Methodology Vocab Flashcards
Independent Variable (IV)
The variable whose effect is being studied.
Dependent Variable (DV)
The measured outcome of a study; the responses of the subjects in a study.
Quasi-experiments
Experiments in which the experimenter foes not manipulate the IV.
One-tailed Hypothesis
DIRECTIONAL; predicts that one group or condition will perform better than the other.
Two-tailed Hypothesis
NON-DIRECTIONAL; does not make a prediction about which group or condition will perform better.
Null Hypothesis
States that there is no relationship between the IV and DV.
Independent Samples
Two or more groups are tested.
Repeated Measures
All participants take part in all conditions of the experiment.
Matched Pairs
Each participant is identical to one other participant in terms of a third variable (twins).
Internal Validity
The degree to which the effects observed in an experiment are due to the independent variable and not confounding variables.
Confounding Variables
Confounding variables effect the DV, makes it so the experiment is testing something other than the IV.
History
Subject characteristics that negatively effect the study.
Mortality
Subjects dropping out of the experiment before its completion.
Maturation
Subjects changing during the study (usually learning something about the topic).
Counterbalancing
A method of controlling for order effects in a repeated measure design (1/2 see photos in one order, 1/2 see in another order).
Hawthorne Effect
When subjects change their behavior due to being in an experiment.
Filler Activity
An activity that distracts the subjects from the experiment.
Experimenter Bias
Behaviors of the experimenter that effect the subject behavior.
Demand Characteristics
Where subjects try to find out the true purpose of the study.
Standardized Instructions
A set of instructions given the exact same way to every participant of an experiment.
Instrumentation
Unanticipated changes in the results because of inconsistencies in data collection.
Balancing
Half of the participants test in one room and half in another.
Progressive Errors
When subjects practice the experimental skill before the experiment begins.
External Validity
The extent to which the results of the study can be generalized outside the study.
Population External Validity
Generalizing the results to a larger population.
Ecological External Validity
Generalizing based on experimental conditions, such as time of day, temperature, and the setting.
Target Population
The whole group you want to study or describe.
Simple Random Sampling
Everyone in the population to which researchers wish to generalize has an equal opportunity of being in the sample.
Stratified Random Sampling
Researcher identifies particular demographic categories of interest and then randomly selects individuals within each category.
Opportunity Sampling
Selecting subjects based on the opportunity to use them.
Random Allocation
Everyone in the sample has an equal chance of being in either condition or group.
Nominal Data
A type of qualitative data which groups variables into categories
Interval Data
Data which comes in the form of a numerical value where the difference between points is standardized and meaningful.
Ordinal Data
Data which is placed into some kind of order or scale.
Pilot
Testing the materials on a group similar to the participants in the real study before you run the experiment.
Type II Error
When the hypothesis is correct but the study is unable to show it.
Psychometric Test
Standardized tests that quantify human characteristics.
Standardization
The process researchers go though to make instruments reliable and valid.
Triangulation
Studying theories from more than one standpoint.
