AQA A-Level Psychology: Research Methods YEAR 1 Exam Questions and Answers (SCORED A)
What are the two types of validity? -ANSWER - Internal and external
What is validity? -ANSWER - How true or genuine an observed effect or behaviour is.
What doe internal validity mean? -ANSWER - If the IV produces a change in the DV, if the test tests what it's supposed to, if it has or hasn't got mundane realism.
What are the different types of external validity? -ANSWER - Ecological (linking to real life), Population (linking to gender), Temporal (linking to time of study)
Finish the sentence: Having good control means... -ANSWER - A high internal validity, but a low external one.
What are the rules for discussing validity? -ANSWER - In relation to research ONLY
Be specific to what validity it is
Clearly explain why the study does or doesn't have that validity.
What is reliability? -ANSWER - Consistency of measurement, same data on more than one occasion.
How does reliability relate to validity? -ANSWER - More reliable, more likely to have good internal validity, controlled variables. If a test is unreliable, it can't be valid.
What is an IV? -ANSWER - What the researcher manipulates. (cause)
What is a DV? -ANSWER - What is measured. (effect)
Why do variables need to be operationalised? -ANSWER - To provide a clear, objective definition of the variables to be studied. Measuring and discussing the same thing.
What are extraneous variables? -ANSWER - They exist in all studies and can interfere with obtaining a clear understanding of relationships among study variables. Need to be
controlled. Like PsV and SV, affect behaviour
Finish the sentence: If an extraneous variable isn't controlled... -ANSWER - It may alter the results and cause an effect in some way, it's then confounding. Identify IV and DV: Students who study with music get better GCSE results than those who study in silence. -ANSWER - IV: Listening to music or not, while studying.
DV: GCSE grade attained.
What is a confounding variable? -ANSWER - Variables that aren't part of the study but also vary with the IV, changes in the DV may be due to this instead of the manipulation of the IV.
What is a hypothesis? -ANSWER - A hypothesis is a precise statement that predicts the
outcome of a study.
What is an alternate hypothesis? -ANSWER - A specific testable prediction containing variables, and will state either a difference or relationship.
Finish the sentence: If a hypothesis is used to predict the outcome of an experiment it is
an... -ANSWER - Experimental hypothesis.
What is a null hypothesis? -ANSWER - When there is no effect or association or that any relationship or effect is due to chance.
What is a non-directional hypothesis? -ANSWER - States the relationship exists, but not
the direction.
What is a directional hypothesis? -ANSWER - States the direction of the difference or relationship.
What should you remember when writing a hypothesis? -ANSWER - Operationalise the IV AND DV. Decide if it's directional or non-directional. State direction if it's directional.
What is a pilot study? -ANSWER - A small-scale trial run done before the main study to check and improve the design and procedures of the study.
What kind of studies use pilot studies? -ANSWER - Interviews, questionnaires, experiments.
What are the 3 types of experimental design? -ANSWER - Independent groups, repeated measures, matched pairs.
What is a repeated measures design? How can you deal with its limitations. -ANSWER - Ps do all conditions of IV. Fewer Ps needed, more economical. But can cause order effects, DC, and have to use different stimulus material.
Use different tests to reduce order effects, counterbalancing for DC, use a time interval for stimulus material.
What are the two types of validity? -ANSWER - Internal and external
What is validity? -ANSWER - How true or genuine an observed effect or behaviour is.
What doe internal validity mean? -ANSWER - If the IV produces a change in the DV, if the test tests what it's supposed to, if it has or hasn't got mundane realism.
What are the different types of external validity? -ANSWER - Ecological (linking to real life), Population (linking to gender), Temporal (linking to time of study)
Finish the sentence: Having good control means... -ANSWER - A high internal validity, but a low external one.
What are the rules for discussing validity? -ANSWER - In relation to research ONLY
Be specific to what validity it is
Clearly explain why the study does or doesn't have that validity.
What is reliability? -ANSWER - Consistency of measurement, same data on more than one occasion.
How does reliability relate to validity? -ANSWER - More reliable, more likely to have good internal validity, controlled variables. If a test is unreliable, it can't be valid.
What is an IV? -ANSWER - What the researcher manipulates. (cause)
What is a DV? -ANSWER - What is measured. (effect)
Why do variables need to be operationalised? -ANSWER - To provide a clear, objective definition of the variables to be studied. Measuring and discussing the same thing.
What are extraneous variables? -ANSWER - They exist in all studies and can interfere with obtaining a clear understanding of relationships among study variables. Need to be
controlled. Like PsV and SV, affect behaviour
Finish the sentence: If an extraneous variable isn't controlled... -ANSWER - It may alter the results and cause an effect in some way, it's then confounding. Identify IV and DV: Students who study with music get better GCSE results than those who study in silence. -ANSWER - IV: Listening to music or not, while studying.
DV: GCSE grade attained.
What is a confounding variable? -ANSWER - Variables that aren't part of the study but also vary with the IV, changes in the DV may be due to this instead of the manipulation of the IV.
What is a hypothesis? -ANSWER - A hypothesis is a precise statement that predicts the
outcome of a study.
What is an alternate hypothesis? -ANSWER - A specific testable prediction containing variables, and will state either a difference or relationship.
Finish the sentence: If a hypothesis is used to predict the outcome of an experiment it is
an... -ANSWER - Experimental hypothesis.
What is a null hypothesis? -ANSWER - When there is no effect or association or that any relationship or effect is due to chance.
What is a non-directional hypothesis? -ANSWER - States the relationship exists, but not
the direction.
What is a directional hypothesis? -ANSWER - States the direction of the difference or relationship.
What should you remember when writing a hypothesis? -ANSWER - Operationalise the IV AND DV. Decide if it's directional or non-directional. State direction if it's directional.
What is a pilot study? -ANSWER - A small-scale trial run done before the main study to check and improve the design and procedures of the study.
What kind of studies use pilot studies? -ANSWER - Interviews, questionnaires, experiments.
What are the 3 types of experimental design? -ANSWER - Independent groups, repeated measures, matched pairs.
What is a repeated measures design? How can you deal with its limitations. -ANSWER - Ps do all conditions of IV. Fewer Ps needed, more economical. But can cause order effects, DC, and have to use different stimulus material.
Use different tests to reduce order effects, counterbalancing for DC, use a time interval for stimulus material.
