Research Methods

Research Methods

Methods of Investigation
1. Aim
  1. A general statement of why the study is being carried out: the reason for the research
2. Hypothesis
  1. A clear statement predicting the outcome of the research, which is measurable: -says how the IV and DV are related
3. Variables
  1. IV (independent Variable)
    1. The thing the researcher changes
  2. DV (Dependent Variable
    1. The thing that changes due to the changes in the IV
Operationalisation
1. You have to be really specific when you are identifying your variables and writing your hypotheses
2. You operationalise the variables to create the hypotheses
Hypotheses
1. A hypothesis is a testable, predictive statement
2. Directional Hypothesis
  1. Says HOW the IV will affect the DV
    1. Higher, faster, lower, greater number, more
3. Non-directional Hypothesis
  1. Just says the IV WILL AFFECT the DV, not how
    1. There will be a difference...
4. Null Hypothesis
  1. Says the IV DOES NOT AFFECT the DV
Types of Experiment
1. Lab Experiment
  1. Takes place in a lab. Experimenter CONTROLS THE IV
  2. +: High control over situation and variables (cause and effect)
  3. -: Low ecological validity as takes place in an unnatural setting
  4. -: Demand characteristics= unnatural behaviour
2. Field Experiment
  1. Takes place in a natural environment. Experimenter CONTROLS THE IV
  2. +: Natural environment= natural behaviour (High ecological validity
  3. -: Lower control over the environment = extraneous variables
3. Natural Environment
  1. Conducted in the everyday (real life) environment of the participants. Experimenter DOES NOT CONTROL THE IV (e.g. age, gender etc. )
  2. +: Can investigate things you can't control
  3. -: Not able to randomly select pps. THEREFORE COULD BE A BIASED SAMPLE
Extraneous Variables
1. Confounding variables
2. Participant Variables
Extraneous variables
1. Confounding variables- sight, mood, memory, attitude towards the topic, intelligence, background
Standardised Procedure
1. Making sure everything in the experiment is kept the same
2. The investigation is in the same place, same equipment etc
3. The investigation is under the same conditions
4. The investigation is done at roughly the same time
Sampling techniques
1. Random sample
  1. Everyone in the target population has an equal chance of taking part in the research
  2. +: Representative technique
  3. -: Sometimes a biased sample
2. Opportunity sample
  1. Using anyone who is available
  2. : A quick and time effective technique
  3. : Sometimes a biased sample
3. Stratified smaple
  1. Percentages of people in the TP who fit into certain categories are worked out and the sample has the same percentages
  2. +: Very representative samples
  3. : Time consuming
4. Systematic sample
  1. A list of the TP is created and every nth person is used s a ppt
  2. +: An unbiased technique
  3. -: Can be difficult to get a list of TP

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	Created by Ellie Collins over 10 years ago