drawn out at random. S: free from researcher bias - researcher has no influence on who is chose. W: difficult / costly to ensure every member of target pop. has equal chance of being selected.

Subgroups are identified within the target pop. Participants are obtained from each subgroup, using a random sampling method, in proportion to their occurrence in the target population. S: sample is likely to be representative as each subgroup within the target population will be represented. W: difficult / costly to ensure all subgroups in the target pop. are represented in the sample.

Participants who are willing to volunteer themselves to take part in a study (often means advertising the study). S: minimal effort from researchers - quicker and easier than other methods. W: unlikely to produce a representative sample - not everyone will see the advert or want to respond.

Selecting anyone who is available and willing to take part at the time. S: requires little effort from the researcher (so likely to be the cheapest method). W: biased sample likely to be produced, as not every member of the target population may be around at the time of the study.

Refers to how participants are organised or allocated into the different conditions of a study.

Involves multiple separate groups of participants completing only one condition of a study.

Involves the same participants completing both / all conditions of a study.

Involves two separate groups of participants completing only one condition of a study, yet these groups are matched on important characteristics, such as age or gender.

Whereby the order in which participants complete the different conditions of an experiment influence how they behave (this includes gaining practise, becoming tired or bored). A weakness of repeated measures.

Differences between participants in different conditions of a study, which may affect their results. A problem with independent groups design.

When participants think they know the aim of the research and change their behaviour, acting in a way that they think the psychologist wants them to. A problem with a repeated measures design.

Codes or rules of conduct considered by psychologists when carrying out research to protect participants from harm.

The agreement of participants to take part in a study once they are fully aware of the aims. Researchers may ask for retrospective consent, asking participants if they happy to have their results included in the study after it has concluded, and they have been told the aims.

When participants are misled or lied to about the nature of the investigation. If participants are deceived, then a debrief should be held - a meeting after the study has ended, where participants are told the true aim of the research.

Participants should be aware that they are allowed to leave the study at any point. Participants should be reminded before, during, and after a study that they can leave.

Participants' personal information should remain confidential. Participants real names should not be used - they should be referred to by a fake name or by a number.

Participants should be protected from both physical and psychological harm. The researcher should terminate the experiment if the level of psychological or physical harm is higher than expected.

Whether the measurement of a particular behaviour is consistent and therefore trustworthy.

The extent to which we are measuring what we intend to measure.

Whether the findings from research can be generalised to a wider population - not just the immediate sample of participants involved in a study.

Whether a study is measuring real-life behaviour; the extent to which the findings from the research can used to explain behaviour in real-life situations.

Such as case studies, interviews or observations. These focus on gathering lots of detailed information and are completed on a small-scale, often on a single individual or small group of participants.

Such as experiments or large-scale surveys. These are designed to gather factual information and are usually based on very large samples.