Research Methods pgs 1-33
What is an opportunity sample?
Researcher selects anyone available at the time and willing to take part in research
What is a volunteer sample?
Self-selected sample often by replying to advertisement to volunteer to take part in research
What is a stratified sample?
Selection of certain groups to match variety and proportion in which ppts occur in the general population
What is a random sample?
Everyone in target population stands equal chance of being picked to take part in the research. Names of possible ppts collected and then random number generator selects the amount of ppts required for sample
What is a strength of opportunity sample?
Quick and easy to get large amount of ppts. More practical to allow a specific population to be targeted
What is a strength of volunteer sample?
Useful when research requires specific type of ppts to put themselves forward meaning ppts more likely to be motivated to take part.
What is a strength of stratified sample?
Ensures diversity is represented allowing conclusions about different grooups to be drawn therefore more representative in the wider population
What is a strength of random sample?
Everyone has equal chance of participating therefore findings are more generalisable to wider population
What is a limitation of opportunity sample?
More likely to have a similar background so less generalisable
What is a limitation of volunteer sample?
Risk of bias as only ppts who volunteer are likely to apply therefore less representative
What is a limitation of stratified sample?
Difficult to establish exact numbers of people in each group to ensure proportional representation if target group is actually small in wider population so findings are less representative
What is a limitation of random sample?
Unless target population is small, it is difficult to gain a list of all the people required therefore less representative of the wider population
What is informed consent?
Where ppts must be told true aim of the research before agreeing to take part
What is deception?
Where ppts must not be lied to about the aim of the study and must not be misled before, during or after the research has taken place
What is debriefing?
Outcomes of the research must be explained to ppts before they leave the study and researchers must ensure ppts leave same way they entered
What is right to withdraw?
Ppts must be allowed to leave study anytime if they feel the need to do so any researchers must not force them to stay
What is protection from harm?
Ppts must not be harmed mentally or physically during the research including they must not be put under any stress for instance.
What is confidentiality?
Personal details and data must be kept anonymous unless ppts give full consent for names to be published
What is respect in terms of risk management?
Protect dignity of ppts including culture by respecting privacy and confidentiality therefore researchers must get informed consent and allow right to withdraw
What is integrity in terms of risk management?
Honesty and accuracy in dealings with ppts. Researchers should not deceive and should gain informed consent to meet the criterion
What is competence in terms of risk management?
The research must be carried out within researcher's ability
What is responsibility in terms of risk management?
Protecting ptts from harm, must report if other researchers being unethical and must debrief ppts.
4 points of the Scientific Procedures Act 1986
- Researchers must have Home Office License and certificates allowing them to use animals in their research
- Use of anesthetics must be used appropriately by licensed qualified specialist
- Social environment must be appropriate for animal species including caging
- Minimum pain and suffering should be used in the research and if prolonged then animal must be euthanised
Speciesism in terms of not using animals for research
One species discriminating another species for own benefit is morally wrong
Pain and suffering in terms of not using animals for research
Should be kept to a minimum while maintaining aim of the research
Sentience in terms of not using animals for research
BPS state level of sentience that animal has needs to be considered for instance any animal with a CNS is sentient
Types of research in terms of using animals for research
Some experiments cannot be usesd on humans due to legal and ethical reasons like development of medication
Benefits of research in terms of using animals for research
Outcomes of research can lead to improved lives of both animals and humans.
Physiological differences in terms of not using animals for research
Basic physiology of animal's brain may be too different to tell researchers about humans as human brains are more complex
Animal responses to drugs in terms of not using animals for research
e.g. Thalidomide had no effect on rabbits but caused babies to be born with no limbs
Anthropomorphism in terms of not using animals for research
Facial expressions are unique so a rat may be interpreted of being calm where they may be feeling pain
Comparing generations in terms of using animals for research
Animals can mature and grow faster than humans so researchers can observe behaviour development over time. Animals have similar genes to humans e.g. chimpanzees 98.8% similar
Validity and reliability in terms of using animals for research
Animal research highly controlled and allows for replication so results tend to be more objective to allow cause and effect to be established
3R's - Russel and Birch (1959)
Refine - minimal pain and suffering
Replace - could animals be replaced with something else
Reduce - minimal amount of animals should be used
What are extraneous variables?
Variables that could affect research and results
What are experimentor variables?
Where the researcher has direct impact on results like their body language or tone of voice which may mislead ppts to do better in one task compared to another
What are ppt variables?
Characteristics of the ppt that can affect results of research like age, familiarity, IQ or memory
What are situational variables?
Aspects of the research situation that could affect results like time of day, light, heat or noise
What are confounding variables?
A variable that cannot be controlled but will have an unintentional effect on the dependent variable
What is ecological validity?
How well research relates to real life setting behaviour
What is population validity?
how well the research investigates people intended to investigate
What is predictive validity?
How one behaviour recorded on one test can predict future researched behaviour
What is internal validity?
Extent to which research outcomes are ue to manipulation of variables being tested and not confounding and extraneous variables.
What is internal reliability?
the consistency within itself when replicated
What is test-retest reliability?
checking consistency by giving same test to same or similar people and comparing results to the original
What is inter-rater reliability?
extent to which different researchers rate/ tally behaviour consistently