OCR A-level Psychology - Research
Methods (Paper 1)
Directional hypothesis (one-tailed) correct answers Predicts the nature of
effect of
the independent variable on the dependent
variable
Nondirectional hypothesis (two-tailed) correct answers Predicts the
independent
variable will have an effect on the dependent variable, but the direction of
the effect isn't
specifie
d
Null hypothesis correct answers States there is no relationship between the
2 variables
being studied (one does not affect the
other)
What is a sample? correct answers The participants you select from a target
population
(the group you are interested in) to make
generalisations about
Volunteer sampling correct answers The sample consists of people
who have
volunteered to be in the
study.
Strengths: large sample
size
Weaknesses: those who respond might all have similar
characteristics
(unrepresentative sample), demand
characteristics
Random Sampling correct answers Gives every member of the target
population
equal chance an of being selected for the
sample
Strengths: reasonable chance of a representative
sample
Weaknesses: Can be impractical, small minority groups may
distort results
Opportunity Sampling correct answers Participants who are both accessible
and
to willing
take part are
targeted
Strengths: easy and inexpensive to
carry out
Weaknesses: sample may not be representative as it could be
subject to bias
Snowball Sampling correct answers Relies on referrals from initial
participants
generate to
additional
participants
Strengths: enables researchers to locate people who may be hard
to access
Weaknesses: isn't likely to be a good cross section from target
population
Independent variable (IV) correct answers Characteristic that is
manipulated or
change
d
Dependent variable (DV) correct answers The variable that is measured or
tested in a
stud
y
, Independent Measures Design correct answers Participants are divided into
2 group
1 groups,takes in part in one condition and the other group takes part
in the other
conditio
n
Repeated Measures Design correct answers All participants take
part in both
condition
s
Matched Pairs Design correct answers Different participants take part in
the different
conditions but are matched based on key characteristics (age,
gender, IQ)
Lab Experiment correct answers Highly controlled environment,
standardised
procedure, researcher decides what time, the location and the
participants
-Results tend to be reliable, conditions can be replicated, high control over
extraneous
variable
s
- Artificial environment means data lacks ecological validity, risk
characteristics,
of demand experimenter bias (researchers' expectations may affect
interaction with
ppts
)
Field Experiment correct answers Conducted in the natural
environment some
participants, of the variables can't be controlled but IV can
-be alteredhave high ecological validity, less chance of demand
Results
characteristics
- Extraneous variables may cofound results, difficult to replicate (low
reliability),
likely more
to have sample bias, ethical principles must be
considered
Quasi Experiment correct answers Contain a naturally occurring IV and is
a differentpeople that already
between
exists
- Ethical, natural
setting
- Extraneous variables cannot be
controlled
Correlation correct answers The extent to which 2 variables
are related
Positive = increase in 1 means an increase in
the other = increase in 1 means decrease in
Negative
the other
Zero = no relationship between
variables
Self Report - Unstructured Interview correct answers No set questions,
participant has the opportunity to talk about whatever
informal,
-they like increased validity as ppts can be probed for deeper
Flexible,
understanding, open
question
s
- Time consuming, expensive to train
interviewers
- Qualitative
data
Self Report - Structured Interview correct answers Fixed &
predetermined
questions put toset of participant, formal, interviewer stays within their
every
role, closed
question
s
- Easy to replicate (reliable), quick to conduct do large sample can
be obtained
Methods (Paper 1)
Directional hypothesis (one-tailed) correct answers Predicts the nature of
effect of
the independent variable on the dependent
variable
Nondirectional hypothesis (two-tailed) correct answers Predicts the
independent
variable will have an effect on the dependent variable, but the direction of
the effect isn't
specifie
d
Null hypothesis correct answers States there is no relationship between the
2 variables
being studied (one does not affect the
other)
What is a sample? correct answers The participants you select from a target
population
(the group you are interested in) to make
generalisations about
Volunteer sampling correct answers The sample consists of people
who have
volunteered to be in the
study.
Strengths: large sample
size
Weaknesses: those who respond might all have similar
characteristics
(unrepresentative sample), demand
characteristics
Random Sampling correct answers Gives every member of the target
population
equal chance an of being selected for the
sample
Strengths: reasonable chance of a representative
sample
Weaknesses: Can be impractical, small minority groups may
distort results
Opportunity Sampling correct answers Participants who are both accessible
and
to willing
take part are
targeted
Strengths: easy and inexpensive to
carry out
Weaknesses: sample may not be representative as it could be
subject to bias
Snowball Sampling correct answers Relies on referrals from initial
participants
generate to
additional
participants
Strengths: enables researchers to locate people who may be hard
to access
Weaknesses: isn't likely to be a good cross section from target
population
Independent variable (IV) correct answers Characteristic that is
manipulated or
change
d
Dependent variable (DV) correct answers The variable that is measured or
tested in a
stud
y
, Independent Measures Design correct answers Participants are divided into
2 group
1 groups,takes in part in one condition and the other group takes part
in the other
conditio
n
Repeated Measures Design correct answers All participants take
part in both
condition
s
Matched Pairs Design correct answers Different participants take part in
the different
conditions but are matched based on key characteristics (age,
gender, IQ)
Lab Experiment correct answers Highly controlled environment,
standardised
procedure, researcher decides what time, the location and the
participants
-Results tend to be reliable, conditions can be replicated, high control over
extraneous
variable
s
- Artificial environment means data lacks ecological validity, risk
characteristics,
of demand experimenter bias (researchers' expectations may affect
interaction with
ppts
)
Field Experiment correct answers Conducted in the natural
environment some
participants, of the variables can't be controlled but IV can
-be alteredhave high ecological validity, less chance of demand
Results
characteristics
- Extraneous variables may cofound results, difficult to replicate (low
reliability),
likely more
to have sample bias, ethical principles must be
considered
Quasi Experiment correct answers Contain a naturally occurring IV and is
a differentpeople that already
between
exists
- Ethical, natural
setting
- Extraneous variables cannot be
controlled
Correlation correct answers The extent to which 2 variables
are related
Positive = increase in 1 means an increase in
the other = increase in 1 means decrease in
Negative
the other
Zero = no relationship between
variables
Self Report - Unstructured Interview correct answers No set questions,
participant has the opportunity to talk about whatever
informal,
-they like increased validity as ppts can be probed for deeper
Flexible,
understanding, open
question
s
- Time consuming, expensive to train
interviewers
- Qualitative
data
Self Report - Structured Interview correct answers Fixed &
predetermined
questions put toset of participant, formal, interviewer stays within their
every
role, closed
question
s
- Easy to replicate (reliable), quick to conduct do large sample can
be obtained
