Overview

Specification Requirements:

Students should demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the following research methods, scientific processes and techniques of data handling and analysis, be familiar with their use and be aware of their strengths and limitations:

• Experimental method. Types of experiment, laboratory and field experiments; natural and quasi experiments.
• Observational techniques. Types of observation: naturalistic and controlled observation; covert and overt observation; participant and non-participant observation.
• Self-report techniques. Questionnaires; interviews, structured and unstructured.
• Correlations. Analysis of the relationship between co-variables. The difference between correlations and experiments.

Scientific processes

• Aims: stating aims, the difference between aims and hypotheses.
• Hypotheses: directional and non-directional.
• Sampling: the difference between population and sample; sampling techniques including: random, systematic, stratified, opportunity and volunteer; implications of sampling techniques, including bias and generalisation.
• Pilot studies and the aims of piloting.
• Experimental designs: repeated measures, independent groups, matched pairs.
• Observational design: behavioural categories; event sampling; time sampling.
• Questionnaire construction, including use of open and closed questions; design of interviews.
• Variables: manipulation and control of variables, including independent, dependent, extraneous, confounding; operationalisation of variables.
• Control: random allocation and counterbalancing, randomisation and standardisation.
• Demand characteristics and investigator effects.
• Ethics, including the role of the British Psychological Society’s code of ethics; ethical issues in the design and conduct of psychological studies; dealing with ethical issues in research.
• The role of peer review in the scientific process.
• The implications of psychological research for the economy.

Data handling and analysis

• Quantitative and qualitative data; the distinction between qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques.
• Primary and secondary data, including meta-analysis.
• Descriptive statistics: measures of central tendency – mean, median, mode; calculation of mean, median and mode; measures of dispersion; range and standard deviation; calculation of range; calculation of percentages; positive, negative and zero correlations.
• Presentation and display of quantitative data: graphs, tables, scattergrams, bar charts.
• Distributions: normal and skewed distributions; characteristics of normal and skewed distributions.
• Introduction to statistical testing; the sign test.

Requirements broken down (research studies are in bold) - Students should be able to:

Research methods

1. Describe and evaluate the experimental method including lab, field, natural and quasi experiments
2. Describe and evaluate observational techniques including  naturalistic and controlled observation; covert and overt observation; participant and non-participant observation
3. Describe and evaluate self-report techniques including questionnaires, interviews, structured and unstructured
4. Describe and evaluate correlations including the relationships between variables
5. Explain the difference between and experiment and a correlation

The scientific process

6. State the aim of a study and explain the difference between an aim and a hypothesis 
7. Identify and write directional, non-directional and null hypotheses
8. Explain the difference between population and sample
9. Describe and evaluate sampling techniques including random, systematic, stratified, opportunity and volunteer
10. Explain why researchers use pilot studies
11. Describe and evaluate experimental design including independent groups, repeated measures and matched pairs
12. Describe and evaluate elements of observational design including behavioural categories, event sampling and time sampling
13. Describe and evaluate elements of questionnaire design including  use of open and closed questions and the design of interviews
14. Identify the independent and dependent variables and operationalise these variables
15. Identify extraneous variables and confounding variables including demand characteristics and investigator effects
16. Suggest ways to control extraneous variables using randomisation, standardisation,  random allocation and counter balancing
17. Identify ethical issues when conducting psychological research (including informed consent, deception, protection from harm, privacy and confidentiality)
18. Explain how to deal with ethical issues when designing research
19. Explain the role of peer review in the scientific process
20. Explain the implications of psychological research for the economy

Data handling and analysis

21. Describe and evaluate quantitative and qualitative data
22. Describe and evaluate the use of primary and secondary data including meta-analysis
23. Explain the use of descriptive statistics: Measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode)
24. Explain the use of descriptive statistics: Measures of dispersion (range and standard deviation)
25. Calculate range, percentages, positive, negative and zero correlations
26. Draw and interpret graphs, tables, scattergrams, bar charts
27. Interpret normal and skewed distributions 
28. Describe why we use statistical testing (including significance and probability) 
29. Identify when to use the sign test and carry it out yourself (including the use of critical values tables)

KEY CONCEPTS

Research methods

• Laboratory (lab) experiment
• Field experiment
• Natural experiment
• Quasi-experiment

• Naturalistic observation
• Controlled observation
• Covert observation
• Participant observation
• Non-participant observation

• Self-report technique
• Questionnaire
• Interview

• Correlation
• Co-variables
• Positive correlation
• Negative correlation
• Zero correlation

The scientific method

• Experimental method
• Aim
• Hypothesis
• Directional hypothesis
• Non-directional hypothesis

• Population
• Sample
• Sampling techniques
• Bias
• Generalisation
• Pilot studies

• Experimental design
• Independent groups design
• Repeated measures design
• Matched pairs design

• Behavioural categories
• Event sampling
• Time sampling

• Open questions
• Closed questions

• Variables
• Independent variable (IV)
• Dependent variable (DV)
• Operationalisation

• Extraneous variables
• Confounding variables
• Demand characteristics
• Investigator effects
• Randomisation
• Standardisation
• Random allocation
• Counterbalancing

• Ethical issues
• BPS code of ethics

• Peer review
• Economy

Data handling and analysis

• Qualitative data
• Quantitative data
• Primary data
• Secondary data
• Meta-analysis

• Descriptive statistics
• Measures of central tendency
• Mean
• Median
• Mode
• Measures of dispersion
• Range
• Standard deviation

• Scattergram
• Bar chart
• Normal distribution
• Skewed distribution
• Positive skew
• Negative skew

• Statistical testing
• Sign test