Starter: complete the research methods paper Research methods paper – go over next Friday instead of essay for

Type of experiment Limititations Laboratory 8. This is type of experiment has a high level of control. This means the research can endure extraneous variables are controlled so cause and effect can be established. For example ....... 2. There is often a lack of ecological validity in this type of experiment. This is because there is a high level of control over variables and the material used is often artificial. For example ............... Field 4. This type of experiment is carried out in a real life environment. Therefore, it has higher ecological validity than a laboratory experiment. 1.Although it has higher ecological validity, this type of experiment has a lack of control. This is because the researcher cannot control everything in the natural environment. Natural 3. This type of experiment is useful when you cannot manipulate the independent variable because of ethical or practical reasons. For example.......... 6. The problem with this type of experiment is that as the researcher has not controlled the IV it becomes more difficult to establish cause and effect. This is because there may be extraneous variables involved. Quasi 7. This type of experiment is useful when it is not possible to randomly allocate participants to groups. For example .................. 5. Because of the lack of control over the groups it can be more difficult to establish cause and effect.

Exam question (A) This is a volunteer sample. One weakness of using this sampling method is that it is a biased sample because only some people who read the newspaper respond and they may not be typical of all readers. Therefore, the findings cannot be generalised to a wider population.

Exam question (B) Likely ethical issues include informed consent, right to withdraw or confidentiality. one ethical issue the researcher would need to consider in this research is confidentiality. The researcher could deal with this ethical issue by keeping the participants details private. The psychologists should not use the participants’ names in published work, or allow them to be identified in any way.

Questionnaires Define questionnaire? What type of questions are used to make up a questionnaire? Give an example of each type How do questionnaires differ from an interview? What is a strength of a questionnaire? What is a weakness of a questionnaire?

1.Define questionnaire? self report method where participants (respondents) are presented with a set of prepared written questions. 2. What type of questions are used to make up a questionnaire? Open and closed questions 3. Give an example of each type Open question: Describe in detail what you think a psychopath would look like Closed question: Do you like chocolate?

4. How do questionnaires differ from an interview? With questionnaires there is no need for face to face contact. In interviews it is usually done face to face with one participant and one researcher. Unlike questionnaires they are verbal answers rather than written answers. The researcher can write down the responses or record the interview. 5. What is a strength of a questionnaire? Cost effective – gather large amounts of data quickly because they can be distributed to large groups of people. They can be completed without the researcher present. 6. What is a weakness of a questionnaire? Social desirability. Respondents may show response bias where they respond in a particular way (always ticking ‘yes’)

Correlations

Correlational Studies A way of establishing whether there is a relationship between two variables Assessing the strength of that relationship unlike experiments, correlational studies do not tell you about causal relationships (we cannot say that it is because one factor varies that the other factor increases/ decreases) Measure the two variables to obtain two sets of paired scores there is no IV or DV Analyse the relationship by: Drawing a scatter graph Calculating a correlation coefficient Writing a hypothesis for a correlation Two tailed (non-directional) hypothesis: There will be a correlation between variable 1 and variable 2 One tailed (directional) hypothesis: There will be a positive (or negative) correlation between variable 1 and variable 2. Null hypothesis: There will not be a correlation between variable 1 and variable 2. any difference will be due to chance.

We assume the IV has an effect on the DV Examples If the 2 variables were stress and hours of sleep: An experiment would have 2 conditions:- IV - 1 group might be given a non-stressful task before sleeping. The 2nd group might be given a stressful task before sleeping. DV - Amount of hours of sleep would be recorded in both conditions. We assume the IV has an effect on the DV

Therefore there is no IV or DV in a correlation. However A correlation might investigate… self-reported levels of stress and the number of hours sleep a participant had. The difference is that in an experiment something is manipulated, where as correlations are merely looking at 2 variables occurring at the same time. Therefore there is no IV or DV in a correlation.

How do you know if the variables are correlated? There are 3 types of correlations positive  and negative  and zero 0 Positive-as one variable increases the other variable increases. Negative- as one variable increases the other variable decreases Zero – no correlation

Scattergrams The results from a correlation can be plotted on a scattergram The scattergram will show whether there is a positive correlation, a negative correlation, or no correlation at all You can analyse the relationship by 1. Drawing a scattergram 2. Calculating a correlation coefficient (R)

The Correlation Coefficient Gives us a statistical method for assessing the strength of a correlation The sign (+ or -) tells you the direction of the correlation The number (between 0 and 1) tells you the strength of the correlation A perfect negative correlation would be -1

Look at your scattergraph and decide on a correlation coefficient Look at your scattergraph and decide on a correlation coefficient. This is an estimate.

