A level Psychology - Research Methods +
Exam Questions and Correct Answers
What is a correlation?
✓ ~~~ An association between two co variables
Mathematical technique which measure a relationship or association between two
continuous variables
What determines if a hypothesis should be directional or not?
✓ ~~~ Only directional when there is a previous study or previous research indicated
in which it can be compared too
In research methods questions what must you remember to do in relation to exam
questions?
✓ ~~~ Always relate to the stem of the quesitos for ao1 and ao3
What are the features of correlations?
✓ ~~~ Association between co variables
Correlation coefficient represents the strength of a correlation
Correlation co efficient represents the direction of a correlation
Scattergrams can show a coefficient
How are correlations quantified?
, ✓ ~~~ Plotted on a scatter diagram where each axis will represent one of the variables
being investigated
What is a correlation coefficient?
✓ ~~~ Statistical tests of correlation produce a numerical value somewhere between -
1 and +1
This tells us the strength of the relationship between two values
What do the values of a correlation coefficients show you?
✓ ~~~ Closer the coefficient is to either +1 and -1 the stronger the correlation
Closer to 0 the weaker the correlation
What does the strength of a correlation depend upon for significance?
✓ ~~~ The data set size
A value of 0.3 may indicate a weak value but may significant due to the data set
What does a correlation coefficient show you?
✓ ~~~ The direction of the values on a table
+1 strong positive
-1 strong negative
0.5 and -0.5 mean the same strength but in an opposites direction
How is a correlation coefficient calculated?
, ✓ ~~~ value between +1 and -1
Inferential test is used such as Pearsons R
What is the difference between a case study and case history?
✓ ~~~ History is the record of information that is collected by a person or group, as
doctor or social worker may prepare this kind of data but is a component part of a
case study
Research methods used to collect data about a person or event is a case study, the
methods which are used to collect data
What is a case study and its characteristics?
✓ ~~~ A case study is an in-depth study of one person or a group of people over time.
It is usually carried out in the real world. They are idiographic and very individualistic.
Take place over period of time so are longitudinal
Data gathering from people and family members
What do case studies focus on?
✓ ~~~ Analysis of unusual events and individuals
Analysis of typical cases
What data does a a case study collect?
✓ ~~~ Qualitative data
Case history of person or event and collect data through interviews, observations,
questionnaires
, Some quantitative data may be collected such as through statistical tests
What are the strengths of a case study?
✓ ~~~ Rich and detailed data collection, more superficial data will be collected, this
will likely develop the validity
Enables the study of unusual behaviour, some case studies are rare and this may
help understanding of normal behaviour
What are the limitations of case studies?
✓ ~~~ Findings cannot be generalised very easily to other individuals as only done on
one person
• The information gathered is often based on retrospective data, which might not be
accurate.
• Because it is very difficult to replicate a case study they lack reliability.
• As case studies are unique situations it is difficult to generalise (to other situations)
What are the features of content analysis?
✓ ~~~ People are studied indirectly through their communications
Coding of data will produce quantitative data
Thematic analysis will produce qualitative data
What is content analysis, give an example?
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