Key Words: Scientific Processes

Question 1

Abstract

Answer 1

Abstract: A part of a scientific report that aims to summarise the report.

Question 2

Aims

Answer 2

Aims: The objective or purpose of the experiment.

Question 3

Bias

Answer 3

Bias: An inclination to a certain position or thought. For example, in hostile attribution bias, hostility or negativity is more likely to be assumed from a neutral face.

Question 4

Behavioural categories

Answer 4

Behavioural categories: An observational technique wherein participants’ possible behaviours are separated into more specific components. This allows for operationalisation of the behaviour. For example, splitting aggression into categories of “swearing” and “punching”.

Question 5

Closed questions

Answer 5

Closed questions: A type of question that can only be answered with a limited number of answers, usually a “yes” or “no”.

Question 6

Concurrent validity

Answer 6

Concurrent validity: Occurs if a test is similar to an older test that already has well-established validity.

Question 7

Confounding variable

Answer 7

Confounding variable: A type of extraneous variable that is related to the independent variable in the experiment. For example, if you were testing the effects of anxiety on memory recall, the relative levels of sensitivity to anxiety-inducing stimuli would be a confounding variable.

Question 8

Control variable

Answer 8

Control variable: Any variables that are kept constant through the experiment to prevent their effects on the dependent variable.

Question 9

Counterbalancing

Answer 9

Counterbalancing: To make half of the participant sample experience the different conditions of the experiment in one order, and the other half of the participants complete it in the opposite order.

Question 10

Demand characteristics

Answer 10

Demand characteristics: Changes in the participants’ behaviour to comply with the hypothesis of the researcher.

Question 11

Dependent variable

Answer 11

Dependent variable: The variable that changes in response to manipulation of the researcher, that is being measured for the experiment. For example, if you were testing the effects of anxiety on memory recall, memory recall would be the dependent variable.

Question 12

Directional hypothesis

Answer 12

Directional hypothesis: A hypothesis that specifies the direction of the relationship of the experiment e.g. coffee will have an effect on the reaction time of participants.

Question 13

Ecological validity

Answer 13

Ecological validity: How well results from a test can be applied to real life.

Question 14

Event sampling

Answer 14

Event sampling: An observational technique wherein an observer records every time a
particular behaviour or “event” occurs, usually in the form of a tally chart.

Question 15

Extraneous variable

Answer 15

Extraneous variable: Variables other than the independent variable that have an effect on the dependent variable. For example, if you were testing the effects of anxiety on memory recall, the intelligence levels of the participants could be an extraneous variable.

Question 16

Face validity

Answer 16

Face validity: If a test appears to be valid at first appearances, in spite of how well it works in a real world scenario.

Question 17

Falsifiability

Answer 17

Falsifiability: The quality of being able to be proven wrong. For example, the proposition “All crows are black” could be falsified by observing one white crow. Thus, the statement is falsifiable, even if a white crow has not been hitherto observed.

Question 18

Generalisation

Answer 18

Generalisation: To attribute information from a sample to the rest of the population.

Question 19

Hypothesis

Answer 19

Hypothesis: The prediction of the outcome of the experiment.

Question 20

Independent groups

Answer 20

Independent groups: An experimental design wherein different participants are involved in different conditions of the experiment. For example, using two different groups of people to test the effect of music on memory recall, with one group memorising during music playing and the other in silence.

Question 21

Independent variable

Answer 21

Independent variable: The variable that is manipulated by the researcher to observe its effects on the dependent variable. For example, if you were testing the effects of anxiety on memory recall, anxiety would be the independent variable.

Question 22

Inter-observer reliability

Answer 22

Inter-observer reliability: Multiple investigators gather information separately during an observation and compare their data for similarity after.

Question 23

Investigation effects

Answer 23

Investigation effects: Unconscious changes in the investigators behaviour to comply with the hypothesis of the investigation.

Question 24

Matched pairs

Answer 24

Matched pairs: An experimental design wherein participants in different conditions of the experiment are matched on certain variables to reduce the effect of participant variables. For example, in the Bobo doll study, children were matched on scores of aggressiveness for each condition.

