06 research methods design a study solutions digital download PDF

Preview

Summary

A level stuff to help people catch up because of the A-Level spec being cut down for most schools. Consists of AQA research methods notes...

Description

AQA A Level Psychology

Research Methods

Joseph Sparks & Anne Cooper

Page 2

AQA A LEVEL Psychology design a study solutions: RESEARCH METHODS

EXPERIMENT:EXERCISEANDHAPPINESS  Designanexperimenttoinvestigatewhetherexercisecouldincreasefeelingsofhappiness.Foryour measureofhappiness,youshoulddeviseameasurethatwouldprovidedatasuitablefortestingatan ordinallevelofmeasurement.  Inyouranswer,youshouldprovidedetailsof:  Design–includereferencetoexperimentaldesign,variablesandcontrols  Materials/Apparatus–describeanyspecialmaterialsrequired  Dataanalysisthatcouldbeused–includereferencetobothdescriptiveandinferentialanalysis  Justifyyourchoices. [12marks] 

Design–Experimentaldesign Forthisexperiment,anindependentgroupsdesignwillbeused.An independentgroupsdesignwillbeappropriateinordertoreduce ordereffects,inparticularpracticeeffectswhichcouldleadto demandcharacteristics,wheretheparticipantsworkouttheaimof experiment:theeffectofexerciseonhappiness.  Design–Variables Theindependentvariableisexercise(30minutesexercisevs.no exercise)andthedependentvariableisthechangeinhappiness, measuredviaaquestionnairewhichwillrequireparticipantstorate theirhappinessonascaleof1‐10(with1beingveryunhappyand10 beingveryhappy)atthestartandendoftheircondition.Achangein happinessscorewillbecalculated(rangingfrom‐9to+9),providing ordinaldata.  Design–Controls Inordertocontrolindividualdifferences(e.g.existinglevelsof happiness)allparticipantswillcompletethequestionnaireatthe startandendoftheircondition.Inconditionone,participantswill completethequestionnaireandbeaskedtowaitinawaitingroom for30minutesbeforecompletingitagain.Inconditiontwo, participantswillcompletethequestionnaireandthenbeaskedto engagein30minutesoflightexerciseonatreadmill(walkingora slowjog),beforecompletingthequestionnaireagain.Allparticipants willcompletethequestionnaireinthewaitingroomtoensurethat theroomhasnoeffectontheirscores.Toensuretimeofdayhasno effectonscores,allparticipantswilltakepartintheexperimentin themorning(9amto11am).  Materials/Apparatus Aquestionnaireassessinghappinesswillbecreated,containing questionstoobtaindemographicinformation(age,gender, occupation,etc.)andthekeyquestion:howyouwouldrateyour currentlevelofhappinessonascaleof1‐10,with1=veryunhappy www.tutor2u.net/psychology

 Theexperimental designhasbeen outlinedand justified appropriately.       TheIVandDVhave beenclearlystated andjustified.         Threedifferent aspectsofcontrol havebeenpresented andoutlinedclearly inrelationtothis experiment.     Anappropriate questionnairehas

