G544 – Practical project

SELF REPORT

Revision

Socrative quiz

In pairs – answer each question.

We will then discuss each answer given

Section A

You will be given sample material

You then design a suitable project that fulfils the requirements

Sufficiently detailed

Valid (to enable someone to go ahead and run the project)

Putting your knowledge into practice

Range of techniques (Self report, experiment, correlation or observation)

Today we will focus on self report

If the material provided requires a self report technique then you do not need to operationalise a hypothesis

You would need to provide details on of the questionnaire you would construct

Qualitative data

Quantitative data

Open/close questions

Use of rating scales

Selection of research question

Description and justification of the design

Independent samples, repeated measures, matched pairs

Populations

Using tests that generate nominal or ordinal data

Materials

Procedure (keeping in mind the research question) (next lesson)

Advantages/limitations of using self report in your practical project

Validity and reliability of measurements

Strength/weaknesses – using open and closed questions

How can leading questions influence results

Ethics of the procedure (i.e. How would you ensure that it does not cause distress?)

(improvement) Alternative designs/sample methods (i.e. suggest a more appropriate sampling method)

Possible future research

TIPS

Do not give general answers

Always provide context – relate it to the project All questions require explanations/justification

Group work (word document – practice question)

Peer mark – swap answers

Homework

Practice questions (Section A) – scenario (not procedure)

Procedure Writing

Recap Section A (Q&A)

After you have constructed a research question – we move on to:

Procedure writing

13 marks – Replicable and appropriate (including all relevant details)

6 marks –Quality of design and feasibility (fit for purpose?)

Back to AS – how to write out a procedure.

Pairs/groups discuss:

What are the steps?

What do you have to keep in mind throughout?

Standardised procedure

Standardised instructions

Extraneous variables: demand characteristics, social desirability, researcher bias, environmental

Easy to repeat, replicate

Decide sampling method (who, where, why)

Anonymous?

Explain process (how will you recruit)

Explain construction of questionnaire

Demand characteristics (I.e. ask lots of different questions)

Provide examples of questions

Open/closed and why?

Scale – 1-5? Where 1 is…..

How would the respond? Circle? Write out answers to open questions?

Distribution of questionnaire (+ informed consent)

How? Paper? Email?

Participants respond (data collection) Deadline

Once they respond – collate data

Data from closed statements – how would you analyse?

Data from open statements – how would you analyse?

Debrief

Ethics

Justify

Replicable

FeasibleContext

Extraneous variables

Practice!

From last lesson – back in groups/pairs.

A researcher wants to investigate stress levels. There are a number of possible of possible sources of stress in people’s lives. One way to find out more about one of these sources of stress and its effects is to ask people to fill out a questionnaire. In this way they can respond in some detail about this aspect of their lives as a potential stressor.

In the exam you will have different options to choose from. For the purpose of this exercise we are going to use Job-related stress.

Describe the method you would use to conduct your practical project (13+6 marks)

Swap answers

Provide feedback (ideas and advice)

Use the procedure writing checklist to ensure everything has been included

Homework

Exam practice – Complete a whole section A question

Section B – Research methods and issues

G544 – choice of 2 questions

1. Focused on approaches and perspectives

2. Focused on research methods and methodological issues

In pairs:

Make a list of research methods

Make a list of issues

Research methods

Lab experiment

Field experiment

Observation

Self-report

Correlation

Case Study

Issues

Ecological Validity

Ethics

Reliability and validity

Snapshot & longitudinal

Qualitative and quantitative

Usefulness

Section B

One 5-part question – 40 marks

5 parts will relate primarily to one research method and one issue (a,b,c,e)

(d)- compare two different research methods

(e)- will link with an issue

(a) & (b) require factual knowledge

(c) – (e) require evaluative points

In pairs – complete table (comparing self report to other methods)

Jan 2011

a) Briefly outline what is meant by qualitative and quantitative data (4 marks)

b) Describe two pieces of experimental research that collect quantitative data (4 marks)

c) Discuss the strengths and limitations of conducting experimental research which produces quantitative data. Use examples of psychological research to support your answer. (12 marks)

d) Compare the experimental method with the self-report method. Use examples of psychological research to support your answer. (8 marks)

e) Discuss the usefulness of psychological research that collects qualitative data. (8 marks)