2 Mark Definitions

Question 1

Lab Experiment

Answer 1

An experiment in a controlled setting where the IV is manipulated and the DV is measured and all other variables are controlled. E.g measuring peoples memory by getting them to recall words learnt in an artificial setting.

Question 2

Field Experiment

Answer 2

Controlled experiment carried out in participants natural environment but the IV is still manipulated the the DV is measured. Not all variables can be controlled. E.g measuring children behaviour is school with male and female teachers.

Question 3

Natural Environment

Answer 3

Experiment carried out in a natural setting but the IV is not manipulated and occurs naturally but DV is still measured. Done when it would be unethical to manipulate IV yourself e.g measuring children’s development when their parents are dead.

Question 4

Operationalise

Answer 4

This is when the researcher decides what they want to measure when investigating a particular variable for example they may operationalise aggression by looking for behaviours like shouting, stomping, punching.

Question 5

Null Hypothesis

Answer 5

A prediction that the IV ill have no affect on the DV. For example, there will be no difference in the scores for males and females on a maths test.

Question 6

Non - Directional Hypothesis

Answer 6

Predicts there will be a difference between two conditions and does not say which condition will score higher but does tell us that the IV will affect the DV.

Question 7

Directional Hypothesis

Answer 7

Prediction which tells us how the experimenter thinks the IV will effect the DV in an experiment. E.g males will score higher in a maths test than females will.

Question 8

Questionnaire

Answer 8

A list of predetermined questions to which a participant responds in written form. This is a self-report method to find out people feelings on a certain topic.

Question 9

Case Study

Answer 9

An in depth study of an individual or group of individuals over a long period of time using a variety of methods. There is no manipulation of an IV. For example case HM.

Question 10

Reliability

Answer 10

Refers to how consistent a set of results are. If you repeat the study using standardised procedures you should get similar results.

Question 11

Content Analysis

Answer 11

Study of second hand information to gain insight into human behaviour and thought. Is a way of turning qualitative date into quantitative.

Question 12

Interview

Answer 12

A researcher will directly ask participant questions and participant will give a verbal answer which is recorded by the interviewer. This can be structured meaning there are pre-determined questions that are stuck to throughout or unstructured which is when there are pre-determined questions but the interviewer can ask other ones depending on the participants answers.

Question 13

Self-reported data

Answer 13

Participants give their own data on how they feel, this is usually done through things like questionnaires or interviews where participants views are given and not the researchers.

Question 14

Observation

Answer 14

Either conducted in an artificial or natural setting. Researcher does not interfere in any way and just observes the behaviour in question of an individual or group. Covert means the participants are not aware of being observed and overt means they are aware.

Question 15

Pilot Study

Answer 15

A small scale study conducted by the researcher before the main study to check whether the standardised procedures work in an experiment or to find out if questions on a questionnaire are clear. Like a trial run.

Question 16

Correlation Study

Answer 16

A way of finding a relationship between two variables. This is measured using a correlation coefficient which shows us whether the relationship is a positive or negative correlation.

Question 17

Extraneous Variable

Answer 17

Any variable other than the IV which may have an effect on the DV. For example temperature may effect peoples performance on a memory test when comparing males and females.

Question 18

Confounding variable

Answer 18

Any variable other than the IV that does have an affect on the DV. For example temperature could have made peoples memory worse when comparing males and females on a memory test.

Question 19

Test-Retest Reliability

Answer 19

This involves repeating an experiment after a reasonable amount of time and comparing the results. If the results are similar results are said to be reliable.

Question 20

Split-Half reliability

Answer 20

Randomly split a the test into two halves. If scores on each half are similar then this test is said to be reliable.

Question 21

Inter-rater reliability

Answer 21

This involves comparing scores of researchers on an observation. If there is found to be more than 85% agreement then scores are reliable.

Question 22

Validity

Answer 22

Refers to how truthful findings from research are. For example, if we have controlled all extraneous variables in a lab experiment then we can be fairly sure the IV is causing the change in the DV. This is internal validity.

Question 23

Ecological validity

Answer 23

This is when we believe findings are generalisable outside of research to the target population because the experiment accurately represented every day life.

Question 24

Content validity

Answer 24

This is when we are happy that the content of a test or questionnaire focuses on our area of interest. For example you wouldn’t have maths questions in an english test.

