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research methods part 1 - Coggle Diagram
research methods part 1
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experimental methods
aim = general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate; the purpose of the study
Hypothesis = a clear, precise, testable statement that states the relationship between the variables to be investigated
directional hypothesis = states the direction of the difference or relationship
non-directional hypothesis = doesn't state the direction
independent variable = the aspect of the experiment which can be changed
dependent variable = variable which is measured by the researcher
control variables
extraneous variables
- any variable, other than the IV that may have an effect on the DV if it isn't controlled
- they are the nuisance that don't vary systematically with the IV
demand characteristics
- any cue from the researcher or from the research situation that may be interpreted by ppts as revealing the purpose of the investigation
- this will cause the ppt to change their behaviour within the research situation, acting in a different way than they would normally
confounding variables
- any variable, other than the IV, that may have affected the DV so we can't be sure of the true source of changes of the DV
investigator effects
- any effect of the investigators behaviour on the research's outcome
- example = the design of the study to the selection or interaction of the ppts during the research process
randomisation
the use of chance in order to control for the effects of bias when designing materials and deciding the order of conditions
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experimental designs
independent groups
- ppts are allocated to different groups where each group represents one experimental condition
repeated measures
- all ppts take part in all conditions of the experiment
matched pairs
- pairs of ppts are first matched on some variables that may affect the DV
- then one member of the pair is assigned to condition A and the other to condition B
observational designs
issues in the design
unstructured: this method may be appropriate when observations are small in scale and involves a few ppts
- problems are that there may be too much going on in a single observation for the researcher to record it all
structured: they allow the researcher to quantify their observations using pre-determined list of behaviours and sampling methods
behavioural categories = when a target behaviour is broken up into components that are observable and measurable
sampling methods:
- event sampling = a target behaviour or event is fist established then the researcher records this event every time it occurs
- time sampling = a target individual or group is first established then the researcher records their behaviour in a fixed time frame
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self report techniques
Questionnaires
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open questions = doesn't have a fixed range of answers and respondents are free to answer in any way they wish
- produce qualitative data which is in depth and detailed but difficult to analyse
types of experiments
laboratory experiments
an experiment that takes place in a controlled environment within which the research manipulates the IV and records the effects on the DV
field experiment
an experiment that takes place in a natural setting within which the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV
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natural experiment
an experiment where the change in the IV is not brought about by the researcher but would have happened even if the researcher had not been there
sampling
stratified sampling
- the composition of the sample reflects the proportions of people in a certain sub-group within the target population
- research has to identify the different sub-groups, then the proportions needed are worked out and then ppts are selected through random sampling
random sampling
- all members of the target population have an equal chance of being selected
- a complete list of all members of the target population is obtained, names are assigned to a number, sample is generated through the use of some lottery method
systematic sampling
- every nth member of the target population is selected, e.g every 5th person is chosen
- a list of the target population organised into alphabetical order, research works through the lift until the sample is completed
opportunity sampling
- whoever is around at the time of their study is asked to participate in the research
- selecting anyone who is willing and available
volunteer sampling
- participants selecting themselves to be part of the sample, also known as self selection
- research may place an advert in a newspaper or on a common room notice board, or ppts may just raise their hand when they are asked
pilot studies
a small scale version of an investigation that takes place before the real investigation in conducted
aims: to check that the procedures, materials, measuring scales etc work and to allow the researcher to make any changes of modifications if necessary
observational techniques
naturalistic observation = watching and recording behaviour in the setting within which it would normally occur
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ppt observation = the researcher becomes a member of the group whose behaviours they are watching and recording
non-ppt observation = the researcher remains outside of the group whose behaviour they are watching and recording
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