Key Terms Glossary Flashcards
Aim definition
The researcher’s area of interest – what they are looking at.
Behavioural categories definition
Key behaviours or, collections of behaviour, that the researcher conducting the observation will pay attention to and record.
Case study definition
In-depth investigation of a single person, group or event, where data are gathered from a variety of sources and by using several different methods
Closed questions definition
Questions where there are fixed choices of responses e.g. yes/no. They generate quantitative data.
Covariables definition
The variables investigated in a correlation.
Concurrent validity definition
Comparing a new test with another test of the same thing to see if they produce similar results. If they do then the new test has concurrent validity.
Confidentiality definition
Unless agreed beforehand, participants have the right to expect that all data collected during a research study will remain confidential and anonymous.
Confounding variable definition
An extraneous variable that varies systematically with the IV so we cannot be sure of the true source of the change to the DV.
Content analysis definition
Technique used to analyse qualitative data which involves coding the written data into categories – converting qualitative data into quantitative data.
Control variable definition
A group that is treated normally and gives us a measure of how people behave when they are not exposed to the experimental treatment.
Controlled observation definition
An observation study where the researchers control some variables - often takes place in laboratory setting.
Correlation analysis definition
A mathematical technique where the researcher looks to see whether scores for two covariables are related.
Counterbalancing definition
A way of trying to control for order effects in a repeated measures design.
Covert observation definition
Also known as an undisclosed observation as the participants do not know their behaviour is being observed
Critical value definition
The value that a test statistic must reach in order for the hypothesis to be accepted.
Debriefing definition
After completing the research, the true aim is revealed to the participant. Aim of debriefing = to return the person to the state s/he was in before they took part.
Deception definition
Involves misleading participants about the purpose of s study.
Demand characteristics definition
Occur when participants try to make sense of the research situation they are in and try to guess the purpose of the research or try to present themselves in a good way.
Dependent variable definition
The variable that is measured to tell you the outcome.
Descriptive statistics definition
Analysis of data that helps describe, show or summarize data in a meaningful way.
Directional hypothesis definition
A one-tailed hypothesis that states the direction of the difference or relationship.
Dispersion measure definition
A dispersion measure shows how a set of data is spread out, examples are the range and the standard deviation.
What is double blind control?
Participants are not told the true purpose of the research and the experimenter is also blind to at least some aspects of the research design.
Ecological validity definition.
The extent to which the findings of a research study are able to be generalized to real-life settings.
What are ethical guidelines?
These are provided by the BPS - they are the ‘rules’ by which all psychologists should operate, including those carrying out research.
What are the 3 main ethical issues?
Deception, lack of informed consent and lack of protection of participants.
What is evaluation apprehension?
Participants’ behaviour is distorted as they fear being judged by observers.
What is event sampling?
A target behaviour is identified and the observer records it every time it occurs.
What is the experimental group?
The group that received the experimental treatment.
What are extraneous variable?
Variables that if not controlled may affect the DV and provide a false impression than an IV has produced changes when it hasn’t.
Face validity definition.
Simple way of assessing whether a test measures what it claims to measure which is concerned with face value.
Field experiment definition
An experiment that takes place in a natural setting where the experimenter manipulates the IV and measures the DV.
What is a histogram?
A graph that is used for continuous data. There should be no space between the bars, because the data is continuous.
Hypothesis definition
This is a formal statement or prediction of what the researcher expects to find. It needs to be testable.
What is an independent groups design?
An experimental design where each participants only takes part in one condition of the IV.
Independent variable definition.
The variable that the experimenter manipulates.
What are inferential statistics?
Inferential statistics are ways of analyzing data using statistical tests that allow the researcher to make conclusions about whether a hypothesis was supported by the results.
Informed consent definition
Psychologists should ensure that all participants are helped to understand fully all aspects of the research before they agree (give consent) to take part.
What is inter-observer reliability?
The extent to which two or more observers are observing and recording behaviour in the same way.
Internal validity definition
In relation to experiments, whether the results were due to the manipulation of the IV rather than other factors such as extraneous variables or demand characteristics.
What is interval level data?
Data measured in fixed units with equal distance between points on the scale.
What are investigator effects?
These result from the effects of a researcher’s behaviour and characteristics on an investigation.
Laboratory experiment definition.
An experiment that takes place in a controlled environment where the experimenter manipulates the IV and measures the DV.
What is a matched pairs design?
An experimental design where pairs of participants are matched on important characteristics and one member allocated to each condition of the IV.
What are measures of central tendency?
A measurement of data that indicates where the middle of the information lies e.g. mean, median or mode.
What is meta-analysis?
A technique where rather than conducting new research with participants, the researchers examine the results of several studies that have already been conducted.
What is a natural experiment?
An experiment where the change in the IV already exists rather than being manipulated by the experimenter.
Naturalistic observation definition.
An observation study conducted in the environment where the behaviour would normally occur.
Nominal level data definition
Frequency count data that consists of the number of participants falling into categories.
Non-directional hypothesis definition
A two-tailed hypothesis that does not predict the direction of the difference or relationship.
