AQA PSYCHOLOGY - RESEARCH METHODS
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS
Inter-Observer Reliability -Answer:-Two or more researchers observe the
same behaviour at the same time then compare and amend results to create
correlations.
Content Analysis -Answer:-A kind of observational study where behaviour is
observed indirectly in pictorial or verbal material.
Target Population -Answer:-The entire group a researcher is interested in.
The researchers wishes to draw conclusions from only the people in the
group.
Bias - sampling -Answer:-When certain groups are over or under represented
with in the sample selected. It limits the extent to which generalisations can
be made to the target population.
Generalisation -Answer:-The extent to which findings and conclusions from a
particular experiment can be broadly applied to the population. This is
possible if the sample of people is representative of the population.
Inter-Rater Reliability -Answer:-Correlating the judgements of two or more
ratings of behaviour when using a rating scale.
Peer Review -Answer:-The assessment of work by others who are specialists
in the same field to ensure that any research set for publication is high quality.
,How is psychological research published? -Answer:-Initially in journals which
will then be translated into textbook information or be discussed at
conferences,.
Aims of Peer Review -Answer:-1) To allocate funding properly and
appropriately. It stops researchers spending lots of money on investigations
which may encounter problems. Also it helps to develop the areas of
psychology that need to be developed,
2) To validate the quality of research. It establishes more accurate to inter-
observer reliability. Additionally it makes sure that you are measuring what
you set out to measure.
3) To suggest amendments and improvements. It allows researchers to get
more accurate results as it eliminates potential problems.
Evaluation of Peer Review -Answer:-+ Helps to establish validity and accuracy
of research because more than one person will carry out the experiment
therefore allowing the data to be correlated.
- The anonymity could lead to them being overcritical . Changing data which is
right and doesn't need to be changed could give inaccurate results and may
not be objective as they should be
- Publication Bias can occur where only positive results or attention grabbing
results are published. By publishing data which doesn't support a hypothesis,
it allows it to have more understanding and knowledge.
Case Study -Answer:-A research method that involves a detailed study of a
signal individual, institution or event.
Sampling Techniques -Answer:-The method used to select people from the
population.
, Opportunity Sampling -Answer:-A sample of participants produced by
selecting people who are most easily available at the time of the study.
Random Sampling -Answer:-A sample of participants produced by using a
random technique so that every member of the target population has an equal
chance of being selected.
Volunteer Sampling -Answer:-A sample of participants produced by a
sampling technique that relies solely on inviting people to take part.
Systematic Sampling -Answer:-A method of obtaining a representative sample
e.g. by selecting every 5th or 7th person.
Stratified Sampling -Answer:-A sampling technique where groups of
participants are selected in proportion to their frequency in the population in
order to obtain a representative sample.
Correlation -Answer:-A mathematical technique, where a researcher
investigates an association between two variables call co-variables.
Positive Correlation -Answer:-As one variable increase the other variable
increases.
Negative Correlation -Answer:-As one variable increase the other variable
decreases.
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS
Inter-Observer Reliability -Answer:-Two or more researchers observe the
same behaviour at the same time then compare and amend results to create
correlations.
Content Analysis -Answer:-A kind of observational study where behaviour is
observed indirectly in pictorial or verbal material.
Target Population -Answer:-The entire group a researcher is interested in.
The researchers wishes to draw conclusions from only the people in the
group.
Bias - sampling -Answer:-When certain groups are over or under represented
with in the sample selected. It limits the extent to which generalisations can
be made to the target population.
Generalisation -Answer:-The extent to which findings and conclusions from a
particular experiment can be broadly applied to the population. This is
possible if the sample of people is representative of the population.
Inter-Rater Reliability -Answer:-Correlating the judgements of two or more
ratings of behaviour when using a rating scale.
Peer Review -Answer:-The assessment of work by others who are specialists
in the same field to ensure that any research set for publication is high quality.
,How is psychological research published? -Answer:-Initially in journals which
will then be translated into textbook information or be discussed at
conferences,.
Aims of Peer Review -Answer:-1) To allocate funding properly and
appropriately. It stops researchers spending lots of money on investigations
which may encounter problems. Also it helps to develop the areas of
psychology that need to be developed,
2) To validate the quality of research. It establishes more accurate to inter-
observer reliability. Additionally it makes sure that you are measuring what
you set out to measure.
3) To suggest amendments and improvements. It allows researchers to get
more accurate results as it eliminates potential problems.
Evaluation of Peer Review -Answer:-+ Helps to establish validity and accuracy
of research because more than one person will carry out the experiment
therefore allowing the data to be correlated.
- The anonymity could lead to them being overcritical . Changing data which is
right and doesn't need to be changed could give inaccurate results and may
not be objective as they should be
- Publication Bias can occur where only positive results or attention grabbing
results are published. By publishing data which doesn't support a hypothesis,
it allows it to have more understanding and knowledge.
Case Study -Answer:-A research method that involves a detailed study of a
signal individual, institution or event.
Sampling Techniques -Answer:-The method used to select people from the
population.
, Opportunity Sampling -Answer:-A sample of participants produced by
selecting people who are most easily available at the time of the study.
Random Sampling -Answer:-A sample of participants produced by using a
random technique so that every member of the target population has an equal
chance of being selected.
Volunteer Sampling -Answer:-A sample of participants produced by a
sampling technique that relies solely on inviting people to take part.
Systematic Sampling -Answer:-A method of obtaining a representative sample
e.g. by selecting every 5th or 7th person.
Stratified Sampling -Answer:-A sampling technique where groups of
participants are selected in proportion to their frequency in the population in
order to obtain a representative sample.
Correlation -Answer:-A mathematical technique, where a researcher
investigates an association between two variables call co-variables.
Positive Correlation -Answer:-As one variable increase the other variable
increases.
Negative Correlation -Answer:-As one variable increase the other variable
decreases.
