7. RESEARCH METHODS (Experimental Method) Flashcards
What does an aim state in research?
An aim is a general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate – the purpose of the study. It typically begins with “to investigate…”
What is the purpose of a hypothesis in research?
A hypothesis is a testable statement predicting what the researcher expects to find. It can be directional, non-directional, or null.
What does operationalisation mean in psychology research?
Operationalisation means clearly specifying/defining the behaviour or variables to enable measurement and replication, making the research precise and reliable.
What’s the difference between directional and non-directional hypotheses?
A directional hypothesis predicts the exact nature of the relationship between variables, while a non-directional hypothesis simply predicts that there will be a relationship without specifying how.
What does a null hypothesis predict?
A null hypothesis predicts no difference or relationship between the variables being investigated.
What is the difference between extraneous and confounding variables?
An extraneous variable is any variable that could affect the DV but isn’t being studied, whereas a confounding variable is an uncontrolled extraneous variable that does affect the DV and interferes with the study’s results.
What are demand characteristics?
Demand characteristics are cues in the environment that lead participants to guess the aim of the study, potentially affecting their behaviour.
What are investigator effects in psychological research?
Investigator effects are any unintentional influence of the researcher’s behaviour or characteristics on the participants or data, which can bias the results.
What is randomisation in experimental research?
Randomisation refers to using chance to reduce the influence of researcher bias on the design or procedures of the experiment, such as random assignment of participants.
Why is standardisation important in experiments?
Standardisation ensures that all participants experience the same conditions, reducing variability and increasing the reliability of results.
What is the purpose of a control group in an experiment?
A control group is used as a baseline to compare with the experimental group, allowing researchers to isolate the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable.
What is the difference between single and double-blind procedures?
In a single-blind procedure, participants are unaware of which group they’re in, while in a double-blind procedure, both the participants and the researchers are unaware.
What is an Independent Groups design in experiments?
An Independent Groups design uses different participants for each condition, reducing the impact of order effects.
What are the strengths of an Independent Groups design?
It avoids order effects, reduces demand characteristics, allows for use of the same stimulus material, and can be time-efficient in some cases.
What are the limitations of an Independent Groups design?
It may suffer from participant variables (which can be controlled with random allocation), and it typically requires more participants, which can be time-consuming.