Question 25

Concurrent validity

Answer 25

This is when participants score similarly on a new test as they would on a well established test. For example you would expect participants to score similarly on two different personality tests.

Question 26

Construct Validity

Answer 26

This is when the test fully covers all parts of a subject being investigated. For example can IQ test wouldn’t just measure someones maths ability.

Question 27

BPS Code

Answer 27

A list of guidelines written by the British Psychological society that psychologists are expected to follow when doing research. The code aims to make sure psychologists respect the rights of their participants.

Question 28

Protection from harm

Answer 28

Participants should not experience physical or psychological harm when taking part in research. This includes embarrassment and low self-esteem.

Question 29

Informed Consent

Answer 29

Participants must be given comprehensive information about the purpose of research and their part in it so they can make an informed decision about wether to take part or not.

Question 30

Deception

Answer 30

A participant is not told the true aims of research so they cannot give valid consent. This is often done to prevent demand characteristics. Usually think they are doing something for another reason that what is true.

Question 31

Right to Withdraw

Answer 31

Participants have the right to withdraw from research at any time if they feel uncomfortable. Also have the right to refuse permission for the researcher to use their data.

Question 32

Confidentiality

Answer 32

Participants hold not be identified personally within reporting of research and are generally identified as a number.

Question 33

Privacy

Answer 33

Area of our lives that no one has the right to invade - this might be our perusal space or may be to do with places we would not expect to be observed e.g toilet.

Question 34

Ethical committees

Answer 34

Group of people in a university who decide whether a study can go ahead on ethical grounds. They will do a cost-benefit analysis weighing the possible risks to participants against the possible scientific benefits the research may bring.

Question 35

Debriefing

Answer 35

Participants who have deceived are told the true purpose of the research at the end of the study. However this does not turn back time so some psychological harm will still be done in most cases.

Question 36

Radnom sampling

Answer 36

This is when group of participants from the target population are chosen in a way that every member has an equal chance of being selected. This is usually done via the lottery method or a random number generator.

Question 37

Voluntary Sample

Answer 37

A method of obtaining a sample of participants that relies on volunteers to make up the sample. Usually done by advertising in a newspaper or notice board.

Question 38

Opportunity Sample

Answer 38

A method of obtaining a sample by selecting people who are most easily available at the time of study. Usually done by asking passers by on the street.

Question 39

Stratified sample

Answer 39

This is when you identify all demographics in a target population. You then work out the proportion of each demographic that you will need to make up your sample. Then randomly select the right proportion in each demographic.

Question 40

Quota Sampling

Answer 40

This is when you identify all demographics in a target populations and then work out the proportion of each demographic you will need to make up your sample. You then use opportunity sampling to select the right proportion.

Question 41

Systematic Sampling

Answer 41

A method of obtaining a representative sample by selecting every nth person form the target population. First person is usually selected randomly and then from there you choose every nth person e.g every 5th person.

Question 42

Demand Characteristics

Answer 42

A cue that make participants aware of what the researcher expects to find which can change how the participant behaves.

Question 43

Investigator effects

Answer 43

This is anything that an investigator does that has an affect on a participants performance in a study, other than what was expected.

Question 44

Quantitative data

Answer 44

This is numerical data only which is concerned with quantity. It is usually generated through experiments of questionnaires.

Question 45

Qualitative data

Answer 45

Data which expresses the quality of things. It is descriptive data involving words meaning and pictures. It can be turned into quantitative data by placing into categories.

Question 46

Coding System

Answer 46

This is a systematic method of recording observations in which the individual behaviours are given a code for ease of recording. e.g stress would have codes like high heart rate.

Question 47

Categorisation

Answer 47

This is making behaviour into different categories so you can look for different behaviours while observing.

Question 48

Nominal Data

Answer 48

Not very detailed, just where data is placed in separate categories

Question 49

Ordinal data

Answer 49

Ranked data where data is placed in a hierarchy but there are no equal measurements between ranks

Question 50

Interval data

Answer 50

Units of equal measurements used between each score. e.g time, temperature, height

Question 51

level of Significance

Answer 51

this refers to the minimum probability that a result is due to chance.

Question 52

Co-Variable

Answer 52

Two or more quantities in correlational analysis that vary systematically with each other.