Copyright tutor2u Limited / School Network License / Photocopying Permitted

Page 3

AQA A LEVEL Psychology design a study solutions: RESEARCH METHODS

beencreatedto and10=veryhappy.Atreadmill(inthePEdepartment)willalsobe usedinwhichtheparticipantsinconditiontwowillbeencouragedto generatethe requiredordinal setabriskwalkingpaceorslowjog.Awaitingarea(nexttothePE department)willbeusedforparticipantsinconditiononeandforall data.Other apparatushasalso participantstocompletetheirquestionnaireatthestartandendof beenoutlined. theircondition.   Dataanalysis   Thedatagatheredwillincludeascoreforeachoftheparticipants  rangingfrom‐9to+9toindicatetheirchangeinhappiness.For example:  Condition2  Condition1 Whileatableisn’t  necessary,it (Exercise)–Changein (Noexercise)–Change demonstratesclear happinessscore inhappinessscore understandingof 1 0 11 4 howthedatawillbe 2 0 12 5 gatheredand 3 ‐1 13 3 informstheanalysis 4 1 14 6 below. 5 2 15 5  6 ‐2 16 0  7 1 17 0 Whiletheanswer 8 0 18 5 hasstatedthe 9 1 19 6 medianandrange 10 ‐1 20 3 (whicharecorrect), Descriptivestatisticscouldincludethemedian(themiddlevaluein eachcondition)andrange(calculatedbysubtractingthelowestvalue thesecouldhave beenjustifiedinlight fromthehighest). ofthelevelof  measurement.The Intermsofinferentialanalysis,aMannWhitneyUtestwillbe appropriateasthisisatestofdifferencebetweenconditions,thedata inferentialtestshave beenappropriately isatleastanordinallevelofmeasurementandanindependent selected. groupsdesignisused.  [Approx.500Words]  Examinerstylecomments:MarkBand4  Alltheelementsoftheexperimenthasbeenpresentedandthesuggestionsareverywell detailed,practicalandappropriateforthisexperiment.Theanswerdemonstratesclear knowledgeandunderstandingofexperimentaldesignanddataanalysisandthereissufficient materialforthestudytobeimplemented.  



Copyright tutor2u Limited / School Network License / Photocopying Permitted

www.tutor2u.net/psychology

Page 4

AQA A LEVEL Psychology design a study solutions: RESEARCH METHODS

EXPERIMENT:MUSICANDTASKPERFORMANCE  Designanexperimentusingarepeatedmeasuresdesignthatcanbecarriedoutinaclassroom. Theaimistoinvestigatewhetherlisteningtomusicaffectstaskperformance(e.g.while completingawordsearchoraspotthedifferencespuzzle).  Inyouranswer,youshouldprovidedetailsof:  TheoperationalisedIV,DVandcontrols  Thesampleandthesamplingtechnique  Theprocedurethatcouldbeused–thereshouldbeenoughdetailforthestudytobecarriedout  [12marks] 

OperationalisedIVandDV Theindependentvariableiswhethertheparticipantlistenedtomusic (classicalmusicwithnolyrics)ornot(silentcondition)whilecompleting awordsearch.Thedependentvariableisthetimetaken(inseconds)to findfivewordsinawordsearchpuzzle.  Controls Inordertocontrolordereffects(e.g.practiceeffects,whichmightmake theparticipantscompletethesecondwordsearchfaster) counterbalancingwillbeused:halfoftheparticipantswillcompletethe firstpuzzlelisteningtomusicandthesecondpuzzleinsilence,andthe otherhalfwillcompletethefirstpuzzleinsilenceandthesecondpuzzle listeningtomusic.Thiswillbedoneusingrandomallocation,meaning thatanyordereffectswillbebalancedacrossbothconditions. Participantswillcompletebothpartsofthetaskwearingnoisecancelling headphonestoensurethattheyareincompletesilenceforthesilent condition,andtoensurethatwearingheadphonesisnotaconfounding variable.Thesamepieceofclassicalmusicwillbeusedforall participantsasdifferentpiecesofmusicmayaffectlevelsof concentration.Twodifferentwordsearchpuzzleswithequaldifficultly willbeused.Inordertoselectthetwowordsearchpuzzlesarangeof puzzleswillbecompletedbyanothergroupofpeople.Theaveragetime takentocompletethepuzzleswillbecalculatedandthetwopuzzleswith themostsimilartimeswillbeselected.  Sampleandsamplingtechnique Asampleof20sixthformstudentswillbeusedforthisexperiment.They willbeselectedusingavolunteersamplingmethod.Anoticewillbe placedonthestudentnoticeboardinasixthformcollegeaskingfor volunteerstotakepartinapsychologyexperimenttoinvestigatefactors thatinfluenceconcentration.Thefirst20participantstorespondtothe e‐mailaddressprovidedwillbecomethesample.    Procedure www.tutor2u.net/psychology

 TheIVandDV havebeenclearly statedand operationalised.       Fourdifferent aspectsofcontrol havebeen outlinedclearly andexplainedin relationtothis experiment.The mostimportant controlisthe counterbalancing asthisisa repeated measuresdesign.   Anappropriate sampleand sampling techniquehas beenselectedand justified.   

