Summary
Summary AQA A-Level Psychology Research Methods Study Guide
- Module
- Research Methods
- Institution
- AQA
Amazing & comprehensive guide for psychology research methods tailored for AS and A Level Psychology
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
Content preview
@StudyWithMEEStoreRESEARCH METHODS
Glossary
Experimental method - Manipulation of a variable to measure the affect on another variable
Aim - A general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate
Hypothesis - A clear, precise, testable statement that states the relationships between the two variables
Directional Hypothesis - States the direction of the relationship or difference
Non-Directional Hypothesis - Does not state the direction of difference or relationship
Variables - The ‘thing’ that can vary or change within an investigation
Independent variable - The variable that is manipulated
Dependant variable - The variable that is measured
Operationalisation - Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured
Laboratory Experiment - Controlled environment where IV is manipulated and DV measured
Natural Experiment - IV already exists and effect on DV is measured
Field Experiment - Natural setting with IV manipulation and DV measurement
Quasi Experiment - IV exists as a different between people such as age or gender
Experimental design - Different ways in which participants can be organised
Independent groups - Ppt’s in different conditions - different groups for different conditions
Repeated methods - All participants do all conditions
Matched pairs - Participants are matched on a variable e.g. IQ, and then put in different conditions randomly
Random allocation - Controls participant variables to some extent by allocating them to a condition randomly
Counterbalancing - Controls the affects of order effects by ppts doing conditions in different orders e.g. 1 then 2 or 2 then 1
Extraneous Variables - Any variable other than the IV that may affect the DV
Confounding variables - Any variable that varies systematically with the IV, affecting the DV
Investigator effects - Any effect of the researcher’s behaviour, conscious or unconscious that may affect the research outcome
Randomisation - Use of chance methods to control the effects of bias
Standardisation - Using the same formalised procedures and instructions for all participants
Population - A group of people who are the focus of the research
Sample - A group of people who take part in the research
Sampling techniques - The method used to select a sample from the population
Bias - IN SAMPLING, when certain groups are over or under represented - making generalisations difficult
Generalisation - Extent to which findings and conclusions can be applied to the population as a whole
Pilot study - Small scale version of an investigation that takes place before the real version to check procedures etc
Ethical issues - Arise when conflicts exist between the rights of the ppts and the goals of the research
BPS code of ethics - All psychologists should abide by the document, built respect, competence, responsibility and integrity
Naturalistic observation - Watching and recording behaviour in a setting where it would normally occur
Controlled observation - Watching and recording behaviour within a structured environment
Covert observation - Watching and recording behaviour without ppts knowing
Overt observation - Behaviour is watched and recorded with ppts knowing
Participant observation - Researcher becomes part of the group who’s behaviour is being recorded
Non-Participant observation - Researcher remains outside of the group of who’s behaviour is being recorded
Behavioural categories - When a target behaviour is broken up into several measurable components
Event sampling - Behaviour is recorded every time it occurs
Time sampling - Behaviour is recorded in intervals for a set time frame
, @StudyWithMEEStore
RESEARCH METHODS
Glossary
Self report techniques - Any method where the ppt is asked to describe and explain their own thoughts and feelings
Questionnaire - A set of written questions to assess thoughts and experiences
Interview - A live face to face encounter where one person asks a set of questions to another person
Open question - Questions that have no fixed choice of response
Closed question - Questions which there is a fixed choice of answers e.g. yes/no questions
Qualitative data - Data that is expressed in words and non-numerical - but can be converted
Quantitative data - Data that can be counted usually given as numbers
Primary data - Information that has been obtained first hand by the researcher for the purpose of the investigation
Secondary data - Information that has already been collected by someone else
Meta-analysis - The process of combining the findings of one study with others
Descriptive statistics - The use of graphs, tables and summary statistics to identify trend and analyse sets of data
Measures of central tendency - The general term of any measure used to make an average value in a data set
Mean - Arithmetic average calculated by adding all values together and dividing by number of values
Median - Central value in data set when values arranged from lowest to highest
Mode - The most frequently occurring value in data set
Scattergram - A type of graph that represents the strength and direction of the relationship between co-variables
Bar Chart - A type of graph in which the frequency is represented by height
Histogram - A type of graph that shows frequency through the area of the bars
Peer review - Assessment of scientific work by others who are specialists in the same field
Economy - The state of a country of region in terms of the production and consumption of goods and services
Correlation - Measure of association between two co-variables
Co-variables - The variables investigated in the correlation
Positive correlation - When one co-variable increases, so does the other
Negative correlation - When one co-variable increases, the other decreases
No correlation. - When there is no correlation between the two co-variables
Case study - An in-depth investigation of a single individual, group or institution
Content analysis - Research technique where indirect study of behaviour occurs by examining communications of people
Coding - Communication is studied during content analysis to form categories
Thematic analysis - Qualitative approach to analysis involving identification of implicit or explicit themes/ideas
Abstract - The key details of a research report
Introduction - Looks at past research, and aims and hypotheses
Method - Description of exactly how the research was carried out
Results - Description of what was found PLUS all statistics including descriptive and inferential
Discussion - Consideration of the results and how they may be limited
References - Sources that were referred to within the report
Reliability - How consistent a measuring device is
Test-retest - Method of assessing validity where a measure is tested twice with the same sample to reach a comparison
Inter-observer reliability - Extent to which there is agreement between the two or more researchers involved
Validity - Extent to which an observed effect is genuine
Face validity - Basic form of validity where a measure is assessed based on how well it measures something
Concurrent validity - When a psychological measure relates to an existing psychological measure
, @StudyWithMEEStore
RESEARCH METHODS
Glossary
Ecological validity - Extent to which findings from a study can be applied to other settings and situations
Temporal validity - Extent to which findings can be generalised to other historical times and eras
Probability - A measure of the likelihood of something occurring
Significance - How sure we are that something happened due to a reason and not chance
Critical value - The numerical boundary cut off between acceptance and rejection of the null hypothesis
Type 1 error - Incorrect rejection of the null hypothesis (false positive)
Type 11 error - Incorrect rejection of the alternative hypothesis (false negative)
Statistical tests - Used in psychology to determine the significance of data
Levels of measurement - Classification of quantitative data
Objectivity - All sources of personal bias eliminated
Empirical methods - Scientific approaches based on gathering of evidence
Replicability - How well research can be exactly repeated
Falsifiability - The ability to prove a theory or conclusion wrong
Theory construction - Process of developing an explanation for behaviour causes systematically
Hypothesis testing - All theories must have hypotheses that can be tested
Paradigm - The set of shared assumptions and beliefs in a scientific discipline
Paradigm shift - Result of a scientific revolution where the paradigm changes to a different viewpoint
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 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 maisieellen2005. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £10.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
81849 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 14 years now