Chapter 1 Psychology, Science And Research Flashcards
Findings
Outcomes of a study (eg means, results of statistical tests) before any interpretation is made of them in terms of background theory or expectation
Conclusions
A summary of what findings might mean in terms of overall theory and/or proposed relationships between variables
Hypothesis Testing
Research that analyses data for a predicted effect
Scientific method
General method of investigation using induction and deduction
Empirical method
Scientific method of gathering information and summarising it in the hope of identifying general patterns
Hypothetico-deductive method
Method of recording observations, developing explanatory theories and testing predictions from those theories
Data
Relatively uninterpreted information; gathered facts
Induction
Process of moving from particular instances to a generalised pattern
Theory
Researcher’s beliefs about how the world works, about how or why a particular phenomenon occurs
Hypothesis
Precise statement of assumed relationship between variables
Research question
The question a researcher is trying to answer in an investigation
Research prediction
Prediction in precise terms about how variables should be related in the analysis of data if a hypothesis is to be supported
Deduction
Logical argument using rules to derive a conclusion from premises
Effect
A difference or correlation between samples leading to an assumed relationship between variables in the population
Replication
Repeating a completed study
Raw data
Unprocessed data as gathered in a study eg individual scores
Peer review
Critical review by academics, who are experts in the field, of an article submitted for publication
Falsifiability
Principle that theories must be defined in a way that makes it possible to show how they could be wrong
Pilot study/trials; piloting
Preliminary study or trials often carried out to predict snags and assess features of a main study to follow
Variable
Quantity that can change; usually used to refer to a measure of a phenomenon
Population
Whole group or category of people from among whom samples are selected
Field experiment/study
Research study where data are gathered from participants outside the research centre
Participant
Person who takes part in a psychological investigation as a member of a sample or individual case
Design
Structure and strategy of a piece of research
Analysis
Investigation of data for patterns or evidence of an effect
Quantitative data
Data in numerical form, the results of measurement or counting
Qualitative data
Data left in their original forms of meaning (eg speech, text) and not quantified
