January 2010

Research Methods Revision
BATs
 describe the different types of experimental and non-experimental techniques in
Psychological research.
 evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each type of technique
 Identify ethical issues and how to deal with them
 Identify and use descriptive stats

Research Methods Revision
Activity 1
Complete the Research Methods Glossary
Use the text book to help you
10-15 mins

Research Methods Revision
Activity 2
In groups choose 2 types of research from….
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 lab experiment, natural experiment, field experiment, correlation, case study, questionnaire, interview, observation, content analysis.
For each jot down ..
A definition
We will share responses in
20 mins
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 2 examples and why used in these examples strengths/ weaknesses

Research Methods Revision
Activity 3
Complete the ‘Defending the design’ worksheet
10 mins

Research Methods Revision
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Activity 4
Ethics
Match the cards
Write the answers in correct order on the blank sheet
15-20 mins

Research Methods Revision
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Activity 5
Ethics
Choose 2 pieces of research from the
Attachments and Memory topics
Highlight the ethical issues in each
Say how they were or could have been dealt with
15-20 mins

Levels of measurement
 Nominal : named categories (count how many in each)
 Ordinal : points in order on a scale (gaps between points not equal)
 Interval and Ratio : points in order with equal gaps (ratio has a real zero) think … NOIR
4 Research Methods
8

Levels of measurement
Which levels of measurement are being used in each of the following tests?
4 Research Methods
9

How securely attached is your child?
Tick all of the following which apply:
• s/he runs to me when upset
• s/he hides behind me when frightened
• s/he will play away from me only if s/he can see me
• s/he brings me things to show me
4 Research Methods
10

How good is your memory?
Tick one of the following:
 Excellent – I remember everything
 Very good – I remember all the important things
 Okay
 Poor – I forget some important stuff
 Terrible – I forget a lot
11
4 Research Methods

Parasocial attachments
Which of these TV and video characters are you attached to?
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12

How quickly does a child cry when left alone?
 Timed in seconds from the departure of the primary carer
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13

Does repetition help recall?
 Number of repetitions of a nonsense syllable and its effect on accuracy of recall
NCL
GMW
FRK
BDK
MYC
PJX
QSZ
14
4 Research Methods

Improving eyewitness testimony
Which of the following factors do you think is most important in improving eyewitness recall?
• Immediate access to pen and paper to jot down what they can remember
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Helping them by asking them guiding questions
• Returning eyewitnesses to the scene of the crime
• Using scene reconstruction to help them to feel the same as they did at the time
• Letting them discuss what has happened with other witnesses
4 Research Methods
15

Are these subjects sciences?
 Biology
 Geography
 Psychology
 RE
 Physics
4 Research Methods
16

Decisions about data
What do you need to decide about displaying data?
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What aspects of the data are interesting?
How can these be summarised?
How can these summaries be tabulated?
How can these summaries be illustrated?
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17

Presenting numerical data
Summary data tables:
• tables should include totals or a measure of central tendency (mean, median or mode)
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• where appropriate, tables should include a measure of spread (eg range or standard deviation)
Remember that the choice of measures of central tendency and spread depend on the level of measurement
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Measures of central tendency and spread
Measure of central tendency :
• Mode: for nominal data
• Median: for ordinal data
• Mean: for interval or ratio data
Measure of spread :
• Range: for ordinal data
• Standard deviation: for interval or ratio data
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Illustrating data: graphs and charts
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Bar charts
Histograms
Line graphs
Scatterplots
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Bar charts
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• used to present totals and averages bars must be separated in space title & axis labels
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Histograms
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• used to present scores, totals and averages bars must be adjacent title & axis labels
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Line graphs
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Scatterplots
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Scatterplots
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Scatterplots
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Scatterplots
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Plenary
 Pub quiz
 Use Quick Quiz round 1
 Mark Round 1
 Round 2
 Mark round 2