RESEARCH METHODS

MPC-005
Research Methods in
Psychology
(MPC005)

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Assignment Container: Research Methods in Psychology (MPC005)

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 Content

1 Factorial Design 1

2 Discourse Analysis 5

3 Conducting a Scientific Research 8

4 Quasi Experimental Designs 13

5 Research Biases 15

6 Field and Experimental Research Design 16

7 Types of Questions in q Survey Research 17

8 Interpreting Data in q Qualitative Research 18

9 Causal Comparative Vs Experimental Research Design 21

10 Definition of Research Design 21

11 Significance of Hypothesis Formulation 21

12 Meaning of Reliability. 22

13 Method of Snow Ball Sampling 22

14 Independent vs Dependent Variable 22

15 Relevance of Grounded Theory 23

16 Meaning of Ethnography 23

17 Criteria for Selecting a Case Study 24

18 Concept of Cross Sectional Survey Research Design 24

Assignment Container Research Methods in Psychology (MPC-005)

IGNOU MAPC
RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY (MPC-005)
Course Code: MPC-005
Assignment Code: MPC-005/ASST/TMA/2022-23
Marks: 100
Last Date of Submission: 30th April 2023 and 30th Sep 2023
SECTION-A

Answer the following question in about 1000 words (wherever applicable) each.

15 x 3 = 45 Marks

Q. No. 1 Explain the factorial design with the help of a suitable example .
Answer: Factorial experiments may be conducted either within subject or between subject. A
mixed factorial design is also used in psychology. A mixed factorial design is one that has at least
one within subject variable and at least one between subject variable.

1. Between Subject Factorial Design

A research design in which all independent variables are between subject and each participant is
exposed to only one level of each independent variable.

The hallmark of a between-subjects factor is that each participant is assigned to one and only one

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Assignment Container Research Methods in Psychology (MPC-005)

SECTION-B
Answer the following question in about 400 words each. 5 x 5 = 25 Marks
Q. No. 4 Type of Quasi Experimental Designs
Answer: There are many different types of quasi experimental designs that have a variety of
applications in specific context

1. Non-Equivalent Group, Posttest only Design

The nonequivalent, posttest only design consists of

administering an outcome measure to two groups
or to a program/treatment group and a comparison.

2. Non-Equivalent Control Group Design

The nonequivalent group, pretest-posttest design

partially eliminates a major limitation of the
nonequivalent group, posttest only design.

3. The Separate Pretest-post Test Sample Design

The basic idea in this design (and its variations)

is that the people you use for the pretest are not
the same as the people you use for the posttest.

Different samples are taken from the control

group also to measure at the same time as the
treatment groups and hence counter any effects such as learning and wider population shifts over
time.

4. The Double Pretest Design

The Double Pretest is a very strong

quasi-experimental design with
respect to internal validity.

The double pretest design includes

two measures prior to the program.

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Assignment Container Research Methods in Psychology (MPC-005)

• It helps to describe research study in concrete terms rather than theoretical terms.

(74 Words)

Q. No. 12 Meaning of reliability

Answer: Reliability is a measure of the internal consistency and stability of a measuring device.
The reliability of a measurement or observation refers to its repeatability. If you measure or
observe the same thing twice, how close are the two measurements or observations? If they are the
same or very similar, then they are highly reliable. If they are quite different, then reliability is
low. (64 Words)

Q. No. 13 Method of snow ball sampling.

Answer: Snowball sampling is usually done when there is a very small population size. In this
type of sampling, the researcher asks the initial subject to identify another potential subject who
also meets the criteria of the research. The downside of using a snowball sample is that it is hardly
representative of the population. (53 Words)

Q. No. 14 Difference between independent and dependent variable

Answer:

Independent Variable Dependent Variable

Synonyms
Cause Effect
Before After
Predictor Criterion
Manipulated (Change) Measured outcome
Antecedent Consequence
Predicted from.. Predicted to..
Stimulus Response
What we do What happens
Explanatory Explained
Differences
Determines the values of the variables Get determined from independent variables
Can be manipulated Very difficult to manipulate
Have two attributes which is either present or Have attributes which are direct, indirect or
absent through constructs
Vary at known rate Vary at unknown rate

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