AQA A Level Psychology Scientific Processes Exam Questions & Answers 100% Solved

- ANSWER -A general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate (the purpose of the study) Hypothesis - ANSWER -A clear, precise testable statement that states the relationship between the variables to be investigated Directional hypothesis template - ANSWER -There is an increase/decrease in the DV after the IV USE THIS WHEN THERE IS PREVIOUS DATA Non directional hypothesis template - ANSWER -There is a difference in the DV after the IV. USE THIS WHEN THERE IS NO PREVIOUS DATA Null Hypothesis - ANSWER -There is no difference between the conditions Sample - ANSWER -A group of people who take part in a research investigation. The sample is drawn form a target population and is presumed to be a representation of that population Random Sample - ANSWER -All members of the target population have an equal chance at being selected. Obtain a list of participants, assign them a number and use the lottery method Opportunity Sample - ANSWER -The researcher takes the chance to ask whoever is available at the time of the study Volunteer Sample - ANSWER -Participants select themselves to be part of the sample e.g A researcher may place an advert Systematic Sample - ANSWER -When every nth member of the target population is selected Stratified Sample - ANSWER -Reflects the population in certain sub groups (strata) within the target population What are the strengths of a Random Sample? - ANSWER -Unbias selection therefore increases the chances of a representative sample Generalisation as the sample will be fairly representative, results will be generalizable to the target population What are the weaknesses of a random sample? - ANSWER -It is impractical because random sampling is difficult to achieve as it is sometimes hard to get the details of the target population and not all member may be available or want to take part What are the Strengths of a opportunity sample? - ANSWER -Ease of Formation - Opportunity samples are easy to create as they use people who are readily available Natural experiments - have to use opportunity samples as the researcher has no control over who is studied What are the weaknesses of a opportunity sample? - ANSWER -Unrepresentative - The sample is likely to be biased and thus Unrepresentative so the findings cant be generalised to the target population What are the Strength of a Stratified sample? - ANSWER -Representative as selection occurs from representative sub groups within a population What are the weaknesses of a Stratified sample? - ANSWER -Knowledge of population characteristics is required and it is time consuming What are the Strengths of a Systematic sample? - ANSWER