A-Level Psychology - PAPER 2 - Research Methods Part 1

variable that is manipulated by the researcher

pps consume either 0.5 units or 2 units of alcohol

the variable that is measured

reaction time in a driving stimulator

a variable the might affect your DV - they are identified before the study

room temp, time of day, task given

type of extraneous variable that isn’t controlled and affect the DV

number of years driving

how the variables are made measurable - drawing out the most important elements of the variables

intelligence is a very broad term - to make it measurable we could use a specific intelligence test that measures certain elements of personality

when the pp works out how the researcher wants them to behave - can be conscious or unconscious - reduces internal validity

use different pp in each condition (INDEPENDENT GROUPS)

- use SINGLE BLIND TECHNIQUE where the pp does not know which condition of the experiment they are assigned to

when the researcher influences the results

when a researcher is DEEPLY COMMITTED to achieving a particular outcome

DOUBLE BLING TECHNIQUE - where neither the pp or research know the aim and/or condition of the study

lab / field / natural

direct manipulation of IV

control

randomisation

EASY REPLICATED - high control - able to check reliability

INTERNAL VALIDITY - easier to control confounding variables - able to establish cause and effect

ECOLOGICAL VALIDITY - high levels of control - generalisability

DEMAND CHARACTERISTICS - pp know they are being researched - reduces internal validity

natural environment

still an IV and DV

attempt to control extraneous variables

cause and effect can be established because pp is unaware they are observed

ECOLOGICAL VALIDITY - behaviour is representative of everyday life - generalisable

DEMAND CHARACTERISTICS - do not know they are taking part - increases internal validity

TIME CONSUMING - small amount of people at certain times - reduced population validity

CONTROL - may be uncontrolled extraneous variables - reduces internal validity

no control over IV

- pp already assigned to a condition of the IV

ECOLOGICAL VALIDITY - generalise

DEMAND CHARACTERISTICS - increases the internal validity

REPLICABLE - internal validity

CONTROL - not possible to predict everything - internal validity

use a pre-existing IV - one that exists e.g. character trait such as gender / age

repeated measure

independent groups

matched pairs

all the pp take part in each condition

LESS PPS NEEDED

| PPS VARIABLES AREN'T AN ISSUE

ORDER EFFECTS

| DEMAND CHARACTERISTICS

different pps take part in each condition

ORDER EFFECTS

| DEMAND CHARACTERISTICS

PPS VARIABLES

| LOST OF PPS NEEDED

different pps take part in each condition but they are matched on characteristics e.g. gender / age

PPS VARIABLES

| DEMAND CHARACTERISTICS

TIME CONSUMING

| LOTS OF PPS NEEDED

COUNTERBALANCING - complete conditions in different order to BALANCE OUT any differences

RANDOMLY ALLOCATE to condition

PILOT STUDY - consider variables that could be used to match pps

deterioration of performance across condition as the pp becomes tired or bored

is the PRACTICE EFFECT ?

Answer: improvement across condition through familiarity of the task or environment

(independent groups) - control pp variables - same chance of being allocated to either condition - names in a hat

(repeated measure) - complete conditions in different order - balance out differences among pps

presenting stimuli in a random order to avoid bias - methods may include tossing a coin

pps have EXACTLY THE SAME EXPERIENCE - methods may include written instructions

observing naturally occurring behaviours - natural setting

EXTERNAL VALIDITY - ecological validity

EXTRANEOUS VARIABLES

researcher attempts to control certain variables - pps know they are being observed

CONTROL - able to replicate

EXTERNAL VALIDITY

in the open - pps aware they are being observed, nature + purpose

ETHICS - easier to replicate

DEMAND CHARACTERISTICS - reduces validity

pps do not know they are being observed

DEMAND CHARACTERISTICS - increases validity

ETHICS

observer joins in

UNDERSTAND BEHAVIOUR - increases validity

DEVELOP RAPPORT - reduces objectivity

researcher remains external

OBJECTIVE - no investigator effects

VALUABLE DATA IS MISSED

how researcher operationalises - researcher knows what constitutes the behaviour being observed

if you were observing AGGRESSIVE behaviour, the researcher would need to know what constitutes as aggressive such as kicking, punching

event sampling

| time sampling

watching the event and recording every time a specific behaviour occurs

recording behaviour at set time intervals

questionnaire

| interview

allows pps to PROVIDE INFORMATION about specific thing relating to themselves

printed series of questions used to gather opinions around a certain topic

post / telephone / internet

yes - to make a generalisation

produce QUANTITATIVE data - ticking boxes / circling answers

produces QUALITATIVE data - difficult to analyse - not restricted in available answers

should be avoided - choice of wording suggests a certain answer should be given

SIMPLICITY - minimum of training - easy to analyse - researcher doesn't need to be present

INTERPERSONAL VARIABLES - more likely to answer honestly - internal validity

WORDING OF QUESTIONS - pps may interpret question wrong - leading questions may influence response - internal validity

RESPONSE RATE - 30% or less - appeal to those who like the research topic - population validity

same questions

same order

useful of teams of interviewers

comparisons can be made

flexible in order

flow more naturally

personal response

follow-up questions

informal

conversation about the topic

interviewee largely in control

ACCURATE DATA - rapport - more honest answers - ask for clarification - training reduces leading questions - internal validity

DETAILED DATA - open ended questions - clarify meaning - develop understanding

HARD TO ANALYSE - qual. data - subjective - different researchers interpret data differently - reduces validity

INTERPERSONAL VARIABLES - reducing internal validity

relationship between two things

+1 perfect positive correlation

| -1 perfect negative correlation

as one variable increases so does the other

r = +0.2

r = +0.9

as one variable increases the other decreases

r = -0.2

r = -0.9

no relationship between two variables

r = -0.02

r = +0.06

E = manipulation of IV

C = no deliberate change to any variable

E = DV is measured

C = impact on one variable is not measured - comparison is made between 2

E = establish cause and effect

C = cannot establish cause and effect

DIRECTION - precise quantitative measure of the strength of the relationship - researcher knows whether to carry out experiment

STATISTICALLY ANALYSE - not all situations can be ethically experimented e.g. aggression

CAUSE AND EFFECT - may be third variable e.g. divorce is the reason a child is both aggressive and in day car - need to be careful when drawing conclusions

NONLINEAR RELATIONSHIPS - correlation might initially be positive but then become negative, the two relationships cancel each other out

changing qualitative data into quantitative data using a coding unit (s)

specific behaviours / words / phrases that you are going to count in the material