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2. ThinkIT! AQA Research methods The experimental method (variables):
Explain and identify an independent variable and create an IV (that identifies both parts) appropriate for a study.
Explain and identify a dependent variable and create a testable DV that is appropriate for a study.
The experimental method (hypotheses):
Write a testable alternative hypothesis that includes both parts of the IV and the DV for a piece of research you have studied.
Write a null hypothesis for an experiments into the effect of age on memory.
Explain the difference between an alternative and a null hypothesis.
The experimental method (types):
Explain the 3 types of experiments and give an example of each one.
Laboratory
Field
Natural
Explain the difference between the different types of experiment.
Give a strength and weakness of each
Sampling methods:
Explain the 4 sampling methods and identify them in a study:
Random sampling
Opportunity sampling
Systematic sampling
Stratified sampling
Explain how the different methods could be used in a study.
Give a strength and weakness of each method.
The experimental method (design):
Explain the 3 types of experimental design and be able to identify them in a study.
Independent groups
Repeated measures
Matched pairs
Explain which design is most appropriate to a study and why
Give a strength and a weakness of each design.
AQA Research methods
ThinkIT!
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Target populations and samples:
Explain what a target population and a sample is and give an example of each.
Identify the target population and sample in any one study.
Explain the difference between a sample and the target population.
Explain the important of having a representative sample.
The experimental method (allocation):
Explain what random allocation of participants is, give an example of how this could be carried out and explain why it is important.
Explain what counterbalancing is, give an example of how this could be carried out and explain why it is important.
The experimental method (standardisation):
Explain what extraneous variables are, give examples, how they could be controlled and explain the impact not controlling them might have on a study.
Explain what a brief, standardised instructions and a debrief is and be able to write a brief, standardised instructions and a debrief (including ethical issues).
Explain what randomisation is and how it reduces bias.

3. GraspIT! AQA Research methods The experimental method (variables):
A researcher wanted to look at the affects of listening to music on studying. Identify the independent variable in this study (2 marks)
Write a testable dependent variable for this study (1 mark)
The experimental method (hypotheses):
Write a suitable alternative hypothesis for a study looking at if people are more likely to obey a person in uniform or casually dressed (3 marks)
What is the purpose of a null hypothesis? (2 marks)
The experimental method (types):
What is the difference between a lab and a field study? (2 marks)
What type of experiment is Milgram’s study on obedience? (1 mark)
Give and example of a natural experiment (2 marks)
Sampling methods:
A study to look at the effects of speeding on the number of accidents people have. Explain how a random sample could be selected in this study (3 marks)
Explain how an opportunity sample could be selected (3 marks)
Explain how a systematic sample could be selected (3 marks)
Explain how a stratified sample could be selected (3 marks) .
The experimental method (design):
Why is a matched pairs design the best method to use in a study? (3 marks)
Explain the difference between a repeated measures design and an independent groups design (3 marks)
AQA Research methods
GraspIT!
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Target populations and samples:
Why do we use a sample in a study? (2 marks)
Why is it important that the sample in a study is representative of the target population? (3 marks)
The experimental method (allocation):
What is random allocation and why is it important in a study? (3 marks)
What is counterbalancing and why is it important in a study? (3 marks)
The experimental method (standardisation):
Identify a possible extraneous variable in a study looking at the impact of organisation on school grades. Explain how you could control this (3 marks)
What ethical issues must be included in a debrief? (4 marks)
What is bias and how does randomisation reduce this? (3 marks)

4. KnowIT! AQA Research methods The experimental method (variables):
Chewing gum whilst learning will have a positive effect on memory. Write a testable DV for this study (2 marks)
Speeding whilst driving will cause more accidents. Identify the IV and the DV in this study (4 marks)
The experimental method (hypotheses):
Write a suitable testable hypothesis for a study looking at the effects of watching TV on sleep quality (3 marks)
Write a suitable null hypothesis for this study (2 marks)
The experimental method (types):
Give one strength and one weakness of laboratory experiments (3 marks)
Give one strength and one weakness of field experiments (3 marks)
Give one strength and one weakness of natural experiments (3 marks)
Sampling methods:
What is a strength and a weakness of random sampling? (4 marks)
What is a strength and a weakness of opportunity sampling? (4 marks)
What is a strength and a weakness of systematic sampling? (4 marks)
What is a strength and a weakness of stratified sampling? (4 marks)
The experimental method (design):
Give a strength and a weakness of an independent measures design (3 marks)
Give a strength and a weakness of an repeated measures design (3 marks)
Give a strength and a weakness of a matched pairs design (3 marks)
AQA Research methods
KnowIT!
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Target populations and samples:
Explain the difference between the target population and a sample (2 marks)
What problems with a sample might prevent us from making generalisations from the results to the target population? How could we control these? (5 marks)
The experimental method (allocation):
What type of experimental design would you use random allocation for? (1 mark)
What type of experimental design would require the use of counterbalancing? (1 mark)
What are the benefits of random allocation? (2 marks)
What are the benefits of counterbalancing (2 marks)
The experimental method (standardisation):
Identify 2 extraneous variables in a study on the effects of music on memory and state how these could be controlled (4 marks)
Why is it important that all participants are given the same instructions in a study? (2 marks)
Write a brief for a study looking at the effects of music on memory (4 marks)

