6: Research Methods Key Terms

Question 1

Experimental method

Answer 1

involves changing the independent variable to see how it affects the dependent variable

Question 2

Aim

Answer 2

a general statement about what the researcher is going to investigate

Question 3

Hypothesis

Answer 3

a clear, precise statement that states the relationship between the variables that are going to be tested

Question 4

Directional hypothesis

Answer 4

states the direction of the difference or relationship

Question 5

Non-directional hypothesis

Answer 5

does not state the direction of the difference or relationship

Question 6

Variables

Answer 6

any ‘thing’ that can vary or change within an experiment

Question 7

Independent variable

Answer 7

the variable that you change to see if it has an effect on the dependent variable

Question 8

Dependent variable

Answer 8

the variable that you measure

Question 9

Operationalisation

Answer 9

stating how the independent variables will be changed and how the dependent variables will be measured

Question 10

Population

Answer 10

the group of people the researcher is interested in investigating, from which a smaller sample is obtained

Question 11

Sample

Answer 11

a smaller group of people taken from the target population that will take part in the experiment

Question 12

Sampling techniques

Answer 12

the method used to select the sample from the population

Question 13

Bias

Answer 13

when certain groups may be over or under-represented due to how the groups were chosen

Question 14

Generalisation

Answer 14

the extent to which the findings from an experiment can be applied to the wider population

Question 15

Validity

Answer 15

the extent to which an observed effect is genuine – does it measure the correct thing?

Question 16

Face validity

Answer 16

a form of validity that tests whether the experiment appears to be testing what it says it is testing

Question 17

Concurrent validity

Answer 17

the extent to which a measure relates to an existing similar measure

Question 18

Ecological validity

Answer 18

the extent to which findings can be related to another setting or environment

Question 19

Temporal validity

Answer 19

the extent to which findings can be related to other historical times or eras

Question 20

Qualitative data

Answer 20

data that is expressed in words and non-numerical (although qualitative data may be converted to numbers for the purposes of analysis)

Question 21

Quantitative data

Answer 21

data that can be counted, usually given as numbers

Question 22

Primary data

Answer 22

information that has been obtained first-hand by the researcher for the purposes of a research project. In psychology, such data is often gathered directly from participants as part of an experiment, self-report or observation

Question 23

Secondary data

Answer 23

information that has already been collected by someone else and so pre-dates the current research project. In psychology, such data might include the work of other psychologists or government statistics

Question 24

Meta-analysis

Answer 24

‘research about research’, refers to the process of combining results from a number of studies on a particular topic to provide an overall view. This may involve a qualitative review of conclusions and/or a quantitative analysis of the results producing an effect size.

Question 25

Extraneous variables

Answer 25

any variable, other than the IV, that may have an effect on the DV if it is not controlled. EVs are essentially nuisance variables that do not vary systematically with the IV.

Question 26

Confounding variables

Answer 26

any variable, other than the IV, that may have affected the DV so we cannot be sure of the true source of changes to the DV. Confounding variables vary systematically with the IV. 

Question 27

Demand characteristics

Answer 27

any cue from the researcher or from the research situation that may be interpreted by participants as revealing the purpose of the investigation. This may lead to participants changing their behaviour within the research situation.

Question 28

Investigator effects

Answer 28

any effect of the investigator's behaviour (conscious or subconscious) on the research outcome (DV). This may include everything from the design of the study to the selection of, and interaction with, participants during the research process.

Question 29

Randomisation

Answer 29

the use of chance in order to control for the effects of bias when designing materials and deciding the order of conditions. 

Question 30

Standardisation

Answer 30

using exactly the same formalised procedures and instructions for all participants in a research study. 

Question 31

Experimental design

Answer 31

the different ways in which the testing of participants can be organised in relation to the experimental condition. 

Question 32

Independent groups design

Answer 32

participants are allocated to different groups where each group represents one experimental condition

Question 33

Repeated measures

Answer 33

all participants take part in all conditions of the experiment

Question 34

Matched pairs design

Answer 34

pairs of participants are first matched on some variables that may affect the DV. Then one member of the pair is assigned to Condition A and the other to Condition B.

Question 35

Random allocation

Answer 35

an attempt to control for participant variables in an independent groups design which ensures that each participant has the same chance of being in one condition as any other.

Question 36

Counterbalancing

Answer 36

an attempt 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.

Question 37

ethical issues

Answer 37

These arise when a conflict exists between the rights of the participants and the goals of the research to produce authentic, valid and worthwhile data

Question 38

BPS code of ethics

Answer 38

A quasi legal document produced by the British psychological Society that instructs UK psychologists about what behaviour is and is not acceptable when dealing with participants. It is built around four main principles; respect, competence, responsibility, and integrity.