GCSE Psychology. Schemes of Work: Unit 1 Research Methods

Transcription

1 GCSE Psychology Schemes of Work: Unit 1 Research Methods

2 Research methods This section will be examined through questions focusing on the specification content. It is not to be seen as an entirely separate area of the specification. Centres are advised that methods of investigation should be taught at appropriate places in the course, with particular topics being selected to illustrate not only the theoretical material but also methodology. Therefore the sections of the research methods topic can be selected and taught throughout the course. Methods of Investigation The use of scientific methods and techniques which aim for objectivity Formulation of testable hypotheses to promote enquiry Procedures for the experimental method of investigation: Independent and dependent variables Advantages and disadvantages of this method of investigation (including ecological validity). Methods of Control, Data Analysis and Data Presentation Experimental designs: o independent groups, repeated measures, matched pairs Advantages and disadvantages of each experimental design Target populations, samples and sampling methods: random; opportunity; systematic; stratified Advantages and limitations of each sampling method The use of standardised procedures, identification and control of extraneous variables, instructions to participants Random allocation, counterbalancing and randomisation Calculations, including mean, mode, median, range and percentages o Anomalous results and their possible effects Graphical representations, including bar charts Research in natural and experimental settings, including advantages and limitations of each. Ethical Considerations Candidates should demonstrate knowledge and understanding of: o ethical issues in psychological research as outlined in the British Psychological Society guidelines o ways of dealing with each of these issues. klm Copyright 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. 1

3 Topic and content Methods of Investigation: The use of scientific methods and techniques which aim for objectivity Formulation of testable hypotheses to promote enquiry Procedures for the experimental method of investigation: independent and dependent variables advantages and disadvantages of this method of investigation (including ecological validity) Methods of Control, Data Analysis and Data Presentation Experimental designs: ndependent groups, repeated measures, matched pairs advantages and disadvantages of each Possible number of lessons Learning objectives in bold Detailed interpretation of objectives in italics 0.5 Formulate testable hypotheses Be able to formulate testable hypotheses which allow theories to be tested 1 Understand the experimental method and its advantages and disadvantages Be able to explain how an experiment is the manipulation of variables Define independent and dependent variable and identify them in experiments Outline two strengths and two limitations of the experimental method, including ecological validity 1 Understand experimental designs and their advantages and disadvantages Define what is meant by an independent groups, repeated measures and matched pairs design Explain two strengths and two limitations of each design Possible teaching/learning activities Give students a list of theories and get them to write a testable hypothesis for each one. Students need to find out from the members of the class the answer to the following questions: How many people in the room listen to music while doing their homework; how many think that listening to music makes them work better? Discuss this as a class. Students create a hypothesis for an investigation into music and memory. Explain what is meant by independent and dependent variables. Students identify the IV and DVs in examples of experiments on a sheet and then identify the IV and DV for the investigation into music and memory. Students have a class discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of the experimental method. Students then draw two strengths and two limitations of the experimental method (including ecological validity). Get 10 students to stand at the front of the class and ask the class to explain how they would use the students in the experiment into music and memory. Ask other students to come up to the front of the class to state an idea and arrange the students into groups. Explain the 3 types of design: independent groups, repeated measures and matched pairs. 2 Copyright 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. klm

4 experimental design Ethical Considerations Candidates should demonstrate knowledge and understanding of: ethical issues in psychological research as outlined in the British Psychological Society guidelines ways of dealing with each of these issues Target populations, samples and sampling methods: random opportunity systematic stratified Advantages and limitations of each 2 Understand ethical issues as outlined by the British Psychological guidelines Understand ways of dealing with these issues 1.5 Understand sampling methods Be able to explain target populations and samples and be able to identify these Understand the advantages and limitations of methods Define what is meant by random, opportunity, systematic and stratified samples and give two strengths and two limitations of each. After each one is explained, students fill in a chart of what the design is, a pictures to show the design, strengths and limitations, and arrange the students into how they would be used in the experimental design. Students decide which experimental design will be used in their experiment into music and memory. Students imagine they are being asked to take part in a psychology experiment. Students discuss in groups of 3-4 what they would like to know before they take part, how they will be treated, whether they would be willing to take part in research that is unpleasant but will tell us a lot about human nature and what they would want to know about the data collected. Students create a mind map into all the ethical issues. In a different colour, write how the issue could be dealt with and decide how each ethical issue will be controlled in their experiment into the effect of music on memory. Students watch the Derren Brown car crash experiment from You-Tube and identify the ethical issues that should have been considered. Explain with the use of a diagram what is meant by the terms target population and sample. Students divide up into groups and each group takes a sampling technique. They define their method and write two strengths and two weaknesses of the method. Students then present their method to the rest of the class, and the class adds each method to a summary mind map. klm Copyright 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. 3

5 sampling method. The use of standardised procedures, identification and control of extraneous variables, instructions to participants. Random allocation, counterbalancing and randomisation. Calculations, including mean, mode, median, range and percentages Anomalous results and their possible effects Graphical representations, including bar charts Research in natural and 3 Understand the use of standardised procedures. Explain what is meant by the terms standardised procedures, extraneous variable, random allocation, counterbalancing and randomisation. Be able to explain how to use all of the above in an experiment. 5 Understand how to analyse data collected in an investigation using descriptive statistics Recognise anomalous results Understand how to present data graphically After this has been completed, students decide which sampling method will be used in the experiment into music and memory. Explain the terms standardised instructions, random allocation, counterbalancing and randomisation. Complete an experiment with the students using the repeated measures design such as an investigation into whether participants remember more black or coloured words. Use standardised instructions, random allocation, using a hat for deciding the order in which the students will complete the experiments and how the words are chosen; to take randomisation into account. Use counterbalancing also. Explain what is meant by the term extraneous variable. For the experiment into music and memory that students are designing, they should identify at least 2 extraneous variables and explain their effect and how this will be controlled. Students then write standardised instructions for participants for the music and memory experiment. Students need to include all the ethical issues and write a brief and debrief. Show students the data that was collected earlier in the topic into whether participants remember more black or coloured words. Students identify what they notice about the data and discuss ways of analysing the data from the experiment. Students complete a chart into how the mean, mode, range and percentages are calculated and calculate these for the experiment. 4 Copyright 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. klm

6 experimental settings, including advantages and limitations of each Students create a bar chart to show the information. Show students pictures of research conducted in natural and experimental settings: they identify the strengths and limitations of each. Although there is no longer coursework, students in pairs can conduct their experiment into whether music affects memory on their friends and family, then write it up on a computer as a psychology report including: o introduction, which has the aim and hypothesis o method, which includes the independent and dependent variables, experimental design, extraneous variables and ethics, and standardised instructions o results, which includes descriptive data and a bar chart, reference to anomalous results o discussion, which includes explanation of the results, strengths and limitations of the design and the sample. klm Copyright 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. 5