Research Methods

Year 1 / ASYear 2 / A-Level All Boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, CCEA) AQA

A-Level Psychology revision: Research Methods. Learning objectives, key points, worked examples and practice questions across AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC and CCEA.

Exam Board:

📌 Key Points

Key Fact: Experimental designs: independent measures, repeated measures, matched pairs; controls: standardisation, counterbalancing, random allocation

Key Fact: Sampling: random (unbiased), stratified (proportional subgroups), systematic (interval), opportunity (convenience), volunteer (self-select)

Key Fact: Descriptive: mean (parametric), median (skewed), mode (nominal), SD (spread), range; Inferential: t-test, Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon, Chi-squared, Spearman, Pearson

Key Fact: Ethics: consent, deception (cost-benefit), debrief, withdrawal, confidentiality, protection from harm; BPS code

Key Fact: Reliability: consistency (test-retest, inter-rater, split-half); Validity: internal (IV->DV), external (generalisable), ecological (real-life), construct (measures concept)

Key Fact: Report structure: Abstract (150w), Intro (lit review, hypothesis), Method (design, sample, materials, procedure), Results (stats, tables), Discussion (interpret, eval, implications), Refs (APA)

🎯 Learning Objectives

Design experiments: lab, field, natural, quasi; IV, DV, controls, counterbalancing, randomisation
Understand sampling: random, stratified, systematic, opportunity, volunteer; generalisability
Analyse data: descriptive (mean, median, mode, SD, range), inferential (parametric/non-parametric tests)
Understand ethics: BPS guidelines, informed consent, deception, debrief, right to withdraw, confidentiality
Evaluate reliability (test-retest, inter-rater) and validity (internal, external, ecological, construct)
Write psychological reports: abstract, intro, method, results, discussion, references (APA)

💡 Worked Example

Exam-Style Question

Question: Design an experiment to test if caffeine improves reaction time. Identify IV, DV, design, controls, sampling, ethics

Model Answer:

IV: caffeine (200mg vs placebo). DV: reaction time (ms) on computer task. Design: repeated measures (counterbalanced). Controls: same time of day, same task, blind. Sampling: volunteer students (opportunity). Ethics: consent, right to withdraw, debrief, medical screening for caffeine sensitivity

❓ Practice Questions

Questions:

Choose test: compare 2 independent groups, ordinal data
Explain counterbalancing
When to use Spearman vs Pearson
Evaluate opportunity sampling
Write APA reference for journal article

🎬 Video Resources

Research Methods - Overview -- YouTube Search
Research Methods - Exam Questions -- YouTube Search

📄 Past Papers & Exam Resources

AQA A-Level Psychology - Research Methods -- AQA
Edexcel A-Level Psychology - Research Methods -- Edexcel
OCR A-Level Psychology - Research Methods -- OCR

🔗 Further Reading & Resources

Physics & Maths Tutor - Research Methods -- Free notes, worksheets, and past paper questions by topic
Dr Frost Maths - Research Methods -- Free resources, slides, and interactive questions
BBC Bitesize - Research Methods -- BBC Bitesize revision resources

📚 Lesson Plan (50 minutes)

Starter (5 min): Recall prior knowledge of research methods with quick questions.
Teaching (15 min): Work through each of the learning objectives, explaining principles step by step.
Key points review (5 min): Revisit the key points together, confirming understanding.
Worked example (10 min): Model the example question: Design an experiment to test if caffeine improves reaction time. Identify IV, DV, design, controls, sampling, ethics. Solution: IV: caffeine (200mg vs placebo). DV: reaction time (ms) on computer task. Design: repeated measures (counterbalanced). Controls: same time of day, same task, blind. Sampling: volunteer students (opportunity). Ethics: consent, right to withdraw, debrief, medical screening for caffeine sensitivity
Practice (10 min): Students attempt the practice questions independently; circulate and support.
Plenary (5 min): Review answers and address misconceptions.

🏠 Homework

Choose test: compare 2 independent groups, ordinal data
Explain counterbalancing
When to use Spearman vs Pearson
Evaluate opportunity sampling
Write APA reference for journal article

🧾 Assessment

Check practice answers against the model answer; use the built-in practice questions as formative assessment.

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