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Psychology : Research Methods > Key Terms > Flashcards

Key Terms Flashcards

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1
Q

Define aims

A

A statement of what the researchers intent to find out

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2
Q

Define debriefing

A

A post research interview designed to inform the participants if the true nature of the study and restore them to the state they were in during the study. Can be used to gain feedback

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3
Q

Define ethical issues

A

Ethical issues concern the right and wrong. They arise in research where there are conflicting sets of values between researches and participants

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4
Q

Define experiment

A

A research method where casual conclusions can be drawn because the independent variable has been manipulated to observe the casual effect of the dependant variable

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5
Q

Define extraneous variables

A

EV do not vary systematically with the IV and therefore do not act as an alternative IV but may have an effect on the DV. They muddy the results and make it more difficult to detect a significant effect

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6
Q

Define hypothesis

A

A precise and testable statement about the assumed relationship between variables. Operationalism is a key part of making the statement testable

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7
Q

Define informed consent

A

Informed consent is where participants are given comprehensive information concerning the nature and purpose of the research so they can provide informed consent

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8
Q

Define operationalise

A

Ensuring that variables are in a form where they can be easily tested

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9
Q

Define standard procedure

A

A set of procedures that are the same for all participants in order to repeat the study - this includes standardised instructions

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10
Q

Define confounding variable

A

A variable under study that in not the IV but which varies systematically with the IV - changes in the dependant variable may be due to the confounding variable and therefore the results are not useful

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11
Q

Define control

A

How regulated or constant a variable is

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12
Q

Define external validity

A

The degree to which a research finding can be generalised
- ecological validity
- population validity
- historical validity

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13
Q

Define internal validity

A

The degree to which an observed effect was due to the experimental manipulation rather than other factors such as CV / EV

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14
Q

Define mundane realism

A

How reflective a study is in comparison to the real world

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15
Q

Define validity

A

Refers to whether an observed effect is a genuine one

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16
Q

Define confederate

A

An individual in a study who is not a real participant and has been instructed hoe to behave by the researchers

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17
Q

Define directional hypothesis

A

States the direction of the predicted difference between the two conditions or two groups of participants

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18
Q

Define non directional hypothesis

A

Predicts simply that there is a difference between two conditions or two groups of participants, without stating the direction of the difference.

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19
Q

Define pilot study

A

A small scale trial run of the study to test any aspects of the design, with a view to make improvements

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20
Q

Define counterbalancing

A

An experimental technique used to overcome Oder effects when using a repeated measures design

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21
Q

Define experimental design

A

A set of procedures used to control the influence of factors such as participant variables in an experiment

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22
Q

Define independent group design

A

Participants are allocated to two or more groups that represent different levels of the IV. Allocation can be done with many techniques

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23
Q

Define matched pairs design

A

Pairs of participants are matched in terms of key variables such as age or IQ. One member is of each pair is allocated to one of the conditions under test and the second person is allocated to the other condition

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24
Q

Define order effect

A

In repeated measure design, an extraneous variable arising from the order in which conditions are presented

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25
Q

Define random allocation

A

Allocating participants to experimental groups or conditions using random techniques

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26
Q

Define repeated measures design

A

Each participant takes part in every condition under test

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27
Q

Define field experiment

A

A controlled experiment carried out outside the lab - IV manipulated by the researcher so cause - effect relationships can be demonstrated. Tend to have lower internal validity but higher external validity. Participants usually unaware that they are involved

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28
Q

Define lab experiments

A

An experiment carried out in a controlled setting. Have high internal validity due to high control but lower ecological validity due to participants being aware and the tasks being more artificial

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29
Q

Define natural experiment

A

A method where the researcher doesn’t influence the independent variable directly - researcher records the IVs effect on the DV. Causal conclusions can only be tentatively drawn

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30
Q

Define quasi-experiments

A

Studies that are almost experiments. The IV is not something that can be changed but is a state/condition that exists - lack of manipulation on the IV also means that causal conclusions can only be tentatively drawn

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31
Q

Define demand characteristics

A

Cues that make participants unconsciously aware of the aims of the study - can change the behaviour of the person from their norm

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32
Q

define the investigator effect

A

Anything the investigator does that may effect the participants performance in a study other than what was intended

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33
Q

Define bias

A

A systematic distortion

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34
Q

Define generalisation

A

Applying findings of a study to the population

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35
Q

Define opportunity sample

A

A sample of participants produced by selection who are most easily available at the time of the study’s

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36
Q

Define population

A

The group of people that the study is interested in. The group of people from who a sample is drawn. A group of people about whom generalisations can be made

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37
Q

Define random sample

A

A sample of participants produced by using a random technique such that every member of the target population has equal chance of being selected

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38
Q

Define sampling

A

A method used to select participants eg random, opportunity, volunteer.

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39
Q

Define stratified sample

A

A sample of participants produced by identifying subgroups according to their frequencies in the population. Participants are then randomly selected from each subgroup

40
Q

Define systematic sampling

A

A sample obtained by selecting every nth person. This can be random if the first person is selected randomly then every nth person after.

41
Q

Define volunteer bias

A

Volunteer participants have special characteristics such as being more highly motivated than randomly selected

42
Q

Define volunteer sample

A

A sample of participants that relies solely on volunteers to make up the sample. AKA a self-selected sample.

