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Research Methods Psychology > Fundamental Terms > Flashcards

Fundamental Terms Flashcards

1
Q

Define aim

A

A statement of what the researcher intends to find out in a research study

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2
Q

Define null hypothesis

A

A statement which states there will be no difference

( if the data does not support your null hypothesis - you reject it and go with your alternative hypothesis )

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3
Q

Define directional hypothesis

A

States the directions of the difference or relationship

What the experimenter thinks will happen

Eg :
- more/ less
- higher/lower
- faster/slower

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4
Q

Define non directional hypothesis

A

States there is a difference between the conditionals or groups but the nature of the difference is not specified

Researcher is not sure what will happen & there is no previous research to suggest what the result might be

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5
Q

Define extraneous variables

A

Anything that Impacts the dependent variable that is not the independent variable

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6
Q

Define dependent variable

A

The thing that is measured/ will be affected by the changes

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7
Q

Define independent variable

A

The thing that is manipulated/changed

Eg. The different groups , the different conditions

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8
Q

Define debriefing

A
  • A post research interview designed to inform participants of the tue nature of the study and to restore them to the state they were in at the start of the study
  • may also gain useful feedback about the procedures used in the study
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9
Q

Define experiment

A

A research method where casual conclusions can be drawn because an independent variable has been deliberately manipulated to observe the casual effect on the dependent variables

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10
Q

Define hypothesis

A

A precise and testable statement about the assumed relationship between variables

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11
Q

Define operationalise

A
  • Ensuring that the variables are in a form that Canberra easily tested
  • being specific about what is being investigated
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12
Q

Define standardised procedures

A

A set of procedures that are the same for all participants in order to be able to repeat the study

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13
Q

Define External validity

A

The degree to which a research finding can be generalised

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14
Q

Define population validity

A

A type of external validity which can be generalised to other groups of people

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15
Q

Define historical validity

A

A type of external validity which can be generalised over time

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16
Q

Define internal validity

A

The degree to which an observed effect was due to the experimental manipulation rather than other factors such as confounding/ extraneous variables

17
Q

Define mundane realism

A
  • Refers to how a study mirrors the real world
  • the research environment is realistic to the degree to which experiences encountered in the research environment will occur in the real world
18
Q

What are independent groups design ?

A
  • Participants are allocated to 2 or more groups representing different levels of the IV
  • allocation is usually done using random techniques
19
Q

Define counterbalancing

A
  • An experimental technique used to overcome order effects when using a repeated measures design
  • it ensures that each condition is tested first or second In equal amounts
20
Q

Define matched pairs design

A
  • Pairs of participants are matched in terms of key variables such as : age, IQ
  • one member of each pair is allocated to one of the conditions under test and the second person is allocated to the other
21
Q

What are advantages of matched pairs ?

A
  • no order effects - there are different people in each condition
  • participant variables - important differences are minimised through matching
22
Q

What are disadvantages of matched pairs ?

A

Number of participants - need twice as many people compared to repeated measures

Practicalities - time consuming and difficult to find participants who match

23
Q

Define repeated measures

A

There is only one group of participants this group takes part in both conditions

24
Q

What are advantages of repeated measures ?

A

Participant variables - now the same people do the test in both conditions so any differences between individuals shouldn’t affect the results

Number of participants - fewer participants are needed to get the same amount of data

25
Q

What are disadvantages of repeated measures ?

A

Order effects - of all participants did the ‘with audience’ conditions first any improvements in the second condition could be due to practice not the audience’s absence

26
Q

Define confounding variables

A

Anything other than the IV has influenced your result which has not been accounted for before the experiment begins

27
Q

Define alternative hypothesis

A

If the data forces you to reject your null hypothesis then you accept your alternative hypothesis

28
Q

Advantages of independent groups design

A

No order effects - no one gets better through practice or gets worse through being bored or tired

29
Q

Disadvantages of independent groups design

A

Participant variables - differences between the people in each group might affect the results

Number of participants - twice as many participants are needed to get the same amount of data compared to having everyone do both conditions

30
Q

Demand characteristics

A
  • There are aspects of a study which allow the participants to form an idea about its purpose
  • if they think they know what kind of response the researcher is expecting from them they may show that response to please the researcher ( or do the opposite deliberately )

The conclusions drawn fro, the study would be invalid

31
Q

Define social desirability bias

A
  • people usually try to show themselves in the best possible light
  • I’m a survey they may not be completely truthful but give answers that are more socially acceptable instead

= Make the results less valid

32
Q

Co-variable

A

The two measured variables in a correlational analysis
The variables must be continuous

33
Q

Intervening variable

A

A variable that comes between 2 other variables which is used to explain the association between those 2 variables

34
Q

Define Single blind

A
  • Participants are not aware of the condition they are in
  • attempts to control for the confounding effect of demand characteristics
35
Q

Define double blind

A
  • Neither the participants or the researcher are aware of the aims of the investigation
  • used in drug trials commonly
36
Q

Independent variable

A

The one that changes

Variable that is directly manipulated by the researcher

37
Q

Dependent variable

A

The one you measure

The variable that you think will be affected by changes in the independent variable

38
Q

Operationalisation

A

Shows how the variables will be measured

  • describing the process by which the variable is measured
  • allows others to see exactly how you’re going to define and measure your variables

Research Methods Psychology (13 decks)

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