- Aims + hypotheses
Research aim = points out what the research is meant to accomplish and states the purpose of the investigation
Research question = asks about what the study aims to investigate
Null hypothesis = predicts no difference or no relationship between the variables
Alternative/2 tailed hypothesis = predicts a difference or relationship between the variables but doesn't predict what it will be
1 tailed hypothesis = predicts the outcome or relationship between the variables
- Sampling methods
Target population sample = the group the searcher is interested in
Random sample = each member had an equal chance of being chosen (very representative)
Snowball sample = people who are easily available chosen, then they bring friends (not representative)
Opportunity sample = people who are around and easy to choose (quick and easy)
Self-selecting sample = volunteers (not representative)
- Experimental designs
-Repeated measures - each p takes part in every condition
+ fewer p's needed and individual differences are controlled
- p's may suffer from order or practice effects leading to poorer performance
Practice effects = getting better at a task with practice and performing better
Order effects = getting bored of a task and beginning to perform worse
These can both be avoided by splitting each group in half and making them do the conditions in different orders
-Independent measures = different p's used for each condition
+ no chance of order or practice effects
- more p's needed
-Matched participants = p's who are similar being placed in each condition, e.g. matching them on aggression levels
-may be hard to find matches
Single blind = p's unaware of the IV, so less demand characteristics
Double blind = researcher also unaware, so no researcher bias
Mundane realism = extent to which findings can be generalised to realistic situations in everyday life
- Designing observations + self reports
Behavioural categories = categories used to break streams of activity into recordable events
Coding frames = the categories put into codes, e.g. walking/talking/laughing
Time sampling = recording pre-determined behaviours at intervals, e.g. every 15 seconds
Event sampling = counting number of behaviours in time periods, e.g. tally charts
Open questions = allow detailed answers in p's own words and produce qualitative data, but are hard when identifying patterns or making comparisons
Closed questions = explicitly stated responses to choose from which produce quantitative data
Coding frames = the categories put into codes, e.g. walking/talking/laughing
Time sampling = recording pre-determined behaviours at intervals, e.g. every 15 seconds
Event sampling = counting number of behaviours in time periods, e.g. tally charts
Open questions = allow detailed answers in p's own words and produce qualitative data, but are hard when identifying patterns or making comparisons
Closed questions = explicitly stated responses to choose from which produce quantitative data
- Rating scales
Numerical scales that produce quantitative data
Likert rating scale = allows p's to say how much or to what extent they agree or disagree
Semantic differential scale = gives choices, and you choose 1 only
+ easy to analyse
- subjective and not always valid