reserarch methods+
Psychology
AS Psychology (AQA, A)
Research Methods
Workbook
Name …… Stella Akinwumi……………………………………...
Section 1 - Quantitative and qualitative research methods
Research methods are the ways that psychologists investigate a theory. Different methods will be appropriate for different topics/theories/situations.
Quantitative = Quantitative research gathers data in numerical form which can be put into categories, or in rank order, or measured in units of measurement.
Qualitative = Qualitative research gathers information that is not in numerical form.
Experiments
Experiments are generally thought to be the most reliable and effective way of demonstrating that one variable causes another to change – that it has an effect on another, for example to demonstrate that alcohol causes reaction times to slow down.
In psychology we talk about these variables as the independent (IV) and dependent variables (DV).
IV = Variable the experimenter manipulates (i.e. changes) – assumed to have a direct effect on the dependent variable
DV = Variable the experimenter measures
Extraneous variables- these are all variables, which are not the independent variable, but could affect the results (e.g. DV) of the experiment. Extraneous variables should be controlled were possible.
Confounding variables are an extraneous variable whose presence affects the variables being studied so that the results you get do not reflect the actual relationship between the variables under investigation
How can extraneous variables be controlled?
Extraneous variables can be controlled in two ways. The first is to hold constant while the second is to allow random variation.
Identify the IV and DV for the following:
1. Severe punishment causes anxiety.
IV - Change the punishment
DV – Measure the level of anxiety
Directional or non-directional –
2. There is a
AS Psychology (AQA, A)
Research Methods
Workbook
Name …… Stella Akinwumi……………………………………...
Section 1 - Quantitative and qualitative research methods
Research methods are the ways that psychologists investigate a theory. Different methods will be appropriate for different topics/theories/situations.
Quantitative = Quantitative research gathers data in numerical form which can be put into categories, or in rank order, or measured in units of measurement.
Qualitative = Qualitative research gathers information that is not in numerical form.
Experiments
Experiments are generally thought to be the most reliable and effective way of demonstrating that one variable causes another to change – that it has an effect on another, for example to demonstrate that alcohol causes reaction times to slow down.
In psychology we talk about these variables as the independent (IV) and dependent variables (DV).
IV = Variable the experimenter manipulates (i.e. changes) – assumed to have a direct effect on the dependent variable
DV = Variable the experimenter measures
Extraneous variables- these are all variables, which are not the independent variable, but could affect the results (e.g. DV) of the experiment. Extraneous variables should be controlled were possible.
Confounding variables are an extraneous variable whose presence affects the variables being studied so that the results you get do not reflect the actual relationship between the variables under investigation
How can extraneous variables be controlled?
Extraneous variables can be controlled in two ways. The first is to hold constant while the second is to allow random variation.
Identify the IV and DV for the following:
1. Severe punishment causes anxiety.
IV - Change the punishment
DV – Measure the level of anxiety
Directional or non-directional –
2. There is a