Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Year 12 Psychology 2025 > Key Scientific Skills/ Research Methods > Flashcards

Key Scientific Skills/ Research Methods Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Psychology flashcards Psychology 101 flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards
1
Q

Accuracy

A

how close a measurement is to the true value
of the quantity being measure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Aim

A

a statement outlining the purpose of the study p. 3

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Allocation

A

the process of assigning participants to conditions in the experiment for the research p. 19

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Bar chart

A

a graph that depicts the relationship between two variables using rectangular bars p. 41

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Beneficience

A

the commitment to maximising benefits
and minimising the risks and harms involved in taking a
particular position or course of action

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Case study

A

an in-depth study of an individual or a group of individuals p. 10

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Choosing an experimental research design

A

the process of choosing an appropriate experimental research design in order to reduce possible extraneous and confounding variables p. 24

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Conclusion

A

a statement regarding the results of an investigation as to whether the hypothesis was supported or not p. 47

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Confidentiality

A

the right of the participant for their personal details to remain private p. 31

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Confounding variables

A

variables other than the independent variable that have directly and systematically had an effect on the dependent variable p. 23

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Control group

A

a group that is used as a basis for comparison; participants are not exposed to the experimental conditions (the IV) p. 12

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Controlled variable

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Convenience sampling

A

when a sample is selected using the quickest and easiest means possible, selecting people who are readily available from the population p. 18

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Correlational study

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Counterbalancing

A

a method used in repeated-measures experimental designs to reduce order effects p. 24

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Cross-sectional study

A

when data is collected from participants from different segments of the population (pre-existing cohorts) to represent a ?snapshot? in time p. 10

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Debriefing

A

occurs at the conclusion of an experiment and involves the researcher outlining the nature of the experiment to participants and includes ensuring that participants do not leave the experiment with lasting harm p. 31

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Deception

A

when the participant is unaware of the true nature of the experiment p. 31

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Dependent variable (DV)

A

the variable that is being measured in an experiment for changes it experiences due to the independent variable p. 4

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Descriptive statistics

A

statistics that are used to organise and summarise data p. 40

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Demand characteristics

A

cues in an experiment that may signal to a participant the intention of the study and influence their behaviour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Double-blind procedure

A

a procedure in which both the participants and the person conducting the experiment are unaware of which condition participants have been allocated to, in order to reduce experimenter bias p. 25

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Ethics committee

A

a group of people who review research proposals, consider the potential risks, benefits and implications in order to either approve or disapprove them for research p. 30

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Controlled experiment

A

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 while aiming to control all other variables

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Experimental group

A

the group within an experiment that are exposed to experimental conditions (the IV) p. 12

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Experimenter effects

A

occur when an experimenter?s expectations about the study influence the results p. 25

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

External validity

A

the extent to which the results of an investigation can be applied to other settings, people and time p. 49

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Fieldwork

A

any research involving observation and interaction with people and environments in real-world settings, conducted beyond the laboratory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Extraneous variables

A

variables other than the independent variable that may produce unwanted results in an experiment p. 23

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Generalisability

A

the extent to which the results of an investigation can be applied to the wider research population p. 48

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Hypothesis

A

a testable prediction about the outcome of an experiment; it is written in the form of a statement and includes the variables that will be tested p. 3

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Between subjects design

A

(also known as independent design) an experimental design in which participants are split into two or more groups; typically a control group and an experimental groups p. 12

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Independent variable (IV)

A

the variable that the experimenter manipulates in order to observe the effect it causes on the dependent variable p. 4

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Inferential statistics

A

statistics that provide information on the statistical significance of the results and suggest how they might apply to a wider population p. 40

35
Q

Informed consent

A

ensuring participants have a thorough understanding of the procedures involved in the research they are partaking in, including potential harm or risks, and still willingly agree to participate p. 31, 373

36
Q

Internal validity

A

the extent to which the changes in the dependent variable are caused by the independent variable, and not other variables p. 49

37
Q

Interview

A

a type of questionnaire that is usually conducted verbally, involving the researcher asking participants questions and recording their responses p. 9

38
Q

Line graph

A

a graph that depicts the relationship between two variables using a line that connects each data point p. 41

39
Q

Mixed Design

A

an experimental design which combines elements of within-subjects and between-subjects designs

40
Q

Longitudinal study

A

a type of investigation in which data is gathered from participants over an extended period of time, and the participants are followed up after specific time intervals p. 10

