Jargon Flashcards
True Experiment
Design in which participants are assigned randomly to treatments
Quasi Experiment
Design that resembles that of an experiment in that discrete groups are used, but without any random allocation
Between vs Within groups design
Comparing two groups with different treatments vs all pps of a group undergoing all treatments
Construct Variable
A theoretical variable that has ‘reality status’ such as competition, attractiveness, negative mood
Operational Variable
The researchers precise operational definition (i.e. measurement) of a theoretical construct
Independent Variable
Presumed to cause change in the dependent variable
Dependent Variable
Presumed to be affected by the independent variable
Hypothesis
Statement of a proposed relation between constructs
Theory
Well-established principle that has been developed to explain some aspect of the natural world
Construct Validity
Degree to which the operational definition accurately measures the construct of interest
Convergent Validity
Overlap among variables presumed to measure the same construct
Discriminant Validity
Extent to which it is possible to discriminate between dissimilar constructs
Random Assignment
Process by which subjects receive an equal chance of being assigned to a particular condition
Manipulation Check
Measured variable designed to assess whether the manipulation worked and tapped a desired construct
Demand Characteristic
Aspect of the experiment encouraging the participant to respond according to situational constraints
Reliability
The extent to which a construct is measured without error or bias
Subject Expectancies
A demand characteristic whereby subjects think they know the experimenters’ interest and act accordingly
Double-blind Procedure
A procedure in which neither experimenter nor pp knows to which condition the pp is assigned
Order Effects
The effects on behaviour of presenting two or more treatments to the same pps
Counter-balancing
A technique for controlling order effects by which each condition is presented first to each pp an equal number of times: present each condition in each possible order
Moderation (interaction)
The effect of an IV on a DV depends on the level of a third variable (i.e. the moderator)
Mediation
The effect of an IV on a DV is explained by the change in a third variable (i.e. the mediator)