43
Q

Define confidentiality

A

The protection of information between the one person to another

44
Q

Define deception

A

A participant is not told the true aims of a study and therefore cannot give informed consent

45
Q

Define informed consent

A

Participants are given comprehensive information concerning the nature and purpose of research and their role in it, so they can make an informed decision about if they will participate in the study

46
Q

Define privacy

A

A persons right to control the flow of information about themselves

47
Q

Define protection from harm

A

During the study participants should not experience physical or psychological effects such as injury, lowered self esteem etc

48
Q

Define the right to withdraw

A

Participants have the right to stop participating - especially when it’s not possible for them to give informed consent. They also have the right to refuse the use of any data collected that the researchers collected

49
Q

Define cost benefit analysis

A

A systematic approach to estimating the negatives and positives of a study

50
Q

Define debriefing

A

A post research interview designed to inform participants of the true nature of a study. May also be used to gain reel back about procedures of the study. Debriefing is not an ethical issue but a way of dealing with

51
Q

Define ethical guidelines

A

A set of principles designed to help professionals behave honestly and with integrity

52
Q

Define ethics committee

A

A group of people within a research institution but approve of a study

53
Q

Define presumptive consent

A

Method of dealing with a lack of informed consent - asking a group of people who are similar to the real participants if they would consent - then it’s presumed that the real group will

54
Q

Define controlled observation

A

Investigating when behaviour is observed but under condition a where certain variables have been set by the researcher

55
Q

Define covert observation

A

Observing people without their knowledge- doesn’t alter their behaviour

56
Q

Define inter-observer reliability

A

The extent to which there is an agreement between two or more observers involved in observations of behaviour

57
Q

Define naturalistic observation

A

Observation is carried out in an everyday setting in which the observer does not involve themselves

58
Q

Define non participant observation

A

The observer is separate from the people being observed

59
Q

Define observer bias

A

The observers expectations affect what they see or hear. Reduces the validity of the observations

60
Q

Define overt observation

A

Studies where the participants are aware of being studied

61
Q

Define participant observation

A

Observations are made by someone who is also participating in the activity being performed

62
Q

Define behavioural categories

A

Dividing a target behaviour into a subset of specific and operationalised behaviours

63
Q

Define event sampling

A

An observational technique in which a count is kept if the number of time a behaviour occurs

64
Q

Define sampling

A

The method used to select participants

65
Q

Define structured observation

A

A researcher uses various systems to organise observations, such as behavioural categories and sampling procedures

66
Q

Define time sampling

A

An observational technique in which the observer records behaviours in a given time frame

67
Q

Define interview

A

A research method or technique that involves face to face interaction with another individual

68
Q

Define interviewer bias

A

the effect of an interviewers expectations, communicated unconsciously on a respondents behaviour

69
Q

Define questionnaire

A

Data collected through the use of written questions

70
Q

Define social desirability bias

A

A distortion in the way people answer questions making them seem more socially acceptable/ in a better light

71
Q

Define structured interview

A

An interview where the questions are predetermined

72
Q

Define unstructured interview

A

The interview starts out with some general aims and possibly some questions and let’s the interviewees response guide the next questions

73
Q

Define closed questions

A

Questions that have a predetermined set of answers which the respondents choose from

74
Q

Define open questions

A

Questions. That invite respondents to provide their own answers rather than select one

75
Q

Define qualitative

A

Non numerical data

76
Q

Define quantitative

A

Numerical data

77
Q

Define co-variable

A

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

78
Q

Define continuous variable

A

Variables that can be any value within a range e.g - how much you like football 1-10

79
Q

Define correlation

A

Determining the extent of an association between two variables

80
Q

Define the correlation coefficient

A

A value between -1 and +1 that determines how closely two co-variables in correlation analysis are associated

81
Q

Define curvilinear coefficient

A

A nonlinear relationship between co-variables

82
Q

Define intervening variable

A

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

83
Q

Define linear correlation

A

A systematic relationship between co-variables that is defined by a straight line

84
Q

Define scatter gram

A

A graphical representation of the association between two sets of values

85
Q

Define significance

A

A statistical term indicating that the research findings are sufficiently strong enough for us to accept the research hypothesis under test

86
Q

Define case study

A

Research that involves the detailed study of an individual, institution, or event

87
Q

Define effect size

A

A measure of the strength of the relationship between two variables

88
Q

Define meta analysis

A

A researcher looks at findings from a number of different studies and produces a statistic to represent the overall effect

89
Q

Define review

A

A consideration of a number of studies that have investigated the same topic in order to reach a general conclusion on a particular hypothesis

90
Q

Define primary data

A

Information observed or collected directly from first hand experience

91
Q

Define second hand data

A

Information used in a study that was collected by someone else for a purpose other than the current one.

92
Q

Define one tailed test

A

The test used in a sign test when the hypothesis is directional

93
Q

Define two tailed test

A

The test used in a sign test when there is a non directional hypothesis

94
Q

Define sign test

A

A statistical test to determine the significance of a sample of data of related items.

95
Q

Define critical value

A

In an inferential test the value of the test statistic that must be reached to show significance

96
Q

Define calculated value

A

The value of a test statistic calculated for a particular data set

97
Q

Define significance

A

A statistical term indicating that the research findings are sufficiently strong for us to accept the research hypothesis

Psychology : Research Methods (2 decks)

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