Normal distribution definition
An arrangement of a data that is symmetrical and forms a bell shaped pattern where the mean, median and mode all fall in the centre at the highest peak.
Observed value definition
The value that you have obtained from conducting your statistical test
Observer bias definition
Occurs when the observers know the aims of the study study or the hypotheses and allow this knowledge to influence their observations.
What are open questions?
Questions where there is no fixed response and participants can give any answer they like. They generate qualitative data.
Operationalising variables definition
This means clearly describing the variables (IV and DV) in terms of how they will be manipulated (IV) or measured (DV).
Opportunity sample definition
A sampling technique where participants are chosen because they are easily available.
What are order effects?
Order effects can occur in a repeated measures design and refers to how the positioning of tasks influences the outcome.
What is ordinal level data
Data that is capable of being out into rank order.
Overt observation definition
Also known as a disclosed observation as the participants given their permission for their behaviour to be observed.
Participant observation definition.
Observation study where the researcher actually joins the group or takes part in the situation they are observing.
Peer review definition
Observation study where the researcher actually joins the group or takes part in the situation they are observing.
Pilot study definition
A small scale study conducted to ensure the method will work according to plan. If it doesn’t then amendments can be made.
Presumptive consent
Asking a group of people from the same target population as the sample whether they would agree to take part in such a study, if yes then presume the sample would.
Primary data definition
Information that the researcher has collected him/herself for a specific purpose.
What is prior general consent?
Before participants are recruited they are asked whether they are prepared to take part in research where they might be deceived about the true purpose.
Probability definition
How likely something is to happen
Protection of participants definition
Participants should be protected from physical or mental health, including stress - risk of harm must be no greater than that to which they are exposed in everyday life
Qualitative data definition
Descriptive information that is expressed in words.
Quantitative data definition
Information that can be measured and written down with numbers.
Quasi experiment definition
An experiment often conducted in controlled conditions where the IV simply exists so there can be no random allocation to the conditions.
Questionnaire definition
A set of written questions that participants fill in themselves.
Random sampling definition
A sampling technique where everyone in the target population has an equal chance of being selected.
Randomisation definition
Refers to the practice of using chance methods.
Reliability definition
Whether something is consistent. In the case of a study, whether it is replicable.
What is the repeated measures design?
An experimental design where each participants takes part in both/all conditions of the IV.
Representative sample definition
A sample that that closely matched the target population as a whole in terms of key variables and characteristics.
Retrospective consent definition
Participants should be aware that they can leave the study at any time, even if they have been paid to take part.
What is the ‘Right to Withdraw’?
Participants should be aware that they can leave the study at any time, even if they have been paid to take part.
Sample definition
A group of people that are drawn from the target population to take part in a research investigation.
Secondary data definition
Information that someone else has collected e.g. the work of other psychologists or government statistics.
Semi-structured interview definition
Interview that has some pre-determined questions, but the interviewer can develop others in response to answers given by the participant.
What is a sign test?
A statistical test used to analyse the direction of differences of scores between the same or matched pairs of subjects under two experimental conditions.
Significance definition
If the result of a statistical test is significant it is highly unlikely to have occurred by chance.
What is single-bling control?
Participants are not told the true purpose of the research.
Skewed distribution definition
An arrangement of data that is not symmetrical as data is clustered or one end of the distribution.
Social desirability bias definition
Participants’ behaviour is distorted as they modify this in order to be seen in a positive light.
Standard deviation definition
A measure of the average spread of scores around the mean. The greater the standard deviation the more spread out the scores are.
Standardised instructions definition
The instructions given to each participant are kept identical – to help prevent experimenter bias.
Standardised procedures definition
In every step of the research all the participants are treated in exactly the same way and so all have the same experience.
Stratified sample definition
A sampling technique where groups of participants are selected in proportion to their frequency in the target population.
Structured interview definition
Interview where the questions are fixed and the interviewer reads them out and records the responses.
Structured observation definition
An observation study using predetermined coding scheme to record the participants’ behaviour.
Systematic sample definition
A sampling technique where every nth person in a list of the target population is selected.
Target population definition
The group that the researchers draws the sample from and wants to be able to generalise the findings to.
Temporal validity definition
Refers to how likely it is that the time period when a study was conducted has influenced the findings and whether they can be generalised to other periods in time.
Test-retest reliability definition
Involves presenting the same participants with the same test or questionnaire on two separate occasions and seeing whether there is a positive correlation between the two.
Thematic analysis definition
A method for analysing qualitative data which involves identifying, analysing and reporting patterns within the data.
Time sampling definition
A way of sampling the behaviour that is being observed by recording what happens in a series of fixed time intervals.
Type 1 error definition
Is a false positive. It is where you accept the alternative/experimental hypothesis when it is false.
Type 2 error definition
Is a false negative. It is where you accept the null hypothesis when it is false.
Unstructured interview definition
Also known as a clinical interview, there are no fixed questions just general aims and it is more like a conversation
Unstructured observation definition
Observation where there is no checklist so every behaviour seen is written down in an much detail as possible.
Validity definition
Whether something is true – measures what it sets out to measure.
Volunteer sample definition
A sampling technique where participants put themselves forward to take part in research, often by answering an advertisement
