1. Features of science revision
Research Methods
Features of science revision

2. Task
Complete the review of Year 1 Research Methods

3. Task: Define the key terms below
A theory cannot be considered scientific unless it admits the possibility of being proven untrue
A set of general laws or principles that that have the ability to explain a behaviour
This serves as a prediction and is derived from a theory. They need to be stated in a form that can be easily tested (i.e. operationalised)
Research not based on opinion or intuition (especially not biased opinion) but relevant hypotheses and theories
The belief of the scientific community that knowledge should be based on evidence from direct observation or measurement
Scientific work should be checked – investigations need to be repeated to establish reliability

4. Possible exam questions
Define a feature of science and say why it is important
(probably 5/6 marks)
Apply your knowledge of the features of science to a scenario and state whether or not the research is ‘scientific’

5. Explain what is meant by a paradigm and paradigm shift. (6 marks)
Kuhn argues that scientific disciplines have one ________________ paradigm that almost all scientists subscribe to and anything with __________ paradigms (i.e. models/theories) is not a science until the approaches have been unified. As psychologists do not have any __________ about human behaviour and there are many paradigms in psychology, ___________would argue it is not a science.
A paradigm shift is a ____________ in the basic assumptions within the ruling theory of science. Researchers begin to ______________the accepted paradigm and when this critique becomes more ____________, a paradigm shift occurs when there is eventually too much contradictory ____________ to ignore. Once a paradigm shift is complete, a scientist cannot _________ the new theory (paradigm). However, in psychology researchers can choose to adopt a range of approaches.
laws change popular multiple reject evidence question predominant Kuhn

6. Exam questions
What is meant by replicability and why is it important? (6 marks)
Explain why replication of this study would be useful? (3 marks)

7. Past paper question
8 minutes – application of knowledge

8. Exam feedback 6 marks - Effective
Explanation demonstrates sound understanding.
Application of knowledge is effective and shows coherent elaboration.
Ideas are well structured and expressed clearly and fluently. Consistently effective use of psychological terminology.
Reasonable marks
Explanation demonstrates reasonable understanding.
Application of knowledge is reasonably effective and shows some elaboration.
Most ideas appropriately structured and expressed clearly. Appropriate use of psychological terminology.
Basic marks
Explanation demonstrates basic, superficial understanding.
Application of knowledge is basic.
Expression of ideas lacks clarity. Limited use of psychological terminology.
Rudimentary - 1 mark
Explanation is rudimentary, demonstrating very limited understanding.
Application of knowledge is weak, muddled and may be mainly irrelevant.
Deficiency in expression of ideas results in confusion and ambiguity. The answer lacks structure, often merely a series of unconnected assertions.

9. Exam feedback – use subheadings
1. Replicability
2. Objectivity
3. Theory construction
4. Hypothesis testing
5. Empirical methods

10. Reporting psychological investigations
Title – clear and concise focus of the study
Abstract – brief summary of theoretical background (research), aims, method, findings and conclusions
Introduction – relevant background literature, rationale for current study, hypotheses
Method – in detail how study was carried out (enough detail for replication); usually organised into subheadings – design, participants, materials, procedure
Results – summarises findings; section on descriptive and inferential statistics
Discussion – reviews findings, draws conclusions, compares to previous research, evaluates research study, points to future possible research
References – all sources used by researcher are written up according to strict convention (normally Harvard)

11. Exam questions
See booklet Could be asked to describe purpose of each section Could be asked to write a section of a report; especially method or results (long answer question) Try the exam questions

12. Sign test When do we use a sign test? Identify 3 reasons:
1. nominal data
2. test of difference (experiment)
3. repeated measures design
Read the worksheets

13. Sign test: critical values tables
Level of significance for a one-tailed test
0.05
0.025
0.01
0.005
Level of significance for a two-tailed test
0.10
0.02 N 5 6 7 8 1 9 10 11 2 12

14. Homework
Research Methods AS revision booklet (continued)