Research Methods

What Research Methods covers

Research Methods is examined in Both papers, in depth in Paper 2 section A. It covers variables, hypotheses and controls, sampling methods, experiments and experimental designs, interviews, questionnaires and types of data, correlations, case studies and observations, ethical issues in psychological research and Averages, calculations and graphs.

The 8 subtopics

Each one has its own page.

• Variables, hypotheses and controlsIndependent, dependent and extraneous variables, situational and participant variables, standardised procedures, counterbalancing, randomisation, single and double blind techniques, and null and alternative hypotheses.Open →
• Sampling methodsTarget populations, random, stratified, volunteer and opportunity sampling with their strengths and weaknesses, stratified sample calculations, and sampling bias.Open →
• Experiments and experimental designsLaboratory, field and natural experiments, independent measures, repeated measures and matched pairs designs, and how design affects reliability and validity.Open →
• Interviews, questionnaires and types of dataStructured, semi-structured and unstructured interviews, open and closed questions, quantitative and qualitative data, and primary and secondary data.Open →
• Correlations, case studies and observationsPositive, negative and zero correlations and scatter diagrams, case studies, and covert, overt and naturalistic observation with checks on reliability.Open →
• Ethical issues in psychological researchThe British Psychological Society's guidelines on informed consent, deception, confidentiality, the right to withdraw and protection from harm, and research with vulnerable participants.Open →
• Evaluating studies and the core areas of psychologyValidity, reliability, generalisability, objectivity and subjectivity with examples, making a study more objective, reliable but invalid studies, the five core areas of psychology and what each studies, how Piaget, Bartlett, Caspi et al. and Phineas Gage link the areas, and holistic explanations.Open →
• Averages, calculations and graphsThe mean, median, mode and range, ratios, fractions, percentage change, standard form, significant figures, estimation, the normal distribution, frequency tables, bar charts and histograms.Open →

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Take Research Methods further

The same content, four other ways.

Commonly confused

Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.

• Independent variable vs Dependent variable

  Independent variable: the factor a researcher deliberately changes between conditions. Dependent variable: the factor a researcher measures to see whether it has changed.

• Null hypothesis vs Alternative hypothesis

  Null hypothesis: a prediction that the manipulated factor will make no difference to results. Alternative hypothesis: a prediction that the manipulated factor will make a difference to results.

• Situational variable vs Participant variable

  Situational variable: a feature of the research setting, such as noise, that could distort results. Participant variable: a characteristic of the people taking part, such as age, that could distort results.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What is an independent variable (IV)?

   Model answer

   The independent variable is the factor the researcher changes or manipulates between conditions. The IV is expected to cause a change in behaviour.

2. 2

   What is a dependent variable (DV)?

   Model answer

   The dependent variable is the factor the researcher measures in each condition. The DV shows whether the IV has had an effect.

3. 3

   A researcher tests whether background music affects how many words people recall from a list. Identify the IV and the DV.

   Model answer

   The IV is whether or not music is played. The DV is the number of words each participant recalls.

4. 4

   What is an extraneous variable?

   Model answer

   An extraneous variable is any variable other than the IV that might affect the DV. Uncontrolled extraneous variables can make results inaccurate.

5. 5

   What is a situational variable? Give an example.

   Model answer

   A situational variable is a feature of the research environment that could affect the DV. Examples include noise, lighting, temperature and time of day.

6. 6

   What is a participant variable? Give an example.

   Model answer

   A participant variable is a characteristic of the people taking part that could affect the DV. Examples include age, mood, intelligence and previous experience.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

Research Methods revision questions

What does Research Methods cover in Edexcel GCSE Psychology?

8 subtopics: variables, hypotheses and controls, sampling methods, experiments and experimental designs, interviews, questionnaires and types of data, correlations, case studies and observations, ethical issues in psychological research, evaluating studies and the core areas of psychology and averages, calculations and graphs. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.

How is Research Methods organised?

By the Edexcel 1PS0 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.