2.2.2 - 2.2.10 Methodology: Variables

Question 1

What makes a theory objective?

Answer 1

Where its not affected by personal opinions from the researcher

Question 2

Define subjective

Answer 2

Where personal data and opinions of the researcher affect the data

Question 3

Explain the theory process

Answer 3

Theory, hypothesis, testing, result, conclusion, accept or ammend

Question 4

What is an explanation?

Answer 4

A scientific process made to test a hypothesis in order to demonstrate casual relationships

Question 5

Why make research scientific?

Answer 5

All variables are controlled, its objective (so free from bias), its reliable (able to replicate results), its valid (accuracy; are u measuring what u intended to?), its conclusive, and determines causality

Question 6

What is a variable?

Answer 6

Anything that changes + affects the results (e.g: age, past experiences)

Question 7

What is an independent variable?

Answer 7

A variable that can be changed or controlled, and has direct affect on the dependent variable. Its also the cause, and researchers can change this

Question 8

What is a dependent variable?

Answer 8

The variable that were testing/measuring. Its also the effect

Question 9

What is an operational variable?

Answer 9

Full description of how variables are defined, how they’ll be manipulated, and how they’ll be measured. You have to make this measurable

Question 10

How do u operationalise an independent variable?

Answer 10

Make it measurable, define variables, and create conditions (experimental group exposed to IV, control group not + used as a baseline)

Question 11

How do u operationalise a dependent variable?

Answer 11

Turn it into a unit of measurement (e.g: pounds, secs, kg)

Question 12

What is the operational definition of memory? (thing we can see helping us see what we cant)

Answer 12

Number of words recalled from a test

Question 13

What is the operational definition of intelligence? (thing we can see helping us see what we cant)

Answer 13

Scores on an IQ test

Question 14

What is the operational definition of stress? (thing we can see helping us see what we cant)

Answer 14

Heart rate, blood test to measure cortisol

Question 15

What is the operational definition of happiness? (thing we can see helping us see what we cant)

Answer 15

Mood questionnaire, score it

Question 16

What are extraneous variables?

Answer 16

Factors that could’ve had an impact on results but are identified before study starts + are controlled

Question 17

What are confounding variables?

Answer 17

Factors occurring during study that have impact on variables being measured + then the results. They’re found after the study so cant be controlled. If extraneous aren’t controlled, they become confounding

Question 18

What are the 3 examples of extraneous/confounding variables?

Answer 18

Participant (characteristics of those taking part), situational (environmental factors that may affect results), and experimenter (cues given by researcher, like gestures or tone of voice, that may affect results)

Question 19

How do you control extraneous/confounding variables?

Answer 19

• Group people based on characteristics
• Randomly allocate to groups
• Make conditions in both scenarios the same
• Single blind study = participants unaware of aim so don’t change performance
• Double blind study = both researcher + participants unaware of aim, independent researcher carries out study

Question 20

What are demand characteristics?

Answer 20

When participants change their behaviour as a result of cues from research situations

Question 21

What are the reasons for demand characteristics?

Answer 21

People want to impress researcher, sabotages, and people having a fear of being watched