Research Methodology Definitions
Aim
Variables
Data
Sampling
Hypothesis
The statement of why the researcher is doing the study and what they hope to achieve
The predictions that the researcher makes about what they will find
Situational Variable: factors in the environment that can unintentionally affect the results of a study
Participant Variables: any characteristic or aspect of a participant's background that could affect study results, even though it's not the focus of an experiment
Extraneous Variable: any variable that you're not investigating that can potentially affect the dependent variable of your research study
Operationalising Variables: when a variable is defined by the researcher and a way of measuring that variable is developed for the research
Dependent Variable: The manipulation of the independent variable is to test the effect on the Dependent variable
Independent Variable: What the researcher manipulates
Qualitative Data
Quantitative Data
Strengths: In-depth understanding of what their participants are thinking and feeling and the reasons behind their behaviour, which may give the data greater validity
Strengths: Easy to compare and less prone to researcher bias
Random
Volunteer
Opportuinity
Gathers people's thoughts and opinions. It can provide rich, in-depth data, but analysis may be subjective and open to researcher bias
Weaknesses: may be more at risk of researcher bias as the interpretation of the data is more subjective. Therefore the findings can be less reliable
Weaknesses: Does not always allow us to fully understand what a participant is thinking or feeling. Some scales may limit how a participant can respond and they may feel that none of the responses reflects how they feel, making the data less valid
Numerical in nature. Can be represented in charts and graphs. More objective to analyse and easy to compare
Strengths: Quick and easy. May result in a larger sample and is likely to mean the research can be conducted without delays
Weaknesses: Often unrepresentative of the target population. Findings may not be generalisable
Researchers select participants are readily available
Every person in the target population has a chance of being chosen. Everybody is assigned a number and the researcher uses a random number generator
Strengths: Should be more representative of the target population, making the findings more generalisable (if the sample is large enough)
Weaknesses: Time consuming and expensive to arrange
Participants put themselves forward to take part in a piece of research, via emails, advertising etc.
Strengths: Drop out rates are likely to be low (especially important for longitudinal studies
Weaknesses: May not be representative of the population as usually only a specific personality type likes to take part in psychological; studies
Null
Directional
Non-directional
The statement that the IV will have no effect on the DV or that the variables are not correlated with each other
The researcher will predict whether the experimental group will perform significantly better or worse than the control group
The researcher states that there will be a significant difference between the control and experimental group but does not state in which direction the difference will be
Correlations
Positive Correlation - Directly proportional graph
Negative Correlation - Indirectly proportional graph
Co-variables indicate two or more quantities being measured in a correlation by the researcher that may or may not vary with each other
No correlation