Research Methods 1: Experiments

Which of the following best describes research methods?

• Systematic ways to ask questions and collect data

• Techniques to test hypotheses

• A mixture of qualitative and quantitative data

• Structured procedures to investigate an established theory

Why might the conclusion of a study be considered open to debate?

• Because the method lacks validity

• Because the data are unreliable

• Because it is an interpretation of the results

• Because it contains only numerical data

Compare Qualitative and Quantitative methods

Groups:

(a) Qualitative

,

(b) Quantitative

• Objective

• Focus groups

• Numerical

• Increased validity

• Closed-ended questions
• Descriptive

• Open-ended questions

• Thematic analysis

• Experiments
• Subjective

• Statistical analysis
• Correlations

• Interviews

• Increased reliability

• Surveys
• Non-Numerical

What are the types of experimental methods you need to know?

• True

• Correlational

• Quasi

• Questionnaire

• Case Study

Which research method might be described as structured or unstructured?

Observations may be categorised in three main ways. If an observation takes place in a lab setting it is​ (a)   , but many observations take place in a​ (b)   environment. In a lab, and sometimes in a natural environment, participants know they are being observed because it is ​ (c)   , however, to record the most natural behaviour the researcher might use a ​ (d)   method, which raises some ethical concerns. Sometimes, the researcher joins in with the activities of those being observed, instead of just watching and recording, this is known as a ​ (e)   observation.

• controlled

• naturalistic

• overt

• covert

• participant

• non-participant

• lab

• undercover

• reliable

• ecological

A researcher wants to study the relationship between two variables without manipulating them. Which IB Psychology research method should they use?

• Experiments

• Correlational Studies

• Case Studies

• Interviews

What is the primary purpose of true experiments?

• To find cause-and-effect relationships

• To observe natural behaviour without interference

• To collect opinions from participants

• To analyse historical data

In a true experiment, the researcher manipulates an ​ (a)   variable, controls as many ​ (b)   variables as possible, and ​ (c)   a dependent variable. Quasi-experiments are different because there is no ​ (d)   of the IV.

• independent

• extraneous

• measures

• manipulation

• control

• measurement

• comparison

What makes experiments so reliable?