Chapter 9 Scientific Research Methods Flashcards
Hypothesis
A testable prediction of the relationship between two variables
Variable
Any event, condition or characteristic that changes (varies) or can be made to change
Participants
The people or animals whose behaviour, characteristics or responses are investigated and measured as part of an experiment
Data
The observed facts that constitute the results of an experiment
Raw data
The actual data collected from a study, before it is sorted or analysed
Conclusion
A decision or judgement about the meaningfulness of the results of a study
Inferential statistics
Statistics that allow an experimenter to make inferences and conclusions about data; they are often used to interpret results of a study
Experimental method
A scientific research method that uses participants in a formal trial to confirm or disconfirm a hypothesis
Experiment
A research method that involves gathering data under controlled conditions to test a hypothesis by exposing participants to a treatment and observing and measuring its effect
Experimental group
In a controlled experiment, the group of participants exposed to the independent variable
Independent variable (IV)
The condition that an experimenter systemically manipulates (changes or varies) in order to gauge its effect on another variable (the dependent variable)
Dependent variable (DV)
The condition in an experiment or aspect of the participant’s behaviour that is affected by changes in the independent variable (IV); it is used as a measure of the IV’s effect
Control group
In a controlled experiment, the group of participants exposed to all conditions or variables except the independent variable
Experimental hypothesis
A broad and general prediction about the direction of the relationship between variables in an experiment
Research hypothesis
A hypothesis that operationalises the variables by precisely defining and describing how each variable is measured, and predicts the exact effect the IV is expected to have on the behaviour of the population from which the sample has been selected
Population
The larger group of research interest from which a sample ina research study has been drawn
Sample
The group of participants in a research study selected from, and representative of, a population of research interest
Operational variable
A variable defined or described in terms of the procedure used to observe and measure it
Extraneous variable
In an experiment, a variable other than the IV that might cause unwanted changes in the DV
Controlled variable
Ian extraneous variable whose influence has been eliminated from an experiment so that it cannot affect results; it has been controlled
Uncontrolled variable
An extraneous variable whose influence has not been eliminated from an experiment because the experimenter was not aware of it
Confounding variable
An uncontrolled variable that has had an unwanted effect on the DV and might be confused with the effect of the IV
Standardisation
Establishing standards for administering a test and interpreting scores
Participant variables
Individual differences in the personal characteristics of research participants that, if not controlled, can confound the results of the experiment
Order effect
Where priori knowledge of a task or situation influences a participant’s performance, which in turn influences the results of the experiment; also known as the practice effect
Counterbalancing
A method used to control order effect, where half the participants in an experiment are exposed to the control condition first and the other half are exposed to the experimental condition first; that is then reversed in the second instance
Experimenter effect
Changes in participants’ behaviour that are caused by the unintended influence of the experimenter rather than the IV
Self-fulfilling prophecy
A prediction that prompts people to act in a way that makes the prediction come true
Double-blind procedure
An experimental procedure where neither the experimenter nor the participants know which experimental condition the participants have been allocated to
Placebo
A fake treatment that had no active effect, such as a fake pill or injection
Placebo effect
Changes in behaviour caused by the belief that one has been exposed to a treatment that will affect the in some way
Single-blind procedure
An experimental procedure where participants do not know which experimental condition they have been assigned to, but the experimenter does
Independent-groups design
An experimental design where participants are randomly allocated to either the experimental group or control group
Matched-participants design
An experimental design where participants are paired on the basis of similar characteristics that can influence the DV, with one of the pair being allocated to the experimental group and the other to the control group
Repeated-measure design
An experimental design method where the same group of participants makes up both the experimental and control group
Random sampling
A sampling technique ensuring that every member of the population of interest has an equal chance of being selected for the sample being used in a study
Strathfield sampling
A sampling technique that ensures the sample contains the same proportions of participants that are found in the population
Random-Stratified sampling
A form of stratified sampling involving random samples of each stratum being selected
Convenience sampling
A smashing technique involving the selection of participants because they are readily available to the researcher
Random allocation
A procedure for assigning participants to either the experimental group or control group in an expeirment, ensuring that all participants have an equal chance of being allocated to either group
Qualitative data
Data that describes the changes in the quality of a behaviour; often accounts of personal attitudes or experiences, or descriptions of feelings
Quantitative data
Data collected through systematic and controlled methodology and presented in numerical form
Case study
An in-depth, detailed study of all aspects of a single participant, group or event, usually undertaken to gain insight into a particular psychological phenomenon
Observational studies
A method of data-collection that involves watching and recording the behaviour of another person(s) or animal(s) within a specific environment and drawing conclusions based on the recorded observations
Observer effect
Changes in the behaviour of a person being observed caused by their awareness of the presence of an observer
Observer bias
Bias in results of an observational study that occurs when an observer see what he or she expects to see, or records only selected details of an observed behaviour
Self-report
A data-collection technique in which individuals are asked to freely express their attitudes (verbally or in writing) by answering questions
Questionnaire
A written set of standardised questions that can be administered face-to-face, by mail, by telephone or via the internet
Interview
A form of qualitative data-collection where individuals are asked to comment on their attitude towards a particular issue
Descriptive statistics
Statistics used to describe, summarise, organise and analyse data
Measure of central tendency
A measure of the tendency for a majority of scores to fall in the mid-range of possible values
Mean
A measure of central tendency found by adding up all the values and dividing the total by the number of values
Median
A measure of central tendency found by arranging scores from the highest to the lowest, and selecting the score that falls in the middle
Mode
A measure of central tendency found by selecting the most frequently occurring score in a group of scores
Statistical significance
A number obtained from inferential statistics that provides an estimate of how often experimental results could have occurred by chance alone
Generalisation
A decision or judgement about whether results obtained from a sample are representative of the relevant population
Ethics
Moral principles and codes of behaviour
Participants’ rights
The individual rights of all participants that must be respected by the researcher, as outlined in ethical guidelines relating to psychological research
Confidentiality
A participant’s rights to privacy in terms of access, storage and disposal of information related to a research study in which they participated
Voluntary participation
Participation whereby participants agree to take part in an experiment free from pressure or fear of negative consequences
Withdrawal rights
A participant’s right to withdraw from a study or research at any time without experiencing any negative consequences
Informed consent
Where a participant gives their written consent to participate in s study after being fully informed of the true nature and purpose of the expeirment, any foreseeable risks and their rights before an experiment commences
Deception
When information about the true purpose of a study is not given to participants before a study begins
Debriefing
Informing participants of the true purpose of an experiment once it has ended; correcting mistaken attitudes or beliefs; providing the opportunity to gain information about the study; providing information about services to help with distress resulting from participation
Scientific method
A data-gathering method that involves testing a hypothesis by means of careful measurement and controlled observation
