Key science skills Flashcards
Empirical evidence definition?
Information obtained through direct and systematic observation or
experimentation.
Controlled experiment definition?
A type of investigation in which the causal relationship between two variables is tested in a controlled environment; more specifically, the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable is tested while aiming to control all other
variables.
Independent variable definition?
The variable for which quantities are manipulated (controlled, selected, or changed) by the researcher, and the
variable that is assumed to have a direct effect on the dependent variable.
Dependent variable definition?
The variable the researcher measures in an experiment for changes it may experience due to the
effect of the independent variable.
Controlled variables definition?
Variables other than the IV that a researcher holds constant (controls) in an investigation, to ensure that changes in the DV are solely due to changes in the IV.
Investigation methodologies (also known as research methodologies) definition?
Any of the different processes, techniques and/or types of studies researchers use to obtain information about psychological phenomena.
Types of psychological studies?
(Investigation methodologies)
- controlled experiments
- case studies
- correlational studies
Other processes and techniques?
(Investigation methodologies)
These may be a step or process as part of a larger study, or just a process and technique used to understand a psychological phenomenon.
- Classification and identification
- Fieldwork
- Literature review
- Modelling
- Product, process or system development
- Simulation
Case study definition?
An in-depth investigation of an individual, group, or particular phenomenon (activity, behaviour, event, or problem) that contains a real or hypothetical situation and includes the complexities that would
be encountered in the real world.
Correlational study definition?
A type of non-experimental study in which researchers observe and measure the relationship between two or more variables without any active control or manipulation of them.
Classification definition?
The arrangement of phenomena, objects, or events into manageable sets.
Identification definition?
A process of recognition of phenomena as belonging to particular sets or possibly being part of a new or unique set.
Fieldwork definition?
Any research involving observation and interaction with people and environments in real- world settings, conducted beyond the laboratory.
Literature review definition?
The process of collating and analysing secondary data related to other people’s scientific findings
and/or viewpoints in order to answer a question or provide background
information to help explain observed events, or as preparation for an
investigation to generate primary data.
Modelling definition?
The construction and/or manipulation of either a physical model, such as a small- or large-scale
representation of an object, or a conceptual model that represents a
system involving concepts that help people know, understand, or simulate the system.
Product, process, or system development definition?
The design or evaluation of an artefact, process, or system to meet a human need, which may involve
technological applications, in addition to scientific knowledge and procedures.
Simulation definition?
A process of using a model to study
the behaviour of a real or theoretical system.
Controlled experiment advantages?
- They provide researchers with a high level of control over conditions and variables.
- high repeatability
- The high control of variables may mean prevention of extraneous and confounding variables.
Controlled experiment disadvantages?
-As they are often conducted in a laboratory or highly controlled setting, the setting may not be
reflective of real life. This may affect participants’ responses.
- Experimenter bias
- Time consuming and expensive
- Confounding variables can still occur.
Case studies advantages?
- Highly detailed rich info.
- They allow phenomena, including rare phenomena, to be examined in depth, which can provide ideas for future studies and hypotheses.
- They can incorporate other scientific
methodologies to gain data.
Case studies disadvantages?
- Results cannot be generalised (applied) to a wider population.
- researcher bias
- It can be difficult to draw conclusions about cause and effect.
- time consuming.
Correlational study advantages?
- There is no manipulation of variables required.
- They can provide ideas for future hypotheses and research, as well as form the basis for theories.
- They can provide information about the relationships and associations between variables.
- They can be conducted in naturalistic settings, so findings are applicable to real work.
Correlational study disadvantages?
- It can over-simplify reality.
- Labels and language can be inaccurate and create bias.
Experimental group definition?
The group of participants in an experiment who are exposed to a manipulated independent variable
(i.e. a specific intervention or treatment)
Control group definition?
The group of participants in an
experiment who receive no experimental treatment or intervention in order to serve as a baseline for comparison.
Within-subjects design (also known as repeated measures or within-
groups design) definition?