Copyright tutor2u Limited / School Network License / Photocopying Permitted

Page 5

AQA A LEVEL Psychology design a study solutions: RESEARCH METHODS

Participantswillbeinvitedtoaclassroomatanallottedtimebetween9 Althoughthe amand11am.Materialsusedwillbetwowordsearchpuzzles,apen,an timeofdayand iPodcontainingtheclassicalmusic,andasetofheadphones.Theywillbe thematerialsare notaskedfor shownintotheclassroom,seatedatadeskandgivenstandardised specifically,they instructionstoreadandaconsentformtosign.Theinstructionswill areimportant outlinewhatwillhappenduringthestudy:theywillbecompletingtwo wordsearchpuzzles,eitherwhilelisteningmusicorinsilence.When detailssomeone wouldneedto theyhavecompletedeachpuzzle,theyshouldputdowntheirpento knowto indicatethattheyhavefinished.Theywillthenbeaskedtoputonthe implementthe headphonesandadjusttoacomfortablevolumetosuittheirhearing.  study;theyalso Iftheyarecompletingthemusicconditionfirst,thenthefirstpuzzlewill helptoclarifythe procedure. begiventothemandtheexperimenterwillswitchonthemusicand Theprocedureis begintimingusingastopwatch.Whentheyputdowntheirpenonthe clearlyexplained table,theexperimenterwillstoptimingandswitchthemusicoff.They willthenbegiventhesecondpuzzle(tobecompletedinsilence)andthe intermsofwhat eachparticipant experimenterwillbegintimingthem.Whentheyputtheirpenonthe isrequiredtodo. desktheexperimenterwillstoptimingandtheywillbethankedand debriefed.Iftheyarecompletingthesilentconditionfirstthenthetasks   willbetheotherwayaround.   [Approx.500Words]  Examinerstylecomments:MarkBand4  Alltheelementsoftheexperimenthasbeenpresentedandthesuggestionsareverywell detailed,practicalandappropriateforthisexperiment.Theanswerdemonstratesclear knowledgeandunderstandingofexperimentaldesignandthereissufficientmaterialforthe studytobeimplemented.  



Copyright tutor2u Limited / School Network License / Photocopying Permitted

www.tutor2u.net/psychology

Page 6

AQA A LEVEL Psychology design a study solutions: RESEARCH METHODS

EXPERIMENT:WRITTENANDSPOKENINFORMATION  Designanexperimenttotestwhetherpeoplewhoaregivenwritteninformationremembermorethan peoplewhohearinformationinaspokenform.  Youmustreferto/providedetailsof:  Design–includereferencetoexperimentaldesign,variablesandcontrols  Thesampleandsamplingtechnique  Materials/Apparatus–describeanyspecialmaterialsrequired  Anoutlineoftheproposedprocedure [12marks] 

Design–Experimentaldesign Anindependentgroupsdesignwillbeused.Thiswillbeappropriate inordertoreduceordereffects,inparticularpracticeeffectswhich willoccurifpeopleweregiventhesameinformationtwice–oncein writtenformandagaininspokenform.  Design–Variables Theindependentvariableiswhethertheinformation(ashortstory) isreadouttotheparticipants,ortheyreaditforthemselves.The dependentvariableisthescoreoutof10onatestof10questionsin relationtothestory.  Design–Controls Alltheparticipantswillbeprovidedwiththesamestory.Thegroup hearingthestoryoutloudwillhearthesamerecordingofsomeone readingthestory.Theparticipantsreadingthestoryforthemselves willbeprovidedwiththestoryinthesamefontandsizeonwhite paper.Alltheparticipantswillbegiventhesamelengthoftimeto readthestory,whichwillbedeterminedbythelengthofthe recordingfortheothercondition(5minutes).Thisisimportantasif thereadinggrouphavemoretimetoprocesstheinformationthis couldleadtoanimprovementinmemory.Bothgroupswillalsobe giventhesameamountoftime(3minutes)toanswerthequestions. Participantswillberandomlyallocatedtothetwoconditionstotryto ensurethatanyindividualdifferencesarebalancedacrossthetwo conditions.  Thesampleandsamplingtechnique 40collegestudentsaged16‐18willbeused,20ineachcondition. Theywillbeselectedusinganopportunitysamplingmethodbybeing approachedwhileinthecollegecanteenandaskedwhethertheywill bewillingtotakepart.  Materials/Apparatus Anovelshortstory(500words)willbeused.Thiswilleitherbe printedonpaperorrecordedonaniPod.Astopwatchwillbeusedto timethegroupreadingforthemselves.Amemorytestmadeupof10 www.tutor2u.net/psychology

 Theexperimental designhasbeen outlinedandjustified appropriately.    TheIVandDVhave beenclearly operationalised.   Threedifferent aspectsofcontrol havebeenpresented andoutlinedclearly inrelationtothis experiment.          Thisisan appropriatesample andsampling technique.   Thematerials requiredare explainedclearly.

Copyright tutor2u Limited / School Network License / Photocopying Permitted

Page 7

AQA A LEVEL Psychology design a study solutions: RESEARCH METHODS

 questionsaboutthestorywillalsoberequired.Standardised instructionswillbeproducedtoexplaintotheparticipantswhatthey  needtodo.    Outlineofpossibleprocedure   Thewritteninformationgroupwillallbetestedtogether.Theywill beseatedinaclassroomwithtwosheetsofpaperfacedownonthe   desk.Standardisedinstructionswillbereadoutandtheywillbe Theprocedurefor instructedtoturnoverthefirstsheetofpaperandreadthestory bothconditionsis whilebeingtimedfor5minutes.Theywillthenbetoldtoputthat sheetbackonthedeskfacedownandturnthesecondsheetoverand veryclearandwould allowthestudytobe answerthe10questions.Theywillbeallowed3minutestodothis implemented. beforebeingthankedanddebriefed.  Thespokeninformationgroupwillallbetestedtogether.Theywillbe seatedinthesameclassroomwithtwosheetsofpaperfacedownon thedesk.Standardisedinstructionswillbereadoutandtheywillbe instructedtoturnoverthefirstsheetofpaperandtherecordingwill begin.Whentherecordingfinishes,theywillbetoldtoputthatsheet backonthedeskfacedownandturnthesecondsheetoverand answerthe10questions.Theywillbeallowed3minutestodothis beforebeingthankedanddebriefed.  [Approx.500Words]  Examinerstylecomments:MarkBand4  Alltheelementsoftheexperimenthavebeenpresentedandthesuggestionsareverywell detailed,practicalandappropriateforthisexperiment.Theanswerdemonstratesclear knowledgeandunderstandingofexperimentaldesignandthereissufficientmaterialforthe studytobeimplemented.  



Copyright tutor2u Limited / School Network License / Photocopying Permitted

www.tutor2u.net/psychology

Page 8

AQA A LEVEL Psychology design a study solutions: RESEARCH METHODS

QUASI‐EXPERIMENT:MUSICALABILITY  Designaquasi‐experimenttoinvestigatewhetherthereisadifferenceinthemusicalabilityofleft‐ handedstudentsandright‐handedstudentsinasixthformcollege.  Youmustprovidedetailsof:  Theexperimentaldesign  Anappropriatesamplingmethodandjustification  Theprocedurethatcouldbeused,includingdetailsofhowmusicalabilitywouldbeassessed  Asuitabledebrieffortheparticipants [12marks] 

Experimentaldesign Tocontrolindividualdifferencesinthisquasi‐experiment,amatched pairsdesignwouldbeusedbecauserepeatedmeasuresisnot appropriate,astheparticipantscanonlyberight‐orleft‐handed.The participantscouldbematchedintermsofgenderandsubjects studied.Oncealeft‐handedparticipanthasvolunteeredthenaright‐ handedpersonofthesamegenderandwhotakesthesamesubjects couldbecometheirmatched‐pair.  Samplingmethod Volunteersamplingwouldbeused.Posterswouldbeplacedinthe studentsocialareasofasixthformcollegeaskingforvolunteersto contacttheresearcherbye‐mailiftheywereinterestedintakingpart inastudytoinvestigatedifferencesbetweenright‐handedandleft‐ handedpeople.Thiswouldbeanappropriatemethodasitmightbe difficulttofindasufficientnumberofleft‐handedparticipantsusing randomoropportunitysamplingmethods.  Procedure Theparticipantswouldbeindividuallyinvitedtoaclassroominthe collegeatanallottedtime.Thiswouldalwaysbethesameclassroom andwouldbeinaquietareaofthecollegesotherewouldbeno outsidenoiseorotherdistractions.Theywouldbeaskedtoconfirm whethertheyareright‐orleft‐handedanditwouldbeexplainedthat oneoftheabilitiesbeingexaminedismusicalabilityandtheywould berequiredtosing.Iftheyarehappywiththis,thesamenovelpiece ofmusic(onecomposedbythemusicteacher)wouldbeplayedona pianoandsungbythemusicteacherandeachparticipantwouldhave tosingitbackwhiletheteacherplayedthetuneonthepiano.Their musicalabilitywouldthenberatedonascaleof1–10bythemusic teacher(where1isextremelypoorand10isextremelygood).The participantswouldthenbythankedanddebriefed.  Asuitabledebrief Thankyoufortakingpartinthisstudy.Thespecificaimofthe researchistoinvestigatewhetherthereisadifferenceinthemusical abilityofleft‐handedstudentsandright‐handedstudentsandthisis www.tutor2u.net/psychology

 Theexperimental designhasbeen outlinedand explained. Independentgroups wouldalsobe appropriatebut wouldnotcontrol individual differences.   Anappropriate samplingmethodis clearlyexplained andjustified.   Theprocedureis explainedclearly andinsufficient detailforthestudy tobeimplemented. Anappropriate methodtoassess musicalabilityhas beendescribedthat isthesameforall studentsandalso explainshowitwill bemeasured.    Thisdebriefis writtenexactlyasit

Copyright tutor2u Limited / School Network License / Photocopying Permitted

Page 9

AQA A LEVEL Psychology design a study solutions: RESEARCH METHODS

wouldbereadtothe theonlyabilitywewillbetestingtoday.Thisinformationcouldnot participantsand begivenatthebeginningofthestudyasitmayhaveaffectedyour dealswiththe behaviour.Pleasebeassuredthatyourdatawillbecompletely ethicalissuesof confidentialandnotsharedwithanyoneotherthantheresearch team.Ifyouareunhappywithanyaspectsofthestudy,thenyouhave informedconsent therighttowithdrawatthispointandyourresultswillbedestroyed. andprotectionfrom harm. Doyouhaveanyquestionsyouwouldliketoask?  [Approx.450Words]  Examinerstylecomments:MarkBand4  Alltheelementsoftheexperimenthavebeenpresentedandthesuggestionsareverywell detailed,practicalandappropriateforthisexperiment.Theanswerdemonstratesclear knowledgeandunderstandingofexperimentaldesignandthereissufficientmaterialforthe studytobeimplemented.  



Copyright tutor2u Limited / School Network License / Photocopying Permitted

www.tutor2u.net/psychology

Page 10

AQA A LEVEL Psychology design a study solutions: RESEARCH METHODS

QUASI‐EXPERIMENT:GENDERDIFFERENCESANDATTENT...