Research Methods - AQA psychology A2 level (2024/2025) Already Graded A+

Research Methods - AQA psychology A2 level (2024/2025) Already Graded A+ Empirical methods - Answer ️️ -A method of gaining knowledge which relies on direct observation or testing. Independent variable - Answer ️️ -A variable that is directly manipulated by the experimenter. Dependent variable - Answer ️️ -A measurable outcome of the action of the independent variable in an experiment. Replicability - Answer ️️ -If findings from a study are true it is possible to obtain the same findings if the study is repeated. Falsification - Answer ️️ -The attempt to prove something wrong. Peer review - Answer ️️ -The assessment of scientific work by others who are specialists in the same field to ensure that any research intended for publication is of high quality. Aims of peer review: - Answer ️️ -To allocate research funding- Government-run funding organisations, e.g. Medical Research Council, who vest interest in establishing which research projects are most worthwhile. To validate the quality and relevance of research- All elements of research are assessed for quality and accuracy: formulation of hypotheses, methodology chosen, statistical tests used and conclusions drawn. To suggest amendments or improvements Criticisms of Peer review - Answer ️️ -Anonymity- Peer doing the reviewing remain anonymous in order to produce honest response. However, all researchers are in direct competition for limited research funding and may have a history with the researcher therefore bias criticism may occur. Some suggest open reviewing (names of reviewers) is made public. Publication bias- often research with positive results that increase credibility and circulation of one's publication are preferred over the research that did not meat the criteria. Therefore false impressions of the current state of psychology are published. Burying ground-breaking research- Reviewers tend to be bias towards research that supports their view. Therefore new and innovative research is less likely to be published thereby slowing down the rate of change within a particular scientific discipline. Laboratory experiment - Answer ️️ -Experiments carried out in a controlled setting within which researcher manipulates the IV and records effect on the DV, whilst maintaining strict control of extraneous variables. Field experiment - Answer ️️ -A controlled experiment that takes place in a natural setting within which the researcher manipulates the IV and records effects on the DV. Natural experiment - Answer ️️ -A research method in which the experimenter cannot manipulate the independent variable directly, but where it varies naturally. Researcher records effects on DV. Quasi- experiment - Answer ️️ -Study that is almost an experiment but lack key ingredients: IV has not been determined by anyone, the variables simply exist. Correlational analysis - Answer ️️ -Determinin