Data types, variables, hypotheses and ethical concerns Flashcards
What is quantitative data?
-Data which can be expressed numerically.
What is qualitative data?
-Data which can be expressed descriptively.
What is primary data?
-Data which has been collected first-hand by the experimenter/researcher.
What is secondary data?
-Data which is being used by anyone other than the original researcher. (second-hand results)
What is meta-analysis?
-“A study of a study”, i.e. doing analysing of results from other studies.
What is a variable?
-Anything within a study which can change or vary
What is an independent variable? (IV)
-A variable which has been intentionally changed or manipulated, often by the researcher.
What is a dependant variable? (DV)
-A variable which changes as a result of the IV changing. (i.e. what is measured in an experiment)
What are the three things a psychological hypothesis needs to include?
- All conditions of the IV
- The DV
- The word ‘significant’
What is the difference between a hypothesis and an aim?
- Hypotheses are usually much more specific whereas aims are very general or somewhat vague.
- Note: Both are always statements, never questions.
What is a directional hypothesis?
-A hypothesis in which the researcher states roughly what the “significant difference” will be when the IV is changed.
What is a non-directional hypothesis?
-A hypothesis in which the researcher simply states that there will be a “significant difference” when the IV is changed.
What is a null hypothesis?
-A hypothesis in which the researcher states that there will be no “significant difference” when the IV is changed.
What is operationalisation?
-The clear definition of variables in a measurable form.
Generally, how are hypotheses operationalised?
-A clear, consistent value for the IV and a description of how the DV will be measured are given.
What is an extraneous variable?
-A variable that may affect the DV.
What is a confounding variable?
-An extraneous variable that has not been controlled and has affected the DV. (They often act like another IV)
What is a situational variable?
-An extraneous or independent variable that comes from the participant’s environment.
What is a participant variable?
-An extraneous or independent variable that comes from the participant’s own characteristics or traits.
What is informed consent?
-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.
What is deception?
- 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.
What is protection from harm?
- 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.
What is confidentiality?
- The protection of participant’s personal information
- Participants and their information are to remain anonymous.
What is privacy?
- 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.
