Psychology

Psychology - Research Methods

• Hypothesis : a testable statement between two variables, using your own prediction.
• Variable : a factor or thing that can change - it varies.
• Types of Variables *
• Independent variable : what researchers change in an experiment.iu
• Dependent variable : what researchers measure in experiments.
• Extraneous variable : other factors that can effect or change the results of an experiment, for example the weather, surrounding noises and also personal behaviour like tiredness and hunger.
• Experimental : the method of research in which all variables except the independent and dependent are controlled, this allows researchers to identify a cause and effect between both variables.
• Objective : fact based, biased free.
• Subjective : influenced by personal views, biased.
• Research methods*
• Lab research : is research that takes place in a controlled enviourment. It allows the researcher to manipulate the independent variable to measure the dependent variable. An example of a lab environment is a classroom.
• Field research : is research that takes place in a natural environment, although still has some control over the experiment itself. It allows the researcher to manipulate the independent variable to measure the dependant variable.
• Natural research : is research that takes place in a natural environment. The researcher has no control. The independent variable happens naturally.
• Ways in which research is developed*
• Ecological validity : doesn't reflect real-life behaviour.
• Participant : a person who is selected to take part in a study.
• Sample : a group of participants who represent the target population.
• Target population : a large group of people who the researchers want to study.
• Generalisable : results that from the sample that can apply to the target population.
• Representative : the sample have similar abilities to the target population, that makes them representative.
• How participants are chosen*
• Random : every member has an equal chance of being selected, this can be done by being drawn from a hat.
• Oppurtunity : people who are apart of the target population and are willing to take part in the study.
• Stratified : the target population is put into sub-groups and then use a sample to select participants.
• Systematic : this method is to select every nth number, each person is given a number and every 10 numbers that person is then apart of the sample.
• How the experiment works*
• Conditions : are the organisation of the experiment, they will be usually two trails which the sample groups will perform.
• Control group : is composed of participants that's don't receive the treatment of a condition.
• Experiment group : a group that receives the treatment of a condition.
• Independent group : 2 groups - 2 conditions
• Group 1 does condition 1.
• Group 2 does condition 2.
• The results are then compared.
• Repeated meaures : 1 group - 2 conditions
• Group 1 does both conditions at different times of the day.
• Results are then compared.
• Matched pairs : 2 groups - 2 conditions
• Group 1 does condition 1 in the morning.
• Group 2 does condition 2 in the morning.
• Group 1 does condition 2 in the evening.
• Group 2 does condition 1 in the evening.
• Both groups have similarities, for example are twins, are all the same age.
• The results are then compared.