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Summary AQA psychology a-level research methods notes
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AQA psychology a-level research methods notes
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Research Methods• Some research methods produce quantitative date and some produce qualitive data.
• Quantitative methods: measure the quantity or amount of something. Results will be measurable
in numerical form.
• Qualitive methods: focus on trying on trying to describe the quality of something, its meaning this
cannot be measured numerically and answers tend to be in word form.
Experimental methods
• Experimental methods: use by scientists to study human behaviour. They aim to show cause and
effect between two events.
• Key features of an experiment: an independent variable is manipulated to produce a change in t
dependent variable, other variables can influence the results of an experiment, experiments look for
differences between two conditions, participants are randomly allocated to experimental conditions.
• An independent variable is manipulated to produce a change in the dependent variable: t
researcher changes something and sees what effect this has on something else. The independent
variable is what is manipulated. The dependent variable is what changes in response to the indepen
variable.
• Other variables can influence the results of an experiment: in the results, there might be
extraneous variable that affects the dependent variable.
• Experiments look for differences between two conditions: there are two group conditions, one
the control and the other is the experimental. The experimental condition changes the IV, the contro
doesn’t change the IV. You would then compare the behaviour of the two groups.
,• Participants are randomly allocated to experimental conditions: each participant could
potentially be put in either group. Where possible , random allocation should be use.
Types of experiments
• Experiments: allow a clear study of cause and effect; one variable is manipulated (IV) to see if this
causes a change in another variable (DV).
• Laboratory experiment: any situation that the researcher has complete control over. Most comm
way to gather evidence. It is high is scientific value- allows researchers to eliminate extraneous
variables.
• Strengths: no distractions, easy to replicate, easy to determine cause and effect, high scientifi
value.
• Limitations: low ecological validity, hard to stop extraneous variables, has demand characteris
• Field experiment: in the real world, takes place in the normal surrounding. Involves the same proc
as a lab experiment , more realistic setting. Participants don’t know they are being tested.
• Strengths: higher ecological validity than a lab- shows true behaviour, no demand characteris
• Limitations: doesn’t have total control, could be unethical, not easy to replicate, more extrane
variables than a lab
• Natural experiment: conducted when its not possible to deliberately manipulate an IV. It varies
naturally, it means there’s a change in a groups environment. We measure a factor before and after
change.
• Strengths: high ecological validity, ethical and no demand characteristic
• Limitations: not as controlled- results aren’t as reliable, can’t be replicated.
• Random allocations aren’t possible because they can’t manipulate the IV as it is unethical.
,• Costello (2003) was studying the mental health of Americans. At the same time a casino
opened, providing jobs. Costello could look at the effect of decreasing poverty on mental hea
• Hodges and Tizard were studying attachment, comparing the long term development of
children who are from a disrupted family (adopted/ fostered/ returned to mothers) and their
biological family.
• Quasi experiments: where it has an IV that varies between people (gender, where you live
having a phobia or not), the IV can’t be manipulated.
• Strengths: high ecological validity (depends on whether it is a field of lab experiment),
generate quantitative date and have a conclusion.
• Limitations: less controlled than a lab, you might have to wait for the IV to occur.
Non- experimental methods
Non-experimental methods: don’t have an IV. Observational techniques, self-report techniq
(interviews or questionnaires), studies; using correlation analysis, case studies.
Observational techniques
• Observation: an non-experimental method, where no IV is manipulated. It involves careful
watching and recording behaviour. It records what people actually do, not what they say they
• Advantage: naturally occurring behaviour- high ecological validity.
• Disadvantage: cannot draw conclusions about cause and effect.
, Types of observations
• Naturalistic: observation occurs in the natural environment of the participant.
• Anderson (1972) observed children in a park and found that typical behaviour for children un
was for them to wander off for 100m then run back to their mothers. Showed attachment as a
piece of invisible elastic.
• Controlled: a fake or engineered situation.
• Ainsworth’s strange situation (1970)- studied attachment between mothers and their childre
• Naturalistic vs controlled: naturalistic has a higher ecological validity. Controlled has less
extraneous variables.
• Overt: open/ in plain sight. The participant is aware that they are being observed.
• Zimbardo’s prison study where participants have volunteered to be apart of a group looking a
how they acted when given roles in a prison setting.
• Covert: closed/ hidden. The participants are unaware that they are being observed.
• Festinger’s (1957) study where he infiltrated a cult who were predicting the end of the world.
• Overt vs covert: overt is ethical. Covert has no demand characteristics.
• Participant: observer joins in and get involved
• Zimbardo’s prison study, where he took the role of a prison warden.
• Non-participant: observer doesn’t join, they are not actively involved.
• Ainsworth’s (1971) research of the strange situation.
• Participant vs non-participant: participant understands the group more. Non-participant result
aren’t as biased.
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