Data types, variables, hypotheses and ethical concerns

Question 1

What is quantitative data?

Answer 1

-Data which can be expressed numerically.

Question 2

What is qualitative data?

Answer 2

-Data which can be expressed descriptively.

Question 3

What is primary data?

Answer 3

-Data which has been collected first-hand by the experimenter/researcher.

Question 4

What is secondary data?

Answer 4

-Data which is being used by anyone other than the original researcher. (second-hand results)

Question 5

What is meta-analysis?

Answer 5

-“A study of a study”, i.e. doing analysing of results from other studies.

Question 6

What is a variable?

Answer 6

-Anything within a study which can change or vary

Question 7

What is an independent variable? (IV)

Answer 7

-A variable which has been intentionally changed or manipulated, often by the researcher.

Question 8

What is a dependant variable? (DV)

Answer 8

-A variable which changes as a result of the IV changing. (i.e. what is measured in an experiment)

Question 9

What are the three things a psychological hypothesis needs to include?

Answer 9

• All conditions of the IV
• The DV
• The word ‘significant’

Question 10

What is the difference between a hypothesis and an aim?

Answer 10

• Hypotheses are usually much more specific whereas aims are very general or somewhat vague.
• Note: Both are always statements, never questions.

Question 11

What is a directional hypothesis?

Answer 11

-A hypothesis in which the researcher states roughly what the “significant difference” will be when the IV is changed.

Question 12

What is a non-directional hypothesis?

Answer 12

-A hypothesis in which the researcher simply states that there will be a “significant difference” when the IV is changed.

Question 13

What is a null hypothesis?

Answer 13

-A hypothesis in which the researcher states that there will be no “significant difference” when the IV is changed.

Question 14

What is operationalisation?

Answer 14

-The clear definition of variables in a measurable form.

Question 15

Generally, how are hypotheses operationalised?

Answer 15

-A clear, consistent value for the IV and a description of how the DV will be measured are given.

Question 16

What is an extraneous variable?

Answer 16

-A variable that may affect the DV.

Question 17

What is a confounding variable?

Answer 17

-An extraneous variable that has not been controlled and has affected the DV. (They often act like another IV)

Question 18

What is a situational variable?

Answer 18

-An extraneous or independent variable that comes from the participant’s environment.

Question 19

What is a participant variable?

Answer 19

-An extraneous or independent variable that comes from the participant’s own characteristics or traits.

Question 20

What is informed consent?

Answer 20

-Where participants are told about anything which may affect their willingness to part and have to give consent before they are allowed to take part in the study.

Question 21

What is deception?

Answer 21

• Where information regarding the study is either misleading or deliberately withheld.
• Generally, this is not an issue if the misinformation does not cause stress or harm.

Question 22

What is protection from harm?

Answer 22

• The general guideline that participants must not be put at any more risk than in their daily lives.
• Participants should be protected from physical or psychological harm.

Question 23

What is confidentiality?

Answer 23

• The protection of participant’s personal information

- Participants and their information are to remain anonymous.

Question 24

What is privacy?

Answer 24

• Researchers are to refrain from invading participants’ personal lives as much as possible.
• Many people do not like to have their private lives shared with others.

Question 25

What is right to withdraw?

Answer 25

-Participants must be given the opportunity and freedom to opt out of the study at any given point.