Unit 2 exam question

Looking at past papers and the SQP, they tend to focus on a research example featuring a single method. Most methods have now come up in the last five years (2005: questionnaires with correlation; 2006: observation; 2007: case study; 2008: experiment; 2009: interviews).

It would be easy to assume that one of the methods from a few years ago will appear again this year, and that may well be the case. Correlation has been neglected a bit, so you should ensure that you are good on that (remember that corr is actually a data anlysis technique, not a method as such). Observation is a likely option too - 2006's research example was a naturalistic observation, so if I was an exam setter I might put in a participant observation this time.

One other possibility to bear in mind is that there could be a combination that hasn't been tried before. So for example, instead of having survey and correlation, maybe questions on correlation and experiments this year, or correlation and observation. For example, there could be a correlation research example, followed by questions on how a similar study could be done as an experiment instead.

With so many methods to choose from, it seems very unlikely is that interviews will come up again so soon. I also think case study is an unlikely choice, and shouldn't be top priority for your revision.

Here are the key points on the CAS for Section B:

• A research scenario (100–200 words) is provided in this section.


• A structured question, worth 20 marks, will be based on the research scenario. This
  question will consist of a set of 5–8 related parts, each part with a possible mark range of
  1–8 marks.


• Candidates are required to answer all parts of this question.


• The research scenario may be of an experimental or a non-experimental study.


• Candidates may be asked to suggest/evaluate a non-experimental or experimental
  alternative.


• Although no numerical calculations will be required in the exam, interpretation of given
  numerical or graphical data may be required.

Chocolate? Coffee?

So as we were speaking about in class: chocolate and depression (or depression and chocolate!)

Chocolate news story

Plus I think I also mentioned the 'coffee makes you hallucinate' one:

Coffee news story

A couple of issues

A couple of issues that have come up in late NABs, prelims etc:

1. Conditions of the IV. Don't get this mixed up with extraneous variables. An IV has two or more values. For example with a memory test, the IV could be sitting it with or without music as a distraction. When participants are then tested, there are two experimental 'conditions'. So the two 'conditions of the IV' in this example would be 1) Memory test with music and 2) memory test without music.


2. Effects of stress. People tend to produce good examples of physical effects, but neglect mental health effects e.g. irritable, unable to sleep, anger, memory loss, paranoia. Long term: greater liklihood of developing major psychological disorder e.g. depression, anorexia.


3. Random sampling - this means that everyone in the population has the same chance of being chosen. A list of names and random numbers can be used, or with a small sample, pulling names from a hat is also random. Picking people off the street or corridor is not random, as you will get a biased sample, with certain people more likely to be chosen. Take these toy soldiers for example:

Features of a good sample

Another mnemonic...

While teaching one of this year's classes, I noticed that the Marking Instructions (MIs) from 2006 exam paper presented us with a good mnemonic for 'features of a good sample':

The question is: 'State the features of a good sample', and the MIs say:

Is representative of the target population; avoids bias; allows generalisation to the target population.

So we can have:

Generalisable
Representative
Avoids Bias

Or 'GRAB'.

Methods mnemonics

Here is a reminder (ironic?) of the some of the mnemonics for RMs. Bear in mind that these are only triggers/cues to the memory, and don't cover all aspects of the course, but will hopefully help a bit in the exam:

Experiment - features: CROC

(Control, replication, operationalisation of variables, cause&effect)

Observation - PONDS

(Participant observation, naturalistic, disclosed, structured)

Survey - Interview SOD - Questionnaire MOD
(Structured/unstructured, Open/closed Qs, Disguise of aims. Method of admin, Open/close Qs. Design principles)

Case study - QILT
(Qualitative, In-depth, Longitundinal, Techniques for data gathering)

Ethics: BITCH

(Briefing, Informed consent, Treatment of children & animals, Confidentiality, Harm)