Key terms

Question 1

Independent variable.

Answer 1

The variable that the researcher changes and manipulates

Question 2

Dependant variable

Answer 2

The variable that the researcher measures.

Question 3

Extraneous variable

Answer 3

Any variable other than the IV that could affect the DV.
E.g: Sleep

Question 4

Confounding variable

Answer 4

Any variable other than the IV that DOES have an impact. We know they’ve had effect because they vary systematically with the IV.
E.g: Personality.

Question 5

What is an Aim

Answer 5

The purpose of a piece of research

Question 6

Hypothesis

Answer 6

A prediction of what the outcome will be.

Question 7

Directional hypothesis

Answer 7

Expected effect of a variable is stated.
Used when topics have previous findings and research suggesting a certain outcome.

Question 8

Non-directional hypothesis

Answer 8

The difference is predicted but not the nature of the difference.
We use this when there is no pre-existing research, or that that there is is contradictory.

Question 9

Null hypothesis

Answer 9

No difference between conditions.

Question 10

Operationalisation

Answer 10

Clearly defining variable so that they can be measured.

Question 11

Control condition

Answer 11

No manipulation- used as a baseline

Question 12

Experimental condition

Answer 12

Manipulated

Question 13

Randomisation

Answer 13

Using chance in order to control for the effects of bias when designing materials or deciding the order of conditions.

Question 14

Standardisation

Answer 14

The process of keeping extraneous variables the same across experimental conditions.

Question 15

Repeated measures

Answer 15

All participants partake in both conditions

Question 16

Independent measures

Answer 16

Participants take part in different measures.

Question 17

Matched pairs

Answer 17

Pre testing participants before sorting them into groups to ensure each group is of similar ability, eliminates extraneous variables

Question 18

Order effects

Answer 18

How the positioning of tasks influences he performance on that task.

Question 19

Participant variables

Answer 19

Any characteristic or aspect of a participants background that could affect study results, even though it isn’t the focus of the experiment.

Question 20

Demand characteristics

Answer 20

When participants guess the aims of the study in order to change their behaviour the ‘please’ the tester or ‘screw’ the tester.

Question 21

Counterbalancing

Answer 21

Half of the participants complete the conditions in one order (A to B), and the other half in the other order (B to A)

Question 22

Qualitative data

Answer 22

Data that can be expressed in words.

Question 23

Quantitative data

Answer 23

Data that can be counted.

Question 24

Deception

Answer 24

When participants are lied to or mislead about the true aims of a study.

Question 25

Debrief

Answer 25

The true aims of the study are explained to the participants after the study is conducted.

Question 26

Validity

Answer 26

How accurate the data is

Question 27

Ecological validity

Answer 27

The extent to which psychologists can apply their findings to other settings predominantly to everyday life

Question 28

Temporal validity

Answer 28

The extent to which psychologists can apply their findings to across periods of time

Question 29

Face validity

Answer 29

A measure of whether a test measures what it intends to measure

Question 30

Concurrent vaidity

Answer 30

A measure where the performance of the test in question is compared to a test that is already recognised and trusted within the same field

Question 31

Reliability

Answer 31

How consistent the data is

Question 32

Objectivity

Answer 32

Not being biased and so not letting personal opinion get in the way

Question 33

Falsifiability

Answer 33

The ability to prove something wrong

Question 34

Paradigms

Answer 34

A set of beliefs that the majority agree are correct

Question 35

Pilot studies

Answer 35

A small scale trial run conducted before the study

Question 36

Social desirability bias

Answer 36

The tendency to underreport socially undesirable attitudes and behaviours and to over report more desirable attributes to be seen in a more positive light

Question 37

Investigator effects

Answer 37

Unwanted influences that the investigator communicates to the participants which affects their behaviour

Question 38

Conformation bias

Answer 38

The tendency to seek out and prefer information that supports our pre-existing beliefs

Question 39

Single blind procedures

Answer 39

When the participants do not know if they are in the experimental condition or the control condition but the researcher does

Question 40

Double blind procedures

Answer 40

When neither the participants or the researcher know if they are in the experimental condition or the control condition