Research methods y12
Aims
Aim = what the researcher intends to investigate or the purpose of the study
Hypothesis
Hypothesis = statement that states relationship between the variables
Directional hypothesis = states direction of the difference or relationship
(more, less, increase, decrease). e.g. there will be a positive correlation.
Non-directional = doesn’t state the change (affects, changes) E.g. there will be
a correlation/difference between co-variable 1 (operationalised) and co-
variable 2 (operationalised).
Directional is usually used when there has been previous studies suggesting a
particular outcome
Alternate hypothesis = states there’ll be a difference
Null = there will not be a correlation between .... and ...
Directional: there will be a positive/negative correlation between … and …
Methods for controlling effect of extraneous variables
Iv = variable that is manipulated. Dv = variable measured.
Extraneous variables = variable other than IV that could affect the results of a
study if not controlled.
Confounding variable = variable other than IV that causes the results to change
Participant variable = individual differences between p’s that could affect their
responses/DV
Situational variables = features in environment/set up that might affect DV
Operationalisation is clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be
measured.
Investigator effects = when researcher unintentionally influences the outcome
of the study they are conducting
, Randomisation - controls investigator effects. Used wherever possible in order
to reduce the researcher's influence on the design of the investigation e.g. a
memory experiment recalling words from a list. the order should be randomly
generalised so the position isn't decided by the experimenter
Standardisation - controls situational variables by making sure all participants
are subject to the same environment, information and experience. there is a
list of exactly what will be done in the study, includes standardised
instructions.
How do you randomly allocate p’s - put names in a hat e.g. 20 people, put all
their names in a hat (or numbers 1-20) and draw out 10 which will go in
condition A and the remaining 10 will go in condition B.
Types of experiments: lab, field, natural, quasi.
Lab - takes place in a highly controlled environment. IV is manipulated and DV
is measured
- High control over extraneous variables, certain that DV is result of
manipulation of IV, therefore high internal validity
- Replication is easier
- Lacks generalisability as artificial meaning low external validity
- Demand characteristics
- Low mundane realism
- Lacks ecological validity as manipulating variables so cant be
generalised to real life
Field – takes place in natural, everyday setting.
- Higher mundane realism than labs
- High external validity as not aware they are being studied so
generalisable
- Loss of control over extraneous variables
- Ethical issues: lack of consent and privacy
Natural – researcher takes advantage of pre-existing IV, event that happened
naturally, IV not manipulated
- High ecological validity (generalisable )as real life issues
Aims
Aim = what the researcher intends to investigate or the purpose of the study
Hypothesis
Hypothesis = statement that states relationship between the variables
Directional hypothesis = states direction of the difference or relationship
(more, less, increase, decrease). e.g. there will be a positive correlation.
Non-directional = doesn’t state the change (affects, changes) E.g. there will be
a correlation/difference between co-variable 1 (operationalised) and co-
variable 2 (operationalised).
Directional is usually used when there has been previous studies suggesting a
particular outcome
Alternate hypothesis = states there’ll be a difference
Null = there will not be a correlation between .... and ...
Directional: there will be a positive/negative correlation between … and …
Methods for controlling effect of extraneous variables
Iv = variable that is manipulated. Dv = variable measured.
Extraneous variables = variable other than IV that could affect the results of a
study if not controlled.
Confounding variable = variable other than IV that causes the results to change
Participant variable = individual differences between p’s that could affect their
responses/DV
Situational variables = features in environment/set up that might affect DV
Operationalisation is clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be
measured.
Investigator effects = when researcher unintentionally influences the outcome
of the study they are conducting
, Randomisation - controls investigator effects. Used wherever possible in order
to reduce the researcher's influence on the design of the investigation e.g. a
memory experiment recalling words from a list. the order should be randomly
generalised so the position isn't decided by the experimenter
Standardisation - controls situational variables by making sure all participants
are subject to the same environment, information and experience. there is a
list of exactly what will be done in the study, includes standardised
instructions.
How do you randomly allocate p’s - put names in a hat e.g. 20 people, put all
their names in a hat (or numbers 1-20) and draw out 10 which will go in
condition A and the remaining 10 will go in condition B.
Types of experiments: lab, field, natural, quasi.
Lab - takes place in a highly controlled environment. IV is manipulated and DV
is measured
- High control over extraneous variables, certain that DV is result of
manipulation of IV, therefore high internal validity
- Replication is easier
- Lacks generalisability as artificial meaning low external validity
- Demand characteristics
- Low mundane realism
- Lacks ecological validity as manipulating variables so cant be
generalised to real life
Field – takes place in natural, everyday setting.
- Higher mundane realism than labs
- High external validity as not aware they are being studied so
generalisable
- Loss of control over extraneous variables
- Ethical issues: lack of consent and privacy
Natural – researcher takes advantage of pre-existing IV, event that happened
naturally, IV not manipulated
- High ecological validity (generalisable )as real life issues
