Research Methods & Design
In-depth investigation of a single person, group or event, where data are gathered from a variety of sources and by using several different methods (e.g. observations & interviews).
What is a case study?
A sampling technique where participants put themselves forward to take part in research, often by answering an advertisement.
What is volunteer/self-selected sampling?
Whether something is consistent. In the case of a study, whether it is replicable.
What is reliability?
A mathematical technique where the researcher looks to see whether scores for two covariables are related.
What is a correlation?
Psychologists should ensure that all participants are helped to fully understand all aspects of the research before they agree (give consent) to take part.
What is informed consent?
A set of written questions that participants fill in themselves
What is a questionnaire?
A sampling technique where participants are chosen because they are easily available.
What is opportunity sampling?
The accuracy and truthfulness of a test, measurement, or research finding, specifically determining if it measures what it claims to measure.
What is validity?
Numerical data; lends reliability to a study.
What is quantitative data?
Involves misleading participants about the purpose of study.
What is deception?
An experiment that takes place in a natural setting where the experimenter manipulates the IV and measures the DV
What is a field experiment?
A sampling technique where everyone in the target population has an equal chance of being selected.
What is random sampling?
This means clearly describing the variables (IV and DV) in terms of how they will be manipulated (IV) or measured (DV).
What is operationalization of variables?
Questions where there is no fixed response and participants can give any answer they like. They generate qualitative data.
What are open-ended questions?
After completing the research, the true aim is revealed to the participant
What is debriefing?
An observation study where the researchers control some variables - often takes place in laboratory settings.
What is a controlled observation?
The group that the researchers draws the sample from and wants to be able to generalize the findings to. Usually a large group of people (adults, children, etc.).
What is a target population?
The extent to which the findings of a research study are able to be generalized to real-life settings.
What is ecological validity?
The three measures of central tendency (a measurement of data that indicates where the middle of the information lies).
What are mean, median, and mode?
Participants should be aware that they can leave the study at any time, even if they have been paid to take part.
What is the right to withdraw(al)?
An experimental design where each participant takes part in both/all conditions of the IV.
What is repeated measures design?
A sample that closely matches the target population as a whole in terms of key variables and characteristics.
What is a representative sample?
Participants’ behavior is distorted (unnatural) as they modify this in order to be seen in a positive light.
What is social desirability bias?
A measure of the average spread of scores around the mean.
What is standard deviation?
Participants should be protected from factors that could detract from their physical or mental health, including stress - risk of harm must be no greater than that to which they are exposed in everyday life
What is protection from physical and psychological harm?