1.3 Flashcards
What are research aims?
The stated intentions of what questions are planned to be answered- what you are hoping to find out in your research
What is an operational definition?
A description of a variable given in terms of how it is actually measured
What is a hypothesis?
A statement which makes certain predictions about behaviour
What is the null hypothesis?
The prediction that nothing will happen- there will be no change in behaviour
What is a directional hypothesis?
The researcher makes it clear the sort of difference that is going to be anticipated between the 2 conditions
What is a non-directional hypothesis?
States that there is a difference between conditions or groups of people but does not state the nature of the difference
What is a one-tailed hypothesis?
And what is it the same as?
When hypotheses predict the direction of the results they will go in
Directional
What is an extraneous variable?
Any variable other than the independent variable that may affect the dependent variable if it is not controlled
What is a confounding variable?
Occurs if you fail to identify and control the extraneous variable and it affects the results
What is an experimental design?
Refers to how participants are allocated to the different conditions in an experiment
What is a significant extraneous variable?
Participant reactivity- participants are not passive within experiments
What are investigator effects?
Any effect of the investigators behaviour on the research outcome
What is randomisation?
The use of chance methods to control for the effects of unconscious bias when designing an investigation
What is standardisation?
Using exactly the same formalised procedures and instructions for all participants
What is experimental design?
How participants are allocated to the different conditions conditions
What is independent groups?
Different people in each conditions e.g. one group have the experimental condition and the other has the control condition
Strengths of independent groups?
Demand characteristics are less of a problem
Order effects are less of a problem
Weaknesses of independent groups?
Participant variables can be a problem
What is a repeated measure design?
All participants take part in all conditions of the experiment
Strengths of repeated measures?
Participant variables are better controlled
Weaknesses of repeated measures?
Demand characteristics may be a problem Order effects may be a problem (but can be controlled through counterbalancing)
What is counterbalancing?
Trying to control for the effects of order in a repeated measures design.
Half the participants experience the conditions in one order and the other half in the opposite order
What is matched pairs?
Pairs of participants have the same variables except for the dependent variable