Question 25

Non-directional hypothesis

Answer 25

Non-directional hypothesis: A hypothesis that does not specify the direction of the relationship of the experiment e.g. coffee will change the reaction times of participants (whether it will increase or decrease the times is not specified).

Question 26

Objectivity

Answer 26

Objectivity: Empirical; something that is not influenced by personal feelings.

Question 27

Open questions

Answer 27

Open questions: A type of question that requires answers that are longer than “yes” or “no”.

Question 28

Operationalisation (of variables)

Answer 28

Operationalisation (of variables): To clearly state and objectify a variable. For example, instead of measuring “aggression”, researchers would convert it into observable categories like “punching” and “kicking”.

Question 29

Opportunity sampling:

Answer 29

Opportunity sampling: A sampling technique that involves obtaining a sample via anyone that is available from the population at the time of collecting the sample. For example, handing questionnaires out to people outside a shopping mall.

Question 30

Paradigm

Answer 30

Paradigm: A basic concept; a well accepted core belief.

Question 31

Paradigm shift

Answer 31

Paradigm shift: When previously accepted core concepts in a science are changed,
usually due to the emergence of new evidence.

Question 32

Peer review

Answer 32

Peer review: The assessment of work by other people with similar levels of expertise in that field, to provide an unbiased expert opinion of the quality of said work.

Question 33

Pilot studies

Answer 33

Pilot studies: Preliminary/trial studies carried out to ensure the clarity of the study itself. For example, using a pilot questionnaire on a sample of people that give feedback on the clarity of the questions.

Question 34

Population

Answer 34

Population: The group represented by a sample.

Question 35

Random allocation

Answer 35

Random allocation: To allocate participants to separate conditions using some sort of randomisation technique. For example, using a computer to randomly generate groups for condition A and B.

Question 36

Random sampling

Answer 36

Random sampling: A sampling technique that involves randomly generating participants from the population by any randomisation technique. For example: random number generation from a computer, picking names out of a hat.

Question 37

Reliability

Answer 37

Reliability: Essentially replicability; the extent to which the test can be repeated and gather similar results.

Question 38

Repeated measures

Answer 38

Repeated measures: An experimental design wherein the same participants undergo all the conditions of the experiment. For example, when testing the effect of coffee on reaction time, all participants will be tested for reaction time with and without coffee.

Question 39

Replicability

Answer 39

Replicability: How easily a test can be reproduced.

Question 40

Sample

Answer 40

Sample: A smaller group that aims to be representative of a population.

Question 41

Standardisation

Answer 41

Standardisation: Keeping the experimental methods as identical as possible.

Question 42

Stratified sampling:

Answer 42

Stratified sampling: A sampling technique that involves establishing sub-groups (strata) within the population investigated and picking participants to create a representative sample. For example, if the population is 2⁄3 female and 1⁄3 male, the sample should also be 2⁄3 female and 1⁄3 male.

Question 43

Systematic sampling

Answer 43

Systematic sampling: A sampling technique that involves establishing a method to pick participants evenly distributed through the population. For example, picking every 10th participant in a list of the entire population.

Question 44

Temporal validity

Answer 44

Temporal validity: How well results from a test can be applied across time periods.

Question 45

Test-retest reliability

Answer 45

Test-retest reliability: Completing a test multiple times and comparing the scores for
similarity.

Question 46

Time sampling:

Answer 46

Time sampling: An observational technique wherein an observer only records specific behaviours in specific time intervals. For example observing and recording the behaviour of football fans at a stadium every 15 minutes for 30 seconds.

Question 47

Validity

Answer 47

Validity: Essentially truthfulness; the extent to which a test measures what it aims to measure, i.e. uncontrolled extraneous variables reduce validity because they affect what is supposed to be measured.

Question 48

Volunteer sampling

Answer 48

Volunteer sampling: A sampling technique that involves using participants that volunteer to take part in the study, provided they meet the inclusion criteria. For example, putting a request on an information board in your school and sending questionnaires to those that respond.