AQA Research Methods Revision

A 52-page revision summary covering the topic of Research Methods for the AQA Psychology A-Level specification.

Includes:

Research Methods

• Experimental method (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.

• Content analysis.

• Case studies.

Scientific Processes

• Aims: stating aims, the difference between aims and hypotheses.

• Hypotheses: directional and non-directional.

• Sampling: the difference between population and sample; sampling methods including: random, systematic, stratified, opportunity and volunteer; implications of sampling methods, 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, and operationalisation of variables.

• Control: random allocation and counterbalancing, randomisation, standardisation and control groups.

• 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.

• Reliability across all methods of investigation. Ways of measuring reliability: test-retest and inter observer; improving reliability.

• Types of validity across all methods of investigation: face validity, concurrent validity, ecological validity and temporal validity. Measurement of validity. Improving validity.

• Features of science: objectivity and the empirical method; replicability and falsifiability; theory construction and hypothesis testing; paradigms and paradigm shifts.

• Reporting psychological investigations. Sections of a scientific report: abstract, introduction, method, results, discussion and referencing.

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, histograms.

• Distributions: normal and skewed distributions; characteristics of normal and skewed distributions.

• Analysis and interpretation of correlation, including correlation coefficients.

• Levels of measurement: nominal, ordinal and interval.

• Coding in content analysis.

Inferential Testing

• Introduction to statistical testing; the sign test. When to use the sign test; calculation of the sign test.

• Probability and significance: use of statistical tables and critical values in interpretation of significance; Type I and Type II errors.

• Factors affecting the choice of statistical test, including level of measurement and experimental design. When to use the following tests: Spearman’s rho, Pearson’s r, Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney, related t-test, unrelated t-test and Chi Squared test. 

Concise facts to use for revision, creating mind maps or flashcards. Can be used by both students and teachers.