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What is the effect of stimulants/depressants on arousal levels? …
What is the effect of stimulants/depressants on arousal levels?
Deconstruction
Research Question
To what extent to stimulants and depressants affect arousal levels?
Factors Impacting
Type of Stimulant
Type of Depressant
Sample
Are the participants regular consumers of the stimulants/depressant types?
Research Design Type
Observational
Advantages
Natural Environment less impacted by participant stress
Disadvantages
More subject to the effect of extraneous variables, reducing the reliability of the data collected .
Can't make any connections about causation due to these uncontrolled variables
Results can't be generalised to entire population or society.
Subject to observer bias
Experimental
Advantages
Extranous Variables are controlled
The Independent variable is the only one being manipulated
Easier to replicate
Disadvantages
Detached, artificial environment may encourage stress or anxiety in participants which may potentially skew the results.
Qualitative
Advantages
Allows for deeper understanding into participant responses
Good design type when the data being explored is reasonably uncharted and is a new area of psychology.
Disadvantages
Subjective to researcher bias due to the close interaction between participant and researcher.
Small sample size of qualitative data can lead to inconclusiveness of data that cannot be generalised to society or the population
Variables
IV: Stimulant or depressant
DV: Heart rate levels, arousal levels, self reports, brain activity, awareness levels
CV: The amount of the stimulant/depressant
Dependent Variable Measure
Subjective Quantitative
Self Reports, Rating Scales
Objective Quantitative
Heart Rate Monitors, Brain Scans for activity levels
EEG Machine
Qualitative
Surveys (before and after) Interviews, Questionnaires
Extraneous Variables and their impact on the data
Situational Variables
Temperatures
Light Levels
Background Noise
Participant Variables
Tolerance to stimulant/depressant
Age
Height
Weight
Stress levels
Personality (Type A or Type B)
Ethnicity
Gender
Constant Variables
Type of stimulant/depressant used
Amount of stimulant/depressant
Participant groups e.g. Group A, Group B, Control Group
Ethical Considerations
Informed Consent
Consent form prior to trial explaining the themes without disclosing too much --> leading to participant bias
Ensure participants are aware of what they are getting involved in prior to taking part in it
Debriefing
Explanation about why, how and what the trial was testing with support given through trained healthcare professionals/psychologists.
Ensure no psychological toll is taken on participants and that they fully understand the necessity of the practise they have taken part in.
Right to withdraw
Briefing prior to the experiment to ensure all participants are aware of their rights before, during and after the experiment/trial.
Confidentiality
Randomly assigned participant identification numbers to ensure all participants aren't subject to researcher bias or identification.
Sample Size
150 people
Pool of voluntary participants
Selected randomly
Over the age of consent
Same age
Different occupation