AQA A LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY PAPER 2:
RESEARCH METHODS 2024
Type 1 error** -CORRECT ANS-The null hypothesis is rejected and an alternative hypothesis is accepted
when the null hypothesis is true. Optimistic error, more likely if significance level is too lenient.
Type 2 error** -CORRECT ANS-When the null hypothesis is accepted but the alternative hypothesis is
true. Pessimistic error, more likely when the significance level is too low.
Reliability -CORRECT ANS-
Assessing reliability -CORRECT ANS-Test re-test reliability:
Inter-observer:
Correlation: In test re-test and inter-observer reliability, the scores are correlated and the correlation
coeffiencey should exceed +0.80 for reliability
Improving reliability* -CORRECT ANS-Questionairres- rewrite questions: questionnaires that produce
low test re-test reliability sometimes need to be rewritten. Researcher may replace some open
questions with closed ec.
Interviews- improved training: Best way to ensure reliability is to use the same interviewer each time, if
this is not possible all interviewers must be trained so they avoid leading questions.
Experiments- Standardised procedures:
Observations: operationalisation of behavioural categories- if behavioural categories are measurable
then they are less open to interpretation. categories should not overlap and all possible behaviours
should be included, if this is not the case then the research may end up with inconsistent findings.
Validity -CORRECT ANS-
RESEARCH METHODS 2024
Type 1 error** -CORRECT ANS-The null hypothesis is rejected and an alternative hypothesis is accepted
when the null hypothesis is true. Optimistic error, more likely if significance level is too lenient.
Type 2 error** -CORRECT ANS-When the null hypothesis is accepted but the alternative hypothesis is
true. Pessimistic error, more likely when the significance level is too low.
Reliability -CORRECT ANS-
Assessing reliability -CORRECT ANS-Test re-test reliability:
Inter-observer:
Correlation: In test re-test and inter-observer reliability, the scores are correlated and the correlation
coeffiencey should exceed +0.80 for reliability
Improving reliability* -CORRECT ANS-Questionairres- rewrite questions: questionnaires that produce
low test re-test reliability sometimes need to be rewritten. Researcher may replace some open
questions with closed ec.
Interviews- improved training: Best way to ensure reliability is to use the same interviewer each time, if
this is not possible all interviewers must be trained so they avoid leading questions.
Experiments- Standardised procedures:
Observations: operationalisation of behavioural categories- if behavioural categories are measurable
then they are less open to interpretation. categories should not overlap and all possible behaviours
should be included, if this is not the case then the research may end up with inconsistent findings.
Validity -CORRECT ANS-
