AQA Psychology - Paper 2

AQA Psychology - Paper 2 All Answers Correct Self-report techniques Ans- Any method involving asking PPs about their feelings, attitudes, beliefs etc. Questionnaire Ans- Questionnaires are a written self-report technique where participants are given a pre-set number of questions to respond to. Can consist of either: • Closed questions - a pre-determined set of answers to choose from • Open questions - where there is no restriction on how participants make their response Strengths of questionnaires Ans- + Cost effective + Can gather large amounts of data quickly + Easy to analyse and generalise Weaknesses of questionnaires Ans- - Can produce response bias - PPs may misunderstand the question or read it incorrectly - Demand Characteristics / Social Desirability may occur Advantages & Disadvantages of an Open Question Ans- + Allows PPs to elaborate, greater insight + Produces qualitative data - depth and detail - People can miss them out as they can't be bothered to answer them - Harder to analyse Advantages & Disadvantages of a Closed Question Ans- + Quick and easy to answer + Quantitative data is easier to analyse - Not detailed or in depth answers - Don't find out the meaning behind the answer Interview Ans- A live encounter (face to face or on the phone) where one person asks a set of questions to assess an interviewees thoughts/experiences. They can be structured, semi structured or unstructured. Structured Interview Ans- Made up of pre-determined questions and are asked in a fixed order. Unstructured Interview Ans- Works like a conversation. There are no set questions. There is a general aim that a certain topic will be discussed and interaction tends to be free flowing. Semi-structured Interview Ans- There is a list of questions that have been worked out in advance but interviewers are also free to ask follow up questions or deviate when they feel it is appropriate. Double-barreled Questions Ans- They contain two options within a single question. Aim Ans- Identifies the purpose of the investigation Hypothesis Ans- A precise, testable statement of what the researcher predicts will be the the outcome of the study Directional Hypothesis Ans- The researcher makes it clear what difference is anticipated between the 2 conditions or groups. (One tailed). Non-directional Hypothesis Ans- Simply states that there is a difference but not what the difference will be. Null Hypothesis Ans- There will be no relationship between the 2 variables. 'There will be no significant difference' Alternative/Experimental Hypothesis Ans- States that there is a relationship between the 2 variables. 'There will be a significant difference' Meta-analysis Ans- A particular form of research method that uses secondary data. Data from a large number of studies which have involved the same research question and method are combined. Quantitative Data Ans- Data that focuses on numbers and frequencies which can be counted. e.g. experiments, questionnaires and psychometric tests. Qualitative Data Ans- Data that describes meaning and experiences which is expresses in words e.g. case studies, interviews and observations. Primary Data Ans- Information that has been obtained first hand by the researcher. It is also known as field research. Secondary Data Ans- Information that has already been collected by previous researchers. It is also known as 'desk research' and can be found in journal articles, books or websites. BPS Ans- British Psychological Society. Exists to oversee ethical issues that may arise in research. Informed Consent Ans- Participants should be told what research involves beforehand. Should know the aim, your rights and procedure of the research. Deception Ans- Should not deliberately mislead or have information withheld from PPs. Information should be adequate and truthful. Right to Withdraw Ans- PPs should be free to leave research at any time Protection from harm Ans- PPs shouldn't be placed in any more risk than in their daily lives. Should be protected from any psychological and physical harm. Competence Ans- Psychologists must not attempt to carry out research unless they are qualified to do so. Debrief Ans- Must be told how your data will he used and PP may want to ask questions about investigation. If deception was used, then the aims of research must be revealed so PP can give retrospective consent. Variable Ans- Any "thing" that can vary or change with in an investigation, i.e. change or be changed, such as memory, attention, time taken to perform a task Independent Variable - IV Ans- The variable that is manipulated by the researcher - assumed to have a direct effect on the DV Dependent Variable - DV Ans- The variable that is measured by the researcher. Operationalising Variables Ans- The process of devising a way of measuring a variable. Lab Experiment Ans- An experiment that takes place in a controlled environment where the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV while maintaining strict control of extraneous variables. The Criteria for a Lab Experiment Ans- 1) The IV is manipulated by the researcher to produce a change in the DV 2) All other variables that might influence the results i.e. extraneous variables are held constant or eliminated 3) Participants are randomly allocated to a condition. Advantages of a Lab Experiment Ans- + Can establish cause and effect + Few if any extraneous variables +Easy to replicate +High internal validity Disadvantages of a Lab Experiment Ans- - Lacks ecological / external validity - Demand characteristics can occur - Behaviour in a lab is often different - Experimenter effects can occur Field Experiment Ans- An experiment that takes place in a natural setting where the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV. Advantages of a Field Experiment Ans- + More ecologically/externally valid + Fewer demand characteristics +Replication can occur to some extent + Fewer experimenter effects Disadvantages of a Field Experiment Ans- - Chance of extraneous variables - More time consuming - Ethical issues (informed consent) - Need a skilled researcher Natural Experiment Ans- An experiment where the change in the IV is not caused by the researcher as it would have happened if the researcher wasn't there. The researcher records the effect on the DV. Advantages of a Natural Experiment Ans- + No demand characteristics + No researcher effects + Fewer ethical issues + Allows P.ps who wouldn't normally be tested to take part. Disadvantages of a Natural Experiment Ans- - Lack of control (extraneous variables) - Short term behaviour may be displayed - No random allocation can create confounding variables - Harder to replicate Quasi Experiment Ans- The IV has not been determined by anyone the variables simply exist e.g. being old or young. Extraneous Variables Ans- Any variable apart from the IV which can effect the DV if not controlled. However they can be maintained or eliminated. Confounding Variables Ans- A variable apart from the IV which can effect the DV. However it can't be controlled. Control Condition Ans- The IV isn't changed and provides a baseline measure. the condition is in a repeated measures design that provides a baseline measure of behaviour. Experimental Condition Ans- Where you manipulate the IV. The condition is in a repeated measures design containing the IV as distinct from control. Baseline Measure Ans- Result established from control condition when no manipulation of IV occurs. Allows comparisons to be made. Random Allocation Ans- People are chosen randomly e.g. names from a hat meaning there's an equal chance of being selected. Ecological Validity Ans- How methods can be applied to real life settings. External Validity Ans- How valid results are outside of a research setting. Demand Characteristics Ans- Any cue from the researcher or research situation that can be interpreted by participants as revealing the purpose of the investigation leading them to changing