Introduction To Psychology Flashcards
What is the scientific method?
A logical process of problem solving applied in all sciences, involving eight steps
What are the 8 steps of the scientific method?
- Identify the area of research and form a research aim
- collect information
- Identify the research question and formulate hypothesis
- Design a research method to test the hypothesis
- Collect and analyse the data
- Draw a conclusion - accept or reject the hypothesis
- Report findings
- Test the conclusion
What is a variable?
Is a quantity or quality that can be different at different times or in different places, areas that may vary from person to person, such as age, race, gender identification, sexually, IQ, etc.
What is an independent variable?
A deliberately manipulated or varied in some way by the experimente
What is the dependant variable?
The property that is measured in the research.
It’s value depends on the IV.
What is operisationalisation of a variable?
That the variable is stated in terms that show how it is measured. Eg: age- operisationlised as age in total months
What is a hypothesis?
A clear statement predicting how changes in the independent variable(s) will affect the dependant variable(s)
What is an extraneous variable?
A variable other than the IV that could cause change in the value of the DV.
What is a controlled variable?
When potential effects of Ann extraneous variable have been removed from the experiment
What is the ‘population’?
The group we wish to draw conclusions
What is a sample?
A small amount of individuals from the population to be participants in our research and to represent the population
What is random sampling?
A sampling procedure in which each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected
What is stratified sampling?
A Process by which the effects a certain variable can be eliminated as a possible confound in an experiment
What are the strengths of random sampling and the weaknesses?
Strengths- gives representative
Weakness- difficult to achieve (hard to list all individuals)
What are the strengths and weaknesses of stratified random sampling?
Strength- eliminates the effect of the variable on which the sample is stratified
Weakness- time consuming and expensive.
What is convenience sample?
Picking whoever is available at the time
What is the strengths and weaknesses of convenience sampling?
Strength- quick, easy, cheap
Weakness- bias in sample
What is a confounding variable?
A variable other than the IV that has a systematic effect on the value of the DV
What is the experimental group (E-group)?
E-group members are exposed to the IV, it receives the treatment, which is the variable that the experimental group participants receive and the members of the control group do not.
What’s the purpose of the e-group?
Is to show the effects of the IV on the value of the DV