41
Q

Mean

A

a measure of central tendency that represents the average of a data set p. 40

42
Q

Non-maleficence

A

(also known as the no-harm principle) the principle of avoiding causing harm

43
Q

Non-standardised testing procedures

A

when instructions and procedures in an experiment are not consistent for all participants, therefore affecting the results obtained p. 26

44
Q

Objective data

A

data that can be observed or measured by multiple people and obtain the same results p. 36

45
Q

Observational study

A

a type of study in which data is collected through careful monitoring of participants p. 10

46
Q

Operationalisation

A

the process of defining variables in terms of how they will be either manipulated or measured in the experiment p. 5

47
Q

Order effects

A

(also known as practice effects) a source of error in repeated-measures designs due to the order the participants participate in the experimental and control conditions p. 24

48
Q

Outlier

A

a value that differs from the other values in a data set p. 41

49
Q

Participant-related variables

A

(also known as individual participant differences) individual participant differences that can affect the results p. 24

50
Q

Placebo

A

a procedure or substance with no active treatment p. 25, 374

51
Q

Placebo effect

A

changes to an individual?s mental or physical state as a result of a false belief in the effects of a placebo substance or procedure p. 35, 374

52
Q

Population

A

(also known as research population) the group of people of interest to an experiment p. 3, 17

53
Q

Precision

A

how closely a set of measurement values agree with each other

54
Q

Primary data collection

A

a method of data collection involving data being collected directly by the experimenter p. 35

55
Q

Qualitative data

A

data that describes the characteristics of something; data of concepts that can be measured non-numerically p. 36

56
Q

Quantitative data

A

data concerning numerical amounts; expressed numerically p. 36

57
Q

Questionnaire

A

(also known as surveys) a list of questions that participants can respond to in a variety of formats p. 9

58
Q

Random allocation

A

when every member of the sample has an equal chance of being assigned to each condition in an experiment p. 19

59
Q

Random errors

A

errors in data that are unsystematic and occur due to chance

60
Q

Random sampling

A

when every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected for the sample p. 18

61
Q

Range

A

a measure of variability that is a value obtained by subtracting the lowest value in a data set from the highest value

62
Q

Rating scale

A

a form of questionnaire collecting numerical data from participants? responses p. 10

63
Q

Reproducibility

A

the extent to which successive measurements or studies produce the same results when repeated under different conditions (e.g. different participants, time, observer, and/or environmental conditions)

64
Q

Repeatability

A

the extent to which successive measurements or studies produce the same results when carried out under identical conditions within a short period of time (e.g. same procedure, observer, instrument, instructions, and setting)

65
Q

Literature Review

A

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

66
Q

Within subjects design

A

(also known as repeated measures design) an experimental design in which the same participants are in every condition of the experiment p. 12

67
Q

Sample

A

a subset of the population, commonly referred to as the research participants p. 17

68
Q

Sampling

A

the process through which the participants for a study are selected from the population of interest p. 17

69
Q

Sampling procedures

A

the method of choosing an appropriate sampling procedure to reduce possible extraneous and confounding variables p. 24

70
Q

Self-report

A

a participant?s subjective account of an experience; this type of investigation can be conducted through the use of a questionnaire, interview or rating scale p. 9

71
Q

Single-blind procedure

A

a procedure in which participants are unaware of which condition they have been allocated to, in order to reduce participant expectations p. 25

72
Q

Situational variables

A

any environmental factor that may affect the dependent variable

73
Q

Standard deviation

A

a measure of central tendency that represents the spread of data around the mean p. 40

74
Q

Standardised instructions and procedures

A

the consistent use of instructions and procedures for all participants p. 26

75
Q

Stratified sampling

A

when the population is divided into groups based upon relevant characteristics, and participants are selected from each group in proportion to how they appear in the population p. 18

76
Q

Subjective data

A

data that relies on personal opinion or self-report p. 36

77
Q

Systematic errors

A

errors in data that differ from the true value by a consistent amount

78
Q

Table

A

a method of presenting data using columns and rows p. 41

79
Q

True value

A

the value, or range of values, that would be found if the quantity could be measured perfectly

80
Q

Validity

A

the extent to which the investigation measures what it intends to measure p. 49

81
Q

Variable

A

a factor or element of an experiment that may be manipulated or measured p. 3

82
Q

Voluntary participation

A

the right of the participant to freely choose to willingly participate p. 31

83
Q

Withdrawal rights

A

the right of the participant to leave the study at any point, without fear of consequence p. 31

Year 12 Psychology 2025 (10 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions