Research Methods

questioning personUNIT 3 & 4 PSYCHOLOGY

SUMMER HOLIDAY HOMEWORK

RESEARCH METHODS:

Research methods is covered throughout Unit 3 & 4 and a strong knowledge of specific concepts is required for each area of study and will be part of both exams. Please retain notes from Unit 1 & 2 as these will be useful.

There will be a test in the first week on research methods.

TASKS:

  1. 1. Read Chapter 1 in Grivas, Down & Carter (4th edition).

  2. 2. Complete the following questions (in full sentences) in order to create a summary for your notes for the year. Try to use appropriate headings.

(due week 1) There will be a test early in Term 1 on this topic.

 

Research Method Questions – refer to Chap 1

  1. 1. Why is psychology a scientific study?

  2. 2. What is the difference between the terms mental processes and behaviour in psychology? Give examples of each.

  3. 3. How do psychologists define research methods? Describe some specific methods used (see later in chapter) and what is the method that is the most scientifically rigorous?

  4. 4. Define the following: variable, independent variable, dependent variable, confounding variable, extraneous variable

  5. 5. Explain the difference between experimental groups and control groups in terms of variables.

  6. 6. Why is a research hypothesis called an operational hypothesis?

  7. 7. List all the characteristics of an operational hypothesis that is used for experimental research.

  8. 8. Explain what is meant by ‘operational definitions’ and give two examples.

  9. 9. Define and provide an example for the following extraneous and potential confounding variables:

    1. a. Individual participant variables

    2. b. Demand characteristics

    3. c. Placebo effect

    4. d. Experimenter effects (self-fulfilling prophecy & experimenter bias)

    5. e. Order effects (practice effects & carry-over effects)

    6. f. Artificiality

    7. g. Use of non-standardised instructions and procedures

 

10. Define each of the following terms: participants, sampling, sample, population.

11. Why is it important that a sample and the population from which it is drawn share common characteristics?

 

Ways of minimising extraneous and confounding variables

12. Participant selection: summarise the 4 different types of sampling. Highlight the which sampling procedure would be the most representative.

13. Allocation of participants: Define the following terms: allocation, control group, experimental group. What is random allocation and why is it used in an experiment? (what potential confounding variable is controlled?)

14. Minimising Order Effects: What is counterbalancing? Outline the procedures for the two different types that can be used.

15. Controlling experimenter effects & placebo effects: What are single-blind procedures and placebos?

16. Standardised instructions & procedures: Describe what they are with reference to relevant examples.

17. There are 3 different types of experimental designs that can be used to minimise effects of extraneous variables.  Draw up the following table (2/3 page).

Experimental Design: Description: Advantage of design: Limitation of design: Example:
Repeated measures
Matched participants
Independent groups

 

 

18. Complete the following table (refer to p. 37-45) on the two different types of statistics that are used to analyse the data collected in research studies. (1/2 page)

Descriptive statistics Inferential statistics
Purpose:
Examples:

19. What is meant by the term ‘statistical significance’? When is a difference said to be ‘statistically significant’? What is meant by the p-value and what does the p stand for?

20. What is meant by the term ‘conclusion’? What are the important considerations in drawing conclusions from results of a study?

21. What is meant by the term ‘generalisation’? What are the important considerations in drawing generalisations from results of a study?

 

RELIABILITY & VALIDITY IN RESEARCH:

 

22. Reliability: Explain what this term means and how it relates to replication. What is internal consistency?

23. Validity: explain what this term means and how research data may not be valid. Differentiate between the two different types of validity.

 

ETHICAL PRINCIPLES:

 

 

24. What does the term ‘ethics’ refer to?

25. Create a page that summarises the APS Code of Ethics: Roles and responsibilities of the Researcher; Participant Rights (Confidentiality, voluntary participation, withdrawal rights, informed consent procedures, debriefing, use of deception); Role of ethics committees; Use of animals in research)

 

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