Topic 1 of 6 · Form 5
Research methods
Experiments (laboratory, field, natural), self-reports (questionnaires, interviews), case studies, observations (structured, unstructured, naturalistic, controlled, participant, overt and covert), correlations and longitudinal studies.
Notes for this topic 1 file, in order
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Methods
Experiments (laboratory, field, natural), self-reports (questionnaires, interviews), case studies, observations (structured, unstructured, naturalistic, controlled, participant, overt and covert), correlations and longitudinal studies.
Design
Aims and hypotheses (null and alternative, directional and non-directional); independent and dependent variables; operationalisation; controls (standardisation, counterbalancing, randomisation); experimental designs (independent measures, repeated measures, matched pairs); sampling (random, opportunity, volunteer).
Data
Quantitative and qualitative data; measures of central tendency and spread; graphs; levels of measurement; inferential testing (introduction to significance).
Worked example: Ten participants score 4, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8, 8, 9, 10, 14. Find the mean, median and mode.
Mean = 80 ÷ 10 = 8.0; median = 8; mode = 8
Evaluation issues
Reliability, validity (internal, ecological, population), generalisability, demand characteristics, investigator effects, ethics (consent, deception, right to withdraw, protection, debriefing, confidentiality).
Check yourself
- What is a directional hypothesis?
- Give one advantage of a repeated measures design.
- What are demand characteristics?
Show answers
- A prediction stating the direction of the expected difference or relationship.
- Participant variables are controlled because the same people do every condition.
- Cues that lead participants to guess the aim and change their behaviour.
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