Aice Psychology - Research Methods

Interviews

Answers are in spoken form Strength - Can give more reason why one behaves a certain way Weakness - Can be less likely to tell truth for social reasons - Face-to-face - Don't want to be judged

Case Study

In depth detailed analysis of the individual or close-knit group Strength - Collect a lot of rich data for more validity Weakness - Generalization is hard to make (only looked at one person also a relationship can form between participant/researcher which can lower validity)

Hypothesis

Predicts the finding of the study

Structured observation

Researcher has a coded behavior checklist Strength - The coding/checklist leads to quantitative data Weakness - Is very restrictive (time sampling) - Does not give a reason why he behavior is occurring

No Correlation

The two variables do NOT appear to be related

Null Hypothesis

A testable statement saying that any difference or correlation in the results is due to chance. no pattern in the the results is because of the variables being studied.

Correlation

Relationship between two measured variables

Uncontrolled Variables

- Variables that cannot be controlled by the researcher - Can lower the validity of an experiment (affects the DV)

Closed-Question (Questionnaire)

A Yes or No, or set of options (Ex. Pick the emotion you are feeling right now Happy, Sad, Moody, Tired)

Debriefing

Appropriate information to the participants once the experiment is over

Negative Correlation

As one variable increases the other decreases

Time Sampling in observations

Behaviors are recorded in specific time intervals.(3 Types): Instantaneous scan: record behavior at the start of each set time interval. (ie. every 10 seconds record the behavior) Predominant activity scan: record the most frequent behavior shown in a set time period. (10 second period) One-Zero scan: record whether the behavior happened (a 1) or didn't happen (a 0) within a set time period. frequency isn't recorded, just whether it happened or not.

Qualitative Data

Data comes in the from of a description Strength - Rich and detailed responses. You get to see the WHY response Weakness - Interpreting Data can be very subjective - Researchers may only only select Data to fit their AIM creating bias

Random Sample

Every Participant in the TP has an equal chance of being chosen Strength - Should be more representative to the population Weakness - obtaining details from participants

Informed Consent

Giving potential participants sufficient information about research

Unstructured (Interview)

Have an initial question to begin then each subsequent question will depend on the response

Positive Correlation

If one variable increases so does the other variable

Lab Experiment

Investigation looking for a relationship in which the IV is manipulated and is expected to be reasonable for changes in the DV Strength: - High standardization -Easy to repeat for reliability - High levels of control researchers are confident IV affects the DV Weakness: - Lack Ecological Validity - Lack Mundane Realism - Participants may respond to Demand Characteristics

Semi-structured (Interview)

Involves certain questions that must be asked but can be in a different order or other questions can be asked

Experiment types

Laboratory - High internal validity - High reliability - Good ethics (consent, debriefed, Right To Withdraw) Field - Low internal validity - Medium levels of reliability - Some consent, debriefing more difficult no RTW Natural - Low internal validity - Low levels of reliability - Hard to repeat - Hard to get consent and debrief also no RTW

Deception

Not allowing the participants to know what the true nature of the study is about

Quantitative Data

Numerical form to get statistical analysis Strength - Easy to compare data and get good conclusions Weakness - Miss out on valuable information. If analysis is simply yes or now we don't know the WHY?

Open ended (Questionnaire)

Participant develops an answer. (Ex. Tell me about a happy childhood memory)

Covert observation

Participant does not know they are being watched

Privacy

Participant has the right to ignore any questions or aspect of the study. Participants should not reveal personal information

Overt observation

Participant knows they are being observed

Confidentiality

Participants in research have the right to expect that information they provide will remain confidential

Protection

Participants should leave the experiment in the same same manner in which they came in

Directional (One-tailed) hypothesis

Predicts the significant difference and direction of results (EX. Females will be able to spell more words correctly out of 25 compared to males)

Rating Scale (Questionnaire)

Questions or statements in a form of a number Scale of 1-10 how happy are you in this class

Volunteer/Self select

Researcher advertise for participants (used a lot in universities) Strength - Drop out rate is low, they want to participate Weakness - Unlikely to gain a wide variety of participants to allow for generalization

Participant observation

Researcher becomes part of the group they are observing and possibly interact with them Strength - Researcher understands motive for behaviors; increasing validity Weakness - Possibly informed consent or researcher just joined in - Presence of an outsider can change the behavior of the group members

Non-Participant observation

Researcher is out of sight Strength - Behavior of group will not be affected Weakness - Don't exactly know why the behaviors are occurring so hard for qualitative data

Unstructured observation

Researcher notes all behavior they can see in qualitative form over a period of time. No checklist. Simply record what is happening in real time Strength - In depth Qual. data Weakness - may not understand why behavior is happening

Opportunity Sample

Researcher recruits participants who happened to be around the time the researcher needs participants Strength - Large # of participants can be obtained easily Weakness - Unlikely to gain a wide variety of participants to allow for generalization because this draws in one type of person

Likert Scale (Questionnaire)

Statements (Ex. Owning a pet is good for your health, Strongly agree, Agree, Disagree

Questionnaires

Strength - More likely to be truthful, large sample and short time increases the representativeness and generalisability. Weakness - May give socially desirable answers which lowers validity

Field Experiment

Takes place in a natural environment that might affect the DV (Weather, Time of day, etc.) Strengths - Has high ecological validity, participants do NOT know that they are part of the study - little to no demand characteristics - behavior more natural and valid. Weakness - Situational variables hard to control so difficult to know if the IV affecting the DV - ethical guidelines (informed consent and deception)

Naturalistic Observation

Takes place in an animal's or person's personal environment Strength - Participants are unaware they are being watched - Little demand characteristics -General high ecological validity Weakness - Can't control extraneous variables - Hard to determine cause and effect - Replication can be difficult

Event Sampling in observations

Tally every time that a behavior is observed, within a set time period.

Sample

The participants with whom the study will be conducted. Should represent a wider TP allowing generalization

Dependent Variable

The variable that the psychologist chooses to measure

Independent Variable

The variable the psychologists choose to manipulate or change Control - Exposed to all of the experiment but does not get what is being tested Experimental - Gets all of the experiment plus what is being tested

Ethics/Human

These are guidelines that should be followed when designing and running any study

Structured (Interviews)

Uses a set of questions and every participant answers the same questions in the same order

Extraneous Variable

Variables that can influence the relationship between the IV & DV - They can effect the outcome or add error to the experiment - EX. Listening to music

Participant Variables

Variables that the participant brings to the study that can affect the DV ( Prejudice, previous experience with similar study, personality)

Situational Variables

Variables that the situation brings to the study that can affect the DV EX. Noise, weather, temperature

Controlled Observation

Watched behind a one-way mirror so researcher can not be seen observing Strength - There is less chance for extraneous variables affecting the participant's behavior Weakness - Since settings are artificial the findings may lack ecological validity

Independent Measures

When the participant takes part in only one level of the IV Strength - Less likely to guess AIM (demand characteristics) Weakness - More people are required personally could affect DV since it is just one person

Repeated Measures

When the participant takes parts in all levels of the IV Strength - Controlled - Fewer participants needed Weakness - Chance for demand characteristics - Participants get better practice - Fatigue and boredom

AIM

Written before study stating the study's purpose