Key Terms Flashcards
(23 cards)
Variables
Anything within a study that changes and does not stay constant.
Independent variable.
The variable which is directly manipulated by the researcher.
It is the thing that is changed in the experiment
Dependent variable
The result of the change
Extraneous variable
Any variable other than the IV which may potentially affect the DV and mix up the findings
Confounding variables
Acts as an alternative IV and varies systematically with the IV
Operationalise
To express or define (something) in terms of the operations used to determine or prove it
Control
Keeping variables that may affect the results constant or regulated
Single blind design
When the participant doesn’t know whether they are receiving real treatment or a placebo but the researcher does.
Double blind design
When neither the participant or the investigator knows who is receiving real treatment or a placebo.
Randomisation
The use of chance wherever possible to reduce experimenters influence
Standardisation
Using the same formalised procedures and instructions for all participants
Random allocation
A way of dividing participants into experimental conditions to reduce bias, meaning every member has an equal chance of being selected
Demand Characteristics
When pps form an idea about the purpose of a study, they may try to show a response to please investigator
Investigator effects
Unconsciously conveys to pps how they should behave
Participant variables
Anything specific to the individuals that might influence results (e.g. Gender, age, intelligence)
Pilot Study
A small scale version of the study which is run before the actual research is carried out
Reliability
Consistency of results
Internal Validity
Whether a study has measured what it intended to measure
External validity
The extent to which research findings can be generalised beyond the research situation
Ecological validity
Whether or not the results can be generalised to everyday life
Population Validity
Concerns the research population, whether we can generalise the results to other people
Temporal Validity
Whether findings from an older study can be generalised to modern day
Mundane Realism
A measure of external validity or the extent to which findings can be generalised to the real world
