chap 1 key skills Flashcards
Aim + e.g
`A statement outlining the purpose of an investigation - the purpose of what we’re trying to acheive
e.g - ‘To test/investigate the effect of [IV] on [DV]
Variable
A condition or component of an experiment that can be measured or manipulated
Independant Variable
The variable for which quantities are manipulated by the researcher, and the variable that is assumed to have a direct effect on the DV
- the manipulated variable that has a direct effect on DV
Dependant Variable
The variable the researcher measures in for changed it may experience due to the effect of the IV
- what is being measured/assumed result of the IV
Hypothesis + what it identifies
a testable prediction that identifies the population, the strength and direction of a relationship b/w two variables
Identifies:
- population
both condition of IV
-DV
- makes a directional predication
Types of Hypothesis and what they are
Research hypothesis - general, e.g looking at performance of memory
operational hypothesis - detailed, looks at how you’re doing it, e.g two energy drinks, slept for 2 hours
null hypothesis - there weren’t any difference b/w the two groups
controlled variable
variable other than the IV/DV that is kept constant in order to avoid it affecting the DV
controlled experiment
type of investigation in which the causal relationship b/w two variables is tested in a controlled environmnt
experiment
when a cause & effect relo b/w two variables is measuered in a controlled environment
between-subjects design
an experimental design in which individuals are divided into diff groups and complete only ONE experimental condition
- ppl experience one condition
POS - each score is unique, not influenced by outside factors
NEG - requires a large amount of participants
within-subject design
an experimental design in which participants complete every experimental condition
- exposed to all experimental conditions
POS - doesn’t need as much participants
NEG - can be biased/results can be influenced by past experience from the experiment
mixed method design
a procedure for collecting and analysing quantitative and qualitative research in a single study
- use within/between subject first half and the other second half
types of investigation
correlation studies - look at the relo /w two variables
literature reviews - uses secondary data to answer a question/provides research for comparison b4 conducting primary data investigations
modelling/simulations - small/large scale representation of an object to enable replication, explanation, or investigation
product, process, system development - design n development of smth to meet a human need
classification and identification - means to organise things by putting them into or contructing sets
case study
an in depth investigation of an individual, group, or particular phenomenon that contains a real/hypothetical situation and includes the complexities that would be encountered in the real world
correlational study
a type of non-experimental study in which researchers observe and measure the relationship b/w two or more varibales without any active control or manipulation of them
classification
the arrangement of phenomena, objects, or events into manageable sets
identification
a process of recognition of phenomena as belonging to particular sets or possibly being part of a new or unique set
fieldwork
any research involving observation and interaction w ppl and environments in real-world settings, conducted beyond the lab
population
the group of people who are the focus of the study and from which the sample is drawn
sample
a subset of the research population who participate in a study
Convenience, random and stratified sampling
convenience: occurs in the easiest way possible
- adv: very quick and easy,
- dis: not representative of the population
- interest based; not publishable
random: every member of the population has equal chance of selection
- adv: free from bias + quick n easy,
- dis: may not be representative of the population
- used for large samples
stratified : population is broken into subgroups. Participants are then selected based on proportionate characteristics
- adv: more representative of population,
- dis: time consuming
- used for important research
random allocation
every member of the sample has an equal chance of being in the control/experimental group
control group
the group of participants who receive no experimental treatment or intervention to serve as a baseline for comparison
experimental group
the group of participants exposed to a manipulated independent variable
extraneous variable
that which has an unwanted effect on the results
controlled variable
that which remains constant in an experiment
counfounding variable
any variable that is not being investigated that can potentially affect the dependent variable of the research study (effects both IV and DV)
Quantitative and Qualitative
Quant - Data that are numerical and categorical
- doesn’t tell the whole story
Qual - data that are perspective
- hard to compare to scale
Subjective Data
data that relies on assumptions or personal experience
objective and subjective data
Object - Data that can be directly observed or measured, e.g scores
Subject - Data that relies on assumptions or personal experience, e.g mood
errors
Personal
Systematic
Random
inferential statistics
Mathmetical calculations used to make inferences, judgements, and conclusions from data
validity vs reliability
validity - the extent to which a tool measures what it is supposed to measure
reliability - the extent to which a tool measures something consistently each time it is applied.
validity
internal - are the instruments or research tools effectively assessing the content/theory we believe they are assessing
external - is the study done, and reported, in such a way that findings can be applied to the wider population?
repeatability and reproducibility
conclusion and generalisation
conclusion - statement that summarises the findings of a study
generalisation - a statement that relates the findings of an investigation to the wider populationy