Correlation Coefficient How strong is the relationship between the two factors? Correlation Coefficient Weak Strong No correlation -1 perfect negative correlation +1 perfect positive correlation A statistical method for assessing the strength of a correlation The sign (+ or -) tells you the direction of the correlation The number (between -1 and 1) tells you the strength Scattergraphs Advantages Can be used when an experiment would be unpractical or unethical. If the correlation is significant then further investigation is justified Disadvantages A cause and effect relationship between the two factors studied cannot be established because other factors might be involved To get the full marks you need to give an example and explain examples of factors which might be influential. When one variable increases so does the other variable When one variable increases the other variable decreases

Strengths Weaknesses They can show a relationship and the strength of that relationship A relationship does not mean one causes the other. Thee me a third variable influencing the results. Therefor, you cannot establish cause and effect. They can be done when it is not possible to manipulate variables As you are not manipulating variables there is a lack of control. They are severely affected by sample size. The smaller the sample the less accurate is the correlation coefficient.

Positive Correlation This is a positive correlation because as the number of hours watching TV increases so does the level of aggression. Line of best fit

This is a negative correlation because as the temperature increases, the number of clothes worn decreases. Negative Correlation

Uncorrelated relationships This scattergram shows there is no correlation between head circumference & IQ. This is also known as a zero correlation

Task: Correlations What is called when both variables increase? (1) What is it called when one variable increases and the other variable decreases? (1) What is the statistic called which shows the strength and direction of the correlation? (1) Using the following words, estimate the strength and direction of these scores (weak, moderate, strong, perfect, positive, negative, no) (7) 0.25 b) -0.80 c) 0.5 d) 0.12 e) 0 f) -1 g) -0.95 5) Give two advantages of using correlational research in Psychology (2) 6) Give two disadvantages of using correlational research in Psychology (2)

Answers - Correlations What is called when both variables increase? Positive correlation 2) What is it called when one variable increases and the other variable decreases? Negative correlation 3) What is the statistic called which shows the strength and direction of the correlation? Correlation Coefficient

Answers - Correlations 4) Using the following words, estimate the strength and direction of these scores (weak, moderate, strong, perfect, positive, negative, no) 0.25 weak positive correlation -0.80 strong negative correlation 0.5 moderate positive correlation 0.12 weak positive correlation 0 no correlation -1 perfect negative correlation -0.95 strong negative correlation

Answers - Correlations Give two advantages of using correlational research in Psychology (2 marks) Can be used when research would be impossible or unethical to manipulate an IV. One can predict the value from one variable based on the value from another variable if they are correlated. Give two disadvantages of using correlational research in Psychology (2 marks) Cannot and must not infer cause and effect relationships Can only detect linear (straight line) relationships.

Let's draw a scattergraph this is data from a questionnaire on attachment style and a questionnaire on the quality of later relationships. Two questionnaires were given out. Attachment style (out of 40) the higher the score the more secure the attachment. Later relationships (out of 40) the higher the score the better the relationships. Attachment style Later relationships 35 38 30 32 22 20 19 18 21 16 12 40 28 25 Draw a scatter graph with this data. Make sure you label and give the graph a table.

Design a study that will see if there is a relationship between exercise and positive mood. You should design two questionnaires. Both collecting quantitative data High score means more exercise High score means more positive Closed questions Develop a consent form, standardised instructions, debrief form, questionnaires. This should then be passed by me before collecting the data

Dates for Completion Create a consent form – to be checked 25th January. Create the two questionnaires – to be checked 1st February Collect your data from 10 participants – to be checked 8th February We will analyse the data on 8th February so it is essential that you have your data ready for this date.

A correlational study Two questionnaires given to between 10-20 participants Consent form Debrief form These must be completed by today.

Consent form Participants must name and sign and date these. Sufficient detail to give fully informed consent Ethical considerations Right to withdraw Confidentiality Sufficient information to give fully informed consent Do not give the aims of the study Say what the research will be used for

Debrief form Explain why you carried out the study Repeat the ethical points and give them the chance to withdraw their data. Explain the aims and what you expect to find. Although this does not apply to this study if you were using independent groups design you would tell them which condition they were in and what the other condition was.

Write a hypothesis for your study Pair each questionnaire Add up the score for mood questionnaire and record in table and add up score for exercise/health questionnaire and record in table Participant Mood score health score 1 24 32 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Extension There is a question paper to complete. This must be done for next week. You can start to complete in class if you complete the work necessary for today

Descriptive statistics You can now draw a scattergraph to show your data. You should make sure you have a title and label the x and y axis You should then comment on the graph and say what you see. Draw some conclusions based on your findings. When you have completed this, as an extension you can carry out a Spearman’s correlation coefficient test. Ask for a worksheet of how to conduct this. It will give you a correlation coefficient which shows the direction and the strength of the correlation.