AS: A2: Methods and Techniques (incl. strengths and The application of scientific weaknesses): method in psychology Experiments The major features of science, Case studies including replicability, objectivity, Correlational studies theory construction, hypothesis Self-report techniques testing, the use of empirical Observational techniques methods Validating new knowledge and the Investigation design. role of peer review Aims Hypotheses Designing psychological Experimental designs Investigations Design of naturalistic observations Selection and application of (development and use of behavioural appropriate research methods categories) Implications of sampling strategies, Design of questionnaires and interviews for example, bias and generalising Operationalisation of and Issues of reliability, including types IV’s DV’s Pilot studies of reliability, assessment of Control of reliability, improving reliability EV’s Reliability and validity Assessing and improving validity, Ethical issues & ways to deal with them including internal and external Selection of and sampling techniques Ethical considerations in design p’s (random, opportunity & volunteer) and conduct of psychological Demand characteristics and investigator research effects Data analysis and reporting Data analysis and presentation. on investigations Presentation and interpretation of Appropriate selection of graphical quantitative data (graphs, scattergrams and representations tables) Probability and significance, Analysis and interpretation of quantitative including the interpretation of data measures of central tendency and significance and Type 1/Type 2 – dispersion errors Analysis & interpretation of correlational Factors affecting choice of data (types of correlations and interpreting statistical test, including levels of correlation coefficients measurement Presentation of qualitative data The use of inferential analysis, Processes involved in content analysis including Spearman’s Rho, Wilcoxon, Chi-Squared Analysis and interpretation of qualitative data Conventions of reporting on psychological investigations
AS: Methods and Techniques (incl. strengths and weaknesses): Experiments Case studies Correlational studies Self-report techniques Observational techniques Investigation design. Aims Hypotheses Experimental designs Design of naturalistic observations (development and use of behavioural categories) Design of questionnaires and interviews Operationalisation of IV’s and DV’s Pilot studies Control of EV’s Reliability and validity Ethical issues & ways to deal with them Selection of p’s and sampling techniques (random, opportunity & volunteer) Demand characteristics and investigator effects Data analysis and presentation. Presentation and interpretation of quantitative data (graphs, scattergrams and tables) Analysis and interpretation of quantitative data – measures of central tendency and dispersion Analysis & interpretation of correlational data (types of correlations and interpreting correlation coefficients Presentation of qualitative data Processes involved in content analysis A2: The application of scientific method in psychology The major features of science, including replicability, objectivity, theory construction, hypothesis testing, the use of empirical methods Validating new knowledge and the role of peer review Designing psychological Investigations Selection and application of appropriate research methods Implications of sampling strategies, for example, bias and generalising Issues of reliability, including types of reliability, assessment of reliability, improving reliability Assessing and improving validity, including internal and external Ethical considerations in design and conduct of psychological research Data analysis and reporting on investigations Appropriate selection of graphical representations Probability and significance, including the interpretation of significance and Type 1/Type 2 errors Factors affecting choice of statistical test, including levels of measurement The use of inferential analysis, including Spearman’s Rho, Wilcoxon, Chi-Squared Analysis and interpretation of qualitative data Conventions of reporting on psychological investigations
a2_-unit_4_revision_sheets.docx