An experimental design in which participants complete every
experimental condition.
Between-subjects design (also known as independent-groups
design or between-groups design)?
An experimental design in which individuals are divided into different
groups and complete only one experimental condition.
Mixed design an experimental design definition?
Which combines elements of within-subjects and between-subjects designs.
Within subjects Advantages?
- reduces individual differences
Within subjects disadvantages?
- order effects
- placebo effect (confidence)
Between subjects design advantages?
- no order effects
Between subjects design disadvantages?
- participant differences
Mixed design advantages?
- no order effects, reduces individual differences.
Mixed design disadvantages?
- counter balancing
matched participants definition?
Trying to reduce participant differences in between- subjects design.
Population (also known as research
population) defintion?
The group of people who are the focus of the research and from
which the sample is drawn.
Sample defintion?
A subset of the research population who participate in a study.
Generalisable (also known as generalisability) definition?
The ability for a sample’s results to be used to make conclusions about the
wider research population.
Sampling technique defintion?
The way a sample is selected from the population for a study.
Convenience sampling defintion?
Any sampling technique that involves selecting readily available members
of the population, rather than using a random or systematic approach.
Random sampling definition?
Any sampling technique that uses a procedure to ensure every member
of the population has the same chance of being selected.
Non-Random Sampling definition?
Any sampling technique that involves selecting people from the population
in a way that ensures that its strata (subgroups) are proportionally represented in the sample.
Allocation definition?
The process of assigning participants to experimental conditions or groups.
convenience sampling advantages?
- time effective and cost effective.
convenience sampling disadvantages?
The most likely to produce an unrepresentative sample, thereby making it harder for researchers to generalise results to the population.
Random sampling advantages?
- The sample generated can be more representative than convenience sampling.
- It reduces experimenter bias in
selecting participants - It can make a fairly representative sample if the sample is large.
Random sampling Disadvantages?
- It may be time-consuming to ensure every member of a population has an equal chance of being selected for the sample.
- It may not create an entirely
representative sample when the sample is small.
Non random advantages?
- The most likely to produce a
representative sample.
Non Random disadvantages?
- It can be time-consuming and expensive.
- It can be demanding on the
researcher to select the most appropriate strata to account for.
Extraneous variable definition?
Any variable that is not the independent variable but may cause an unwanted effect on the dependent variable.
Confounding variable definition?
A variable that has directly and systematically affected the dependent variable, apart from the
independent variable.
Participant-related variables (also known as individual participant
differences) defintion?
Characteristics of a study’s participants that may affect the results.
Order effects defintion?
The tendency for the order in which participants complete experimental
conditions to have an effect on their behaviour.
Placebo defintion?
An inactive substance or treatment
Placebo effect definition?
When participants respond to an inactive substance or treatment as a result of their expectations or beliefs.
Examples of extraneous and confounding variables are ?
(hint: there are 7)
- participant-related variables
- order effects
- placebo effects
- experimenter effects
- situational variables
- non-standardised instructions and procedures
- demand characteristics.
Experimenter effect (also known as
experimenter bias) defintion?
When the expectations of the researcher affect the results of an experiment.
Situational variables definitions?
Any environmental factor that may affect the dependent variable.
Non-standardised instructions and procedures definition?
When directions and procedures differ across participants or experimental conditions.
Demand characteristics definition?
Cues in an experiment that may signal to a participant the intention of the study and influence their behaviour.
Counterbalancing definition?
A method to reduce order effects that involves ordering experimental
conditions in a certain way.
Single-blind procedure definition?
A procedure in which participants are unaware of the experimental group
or condition they have been allocated to
Double-blind procedure definition?
A procedure in which both participants and the experimenter do not know which conditions or groups participants are allocated to.
Ethical concepts are?
- beneficience
-integrity - respect
- justice
- non-malficience.
Ethical guidelines are?
- confidentiality
- informed consent
- deception
- debriefing
- voluntary participation
- withdrawal rights.