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6. ThinkIT! AQA Research methods Case studies: Observations:
Non-experimental methods (surveys - questionnaires):
Explain what a questionnaire is.
Give a strength and a weakness of using questionnaires.
Explain what a closed question and an open question is.
Give an example of a closed and open question.
Give a strength and a weakness of open and closed questions.
Non-experimental methods (surveys - interviews):
Explain what interviews are.
Give a strength and weakness of using interviews.
Explain what a structured and unstructured interview is.
Give a strength and weakness of structured and unstructured interviews.
Compare questionnaires to interviews.
Case studies:
Explain what a case study is.
Explain the different methods that could be used in a case study.
Give examples of case studies.
Make a detailed evaluation of the use of case studies.
Ways of expressing data:
Explain how data can be expressed as a fraction, percentage or ratio and perform these calculations.
Explain the different ways of presenting summarised data in graph form: as a bar chart, frequency table, histogram or normal distribution graph and draw an appropriate graph to represent a set of results that is labelled correctly, with a title.
Explain which way of expressing and presenting data is most appropriate in different studies.
Observations:
Explain what the observational method is.
Explain the difference between a natural observation and a controlled observation.
Explain what categories of behaviour are and give an example.
Explain inter-observer reliability.
Give a detailed evaluation of observations.
AQA Research methods
ThinkIT!
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Data Handling:
Explain quantitative data and qualitative data and give an example of each.
Explain, and give an example of, primary and secondary data.
Explain the different types of descriptive statistics: mean, median, mode and range and explain the strengths and weaknesses of each.
Calculate the mean, median, mode and range from a set of results and know which one to use and when.
Ethics:
Explain what ethics are.
Outline the following ethical considerations:
Respect
Competence
Responsibility
Integrity
Explain why it is important that we follow these ethical guidelines.
Explain how these guidelines are met in a study.
Correlations:
Explain what a correlation is and how it is different to an experiment.
Plot the results of a correlation in a scatter diagram and interpret the results.
Explain the different types of correlation: positive correlation, negative correlation and zero correlation.
Give a detailed evaluation of correlations.

7. GraspIT! AQA Research methods
Non-experimental methods (surveys - questionnaires):
What is a closed question? Give an example (3 marks)
What is an open question? Give an example (3 marks)
Give one strength and one weakness of questionnaires (3 marks)
Non-experimental methods (surveys - interviews):
Give one strength and one weakness of interviews as a research method (3 marks)
When might it be more appropriate to use an interview rather than a questionnaire? (3 marks)
Case studies:
Use an example to explain what a case study is (3 marks)
Give one strength and one weakness of case studies as a research method (3 marks)
Ways of expressing data:
Calculate the percentages for the number of times boys and girls were seen running (2 marks:
What graph would you use to represent data in categories? (2 marks)
Observations:
Create a tally chart of at least 4 behaviours you might look for in a study of helping behaviour in a shopping centre (4 marks)
What is a strength and a weakness of observations? (3 marks)
AQA Research methods
GraspIT!
Girls
boys
running 3 15
standing 1 2
Hopping 8
Skipping
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Data Handling:
What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative data? (3 marks)
What is the difference between primary and secondary data? (3 marks)
The results to a study on memory were:
3, 5, 8, 7, 5, 6, 1, 4, 5, 3
Showing your workings out, calculate the mean, median and mode (6 marks)
Ethics:
What does the ethical guideline of respect mean? (3 marks)
What does the ethical guideline of competence mean? (3 marks)
What does the ethical guideline of responsibility mean? (3 marks)
What does the ethical guideline of integrity mean? (3 marks).
Correlations:
What is the difference between a correlation and an experiment? (3 marks)
Explain what a positive correlation and give an example (3 marks)
Explain what a negative correlation is and give an example (3 marks)
Give one strength and one weakness of correlations (3 marks)

8. KnowIT! AQA Research methods Case studies: Observations:
Non-experimental methods (surveys - questionnaires):
What is one strength and one weakness of using open questions in a questionnaire? (3 marks)
What is one strength and one weakness of using closed questions in a questionnaire? (3 marks)
Non-experimental methods (surveys - interviews):
Give one strength and one weakness of structured interviews (3 marks)
Give one strength and one weakness of unstructured interviews (3 marks)
Give an example of when it might be more appropriate to use a structured interview and when it might be more appropriate to use an unstructured interview (3 marks)
Case studies:
Why is it useful to use a number of different methods within a case study? (3 marks)
Using examples, give 2 strengths and 2 weaknesses of case studies. (5 marks)
Ways of expressing data:
Draw a graph to represent the following data. Your answer should include an appropriate scale, labels and a suitable title (4 marks):
What is normal distribution and how could you tell if your results were representative of the population? (4 marks)
Observations:
What is meant by the term ‘inter-observer reliability’ in an observation? (2 marks)
What are 2 strengths and 2 weaknesses of observations as a research method (5 marks)
AQA Research methods
KnowIT!
With music
Without music
mean words recalled
11.8
8.8
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Data Handling:
What are the strengths and weaknesses of calculating the mean of a set of results? (3 marks)
What are the strengths and weaknesses of calculating the median of a set of results? (3 marks)
2, 6, 3, 5, 7, 9, 6, 3, 4, 6
What is the range for the above set of results?
Show your workings out (2 marks)
Which would be the most appropriate descriptive statistic to use on the above results and why? (3 marks)
Ethics:
Using an example, explain how we can meet the ethical guideline of respect in a study (3 marks)
Using an example, explain how we can meet the ethical guideline of responsibility in a study (3 marks)
Using an example, explain how we can meet the ethical guideline of integrity in a study (3 marks)
Correlations:
When might it be more appropriate to use a correlation rather than an experiment? (3 marks)
Give 2 strengths and 2 weaknesses of correlations (5 marks)