AQA Psychology a level summary notes- Research Methods
81 views 3 purchases
Course
Research Methods
Institution
AQA
Book
AQA Psychology for A Level Year 1
Detailed Revision Notes of the Research Methods topic of AQA A-Level Psychology produced by me using both the textbook and class notes. Has both the AO1 and AO3 needed to gain top marks.
Revision notes from other topics are available to buy and can be bought as a bundle
AQA A level psychology summary notes- social influence
AQA a level psychology- psychopathology summary notes
AQA A level psychology- Memory summary notes
All for this textbook (104)
Written for
A/AS Level
AQA
Psychology
Research Methods
All documents for this subject (286)
Seller
Follow
laraxx
Reviews received
Content preview
Research Methods
EXPERIMENTAL METHOD
Aims are general statements that describe the purpose of an investigation
• Developed from theories
Hypothesis is a statement made at the start of the study that clearly states the relationship between
variables.
• Directional: States direction of the difference or relationship e.g. faster, lower, more, less
o Used when we are given previous research findings that suggested an outcome
RESEARCH ISSUES
Extraneous Variables (EV) should be identified at the start of the study so their influence can be
reduced
• Nuisance Variables: do not vary systematically with the IV
o E.g. age of participants, lighting in a lab
Confounding Variables: something found after the study that affected the DV
Demand Characteristics are conscious/unconscious cues which tell the participants the aim of the
experiment or how to behave
• They may change their behaviour (caused by participant reactivity)
o 'please-U effect': over perform to please experimenter or act in the way they think is
expected
o 'screw-U effect' deliberately underperform to sabotage the results
Investigator Effects are any unwanted influence of the investigator on the research outcome
• Includes: expectancy effects, unconscious cues (e.g. smiling, tone of voice), leading questions,
actions of the researcher related to the study's design (e.g. selection of participants, material,
instructions)
Randomisation is the use of chance to reduce researcher's influence on the design of investigation
• Controls investigator effects
Standardisation means all participants are subject to the same environment, information and
experience
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
Experimental Design: the way participants are used in experiments
Independent Groups
Independent Group Design: when two separate groups of participants experience two different
conditions of the experiment
One group is part of the experimental condition and the other is the control condition and the results
are compared
Example: a drug trial (one group has drug and other has placebo)
+ Order effects are not a problem
+ Increased external validity (more pps used)
— Pps in each group are not the same (results could be due to participant variables)
o Solution: random allocation
— Less economical than repeated measures (pps only used once)
Repeated Measures
All pps experience both conditions (experimental & control) of the experiment and then results are
compared to see if there is a difference
Example:
+ Guarantees you’re comparing ‘like with like’
+ Participant variables are controlled
+ Less pps needed
, — Order effects
o Pps have to do both tasks
o Repetition could create boredom/fatigue affecting results
o Repetition could result in pps improving due to practice
o Solution: counterbalancing
— Demand Characteristics: More likely pps will work out the aim of the study
Matched Pairs
Participants are paired together with someone who has similar characteristics which are relevant to
the experiment
Then one participant from each pair would be allocated a different condition
Example: in a memory test, pps with similar IQs may be paired together
+ Order effects & demand characteristics are less of a problem
— Pps can never be matched exactly
— Matching can be time-consuming & expensive
TYPES OF EXPERIMENT
Laboratory Experiments
They are conducted in highly controlled environments (not always a lab)
Example: Milgram’s study on obedience
+ High control over extraneous variables (EV)
o Researcher can ensure that any effect on the dependent variable (DV) is due to the
independent variable (IV) → high internal validity
+ Replication is more possible
o Due to high levels of control so new EVs are not introduced
o Replication is vital to check findings and see if it is valid
— May lack generalisability
o Lab not like everyday life so pps may not behave normally
o Leading to low external validity
— Demand characteristics
— Low mundane realism (tasks may not be like real life experiences)
Field Experiments
The IV is manipulated in a natural, everyday setting
Example: Hofling’s study on obedience (nurses following ‘doctor’ orders)
+ Higher mundane realism
+ May produce behaviour which is more valid and authentic
+ High external validity
— Loss of control of extraneous variables
— Replication often not possible
— Ethics: pps unaware they’re being studied, can’t consent to being studied
Natural Experiments
When researcher takes advantage of a pre-existing IV
• Natural as IV would have changed even if researcher wasn’t there
• Natural IV not always natural setting
Example: Studies of institutionalised Romanian orphans
+ Opportunity for research which may not be done due to practicality/ethics
+ High external validity: involve studying real life issues as they happen
— Naturally occurring event may only happen very rarely
o Less opportunity for research
o Limit generalising findings
— Pps may not be randomly allocated to experimental conditions
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller laraxx. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $5.33. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
