Chapter 1 - Key Scientific Skills Flashcards
Define sample:
smaller group of research participants selected from a larger group of interest
describe voluntary participation
must be willing and free to participate
what are ethical considerations in an experiment?
voluntary participation, informed consent, withdrawal rights, debriefing, deception, confidentiality
what is the acronym for remembering ethical considerations?
very inspiring women don’t drink coffee
describe confidentiality
privacy must be protected and no privateor identifiable info can be used or published
describe informed consent
must be informed of the nature and purpose of the study, including any risks
What is a between-subjects design (independent groups)
one group is exposed to one experimental condition, and another group is exposed to a different experimental condition
decribe withdrawal rights
are able to leave study at any time and can withdraw results from the study
describe deception
must know the purpose of the study unless it will influence results and then must be adressed after experiment is finished
list some extraneous variables
participant-related variables, non-standardised instructions and procedures, order effects, placebo effects, and experimenter effects.
what is a within-subjects design (repeated measures)?
the same group of participants are exposed to/participate in both experimental conditions
What is the title for this experiment?
A question that outlines what is hoped to be investigated in the experiment
Research hypothesis
A testable prediction of the relationship between two or more variables (events to characteristics).
Research method
A particular way of conducting a research study (investigation) to collect accurate and reliable data on a topic of interest.
Observational study
Involves collection of data by watching and recording behaviour as it occurs.
Quantitative data
Numerical information on the ‘quantity’ or amount of what is being studied; that is, how much of something there is.
Qualitative data
Information about the ‘qualities’ or characteristics of what is being studied.
Questionnaire
A written set of questions designed to draw of self-report information from people on a topic of research interest.
Population
The entire group of research interest from which a sample is drawn and to which the researcher will seek to apply (generalise) the results of their investigation.
Conclusion
A decision about what the results obtained from a research study mean.
Sample
A subsection or smaller group of research participants selected from a larger group of research interest.
Random sampling
A sampling procedure that ensures every number of the population of research interest has an equal chance of being selected to be a part of the sample.
Self-report
The participant’s written or spoken responses to questions, statements or instructions presented by the researcher.
Generalisation
A decision about how widely the findings of a research study can be applied, particularly to other members of the populations from which the sample was drawn.
Observational study
Involves collection of data by carefully watching and recording behaviour as it occurs.
Sample
A subsection or smaller group of research participants selected from a larger group of research interest.
Representative sample
A sample that is approximately the same as the population from which it is drawn in every important variable.
Stratified sampling
Involved dividing the population to be sampled into different subgroups, or strata, then selecting a separate sample from each subgroup (stratum) in the same proportions as they occur in the population of interest.
Convenience sampling
Or opportunity sampling, involves selecting participants who are readily available without any attempt to make the sample representative of a population.
Individual participant differences
The unique combination of personal characteristics, abilities and backgrounds each participant brings to an experiment.
Control group
The group of participants that is not exposed to the independent variable.
Operationalising
Operationalising the IV and the DV involves defining them in terms of the specific procedures or actions (operations) used to measure them.
Repeated measures
Also called within participants, each participant is in both the experiment and control conditions.
Confounding variable
A variable other than the IV that has had an unwanted effect on the DV, making it impossible to determine which of the variables has produced a change in the DV.
Experimental group
The group of participants that is exposed to the independent variable (i.e. the treatment).
Counter balancing
Involves systematically changing the order of treatments or tasks for participants in a ‘balanced’ way to ‘counter’ the unwanted effects on performance in any one order.
Case study
An intensive, in depth investigation of some behaviour or event of interest in an individual, group, organisation or situation.
Ethics
The standards that guide individuals to identify good, desirable or acceptable conduct.
Extraneous variable
Any variable other than the IV that can cause a change in the DV and therefore affect the results in a negative way.
what are ethical considerations in an experiment?
voluntary participation, informed consent, withdrawal rights, debriefing, deception, confidentiality
describe voluntary participation
must be willing and free to participate
describe debriefing
informed of the aims, results, and conclusions and can be provided with support
describe confidentiality
privacy must be protected and no privateor identifiable info can be used or published
describe informed consent
must be informed of the nature and purpose of the study, including any risks
What is a between-subjects design (independent groups)
one group is exposed to one experimental condition, and another group is exposed to a different experimental condition
decribe withdrawal rights
are able to leave study at any time and can withdraw results from the study
describe deception
must know the purpose of the study unless it will influence results and then must be adressed after experiment is finished
list some extraneous variables
participant-related variables, non-standardised instructions and procedures, order effects, placebo effects, and experimenter effects.
what is a within-subjects design (repeated measures)?
the same group of participants are exposed to/participate in both experimental conditions
what is beneficence?
Beneficence is the consideration of the benefits
or gains from research in relation to the risks.
what is non-malefecence?
Non-maleficence is the idea that any potential harm
should be avoided and minimised
as much as possible.
what is integrity?
Integrity is the commitment to search for knowledge,
and then honestly report
information and findings
what is justice?
Justice is the distribution of fair access to the benefits of
research to everyone, ensuring that there is no burden
on one group, and ensuring that any opposing claims are
considered.
what is respect?
Respect is the belief that everyone has value
in regards to their welfare and beliefs, and has
a right to make their own decisions.
What is standard deviation?
The standard deviation
is a measure of variability,
expressed as a value that
describes the spread
of data around the mean
What is an advantage of using convenience sampling?
It is time and cost effective
Why was this sampling method used for the experiment?
This sampling technique was used because of its cost-effective nature and ease of use. It was also used because of the schools limitation in determining a wider population, because of financial constraints and the inability to source a sample from the wider community outside immediate connections.
What is the difference between objective and subjective data?
Objective data is actual data that is observed and measured independently of personal opinion whereas subjective data is informed by personal opinion, perception,
or interpretation
What are some benefits of using a within-subjects design?
Ensures the results are more likely due to the manipulation of the IV than any other
differences
Less people needed
What is a systematic effect?
A reliable and
predictable effect.
What is accuracy?
How close
a measurement
is to the true value
of the quantity
being measured.
What is precision?
How closely a set
of measurement values
agree with each other.
What is validity?
The extent to which
a tool measures what
it is supposed
to measure.
