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EnglandPsychology

3.4 Research methods

4 dot points across 4 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

What ethical issues must psychologists consider in their research?

Research ethics: the British Psychological Society guidelines including consent, deception, protection from harm, confidentiality and the right to withdraw, and how reliability and validity are assessed.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Psychology 3.4, covering the British Psychological Society ethical guidelines (consent, deception, protection from harm, confidentiality and the right to withdraw) and how reliability and validity are assessed.
8 min answer →

How do psychologists design experiments and control variables?

Experiments and variables: independent and dependent variables, the hypothesis, experimental designs, extraneous variables, and laboratory, field and natural experiments.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Psychology 3.4, covering independent and dependent variables, hypotheses, experimental designs, extraneous variables, and laboratory, field and natural experiments.
9 min answer →

How do psychologists select participants using sampling methods?

Sampling methods: the target population and sample, random, opportunity, systematic and stratified sampling, and their strengths and weaknesses for representativeness.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Psychology 3.4, covering the target population and sample, random, opportunity, systematic and stratified sampling, and their strengths and weaknesses for representativeness.
8 min answer →

What types of data do psychologists collect and how are they described?

Types of data: quantitative and qualitative data, primary and secondary data, the use of measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode) and ways of displaying data.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Psychology 3.4, covering quantitative and qualitative data, primary and secondary data, the measures of central tendency (mean, median and mode) and ways of displaying data.
8 min answer →