Methods P2 Flashcards
Independent variable
What is manipulated by the researcher or changes natrually to test its effect on the dependant variable
Dependant variable
What is measured by the researcher and influenced by the independent variable
Extraneous variable
Everything that could effect the DV that’s not the IV
- they do vary sustematically with the IV
Confounding Variable
Any variable, other than the IV, that may have effected the DV, so we cannot be sure of the true source of changes to the DV. Confounding variables vary systematically with the IV
3 examples of extraneous variable
• participant variable
• situation variable
• investigator effects
When do you use non-directional hypothesis?
When there is no previous research
Aim
A general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate
To investigate weather…
Hypothesis
A clear, precise, testable statement that states the relationship between the variables to be tested. Stated at the beginning of the study
Direct hypothesis
States the direction of the differences or the relationship between tested groups
Non-direct hypothesis
Does not state the direction of the relationship
Operationalisation
Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured
Confounding variable
A type of EV accept it varies systematically with the IV. Therefore one doesn’t know if change in DV is IV of confounding variable
Demand characteristics
Any cue from the researcher or the research situation that may be interpreted by the participant as revelling the purpose of the investigation. This may lead to a participant changing their behaviour within the research situation
Investigator effect
Any effect from the investigator’s behaviour on the DV, could be anything from dessign of study, selection and interation with particpants
Randomisation
Chance methods to to control effect of bias
Standardisation
Using same procedures for all participants
Different types of validity
External validity
Internal validity
Ecological
Temporal
Population
Different types of observations
• naturalist
• controlled
• covert
• overt
• participant
• non participant
BPS code of ethics
• respect
• competence
• responsibility
• integrity
Experimental group desing (3 + 1)
- independent group design
- repeated measure
- matched pair desing, random allocation
- counter blaencing
Independent groups
Different groups of participants in different conditions
Repeated measure
The same group of participants go through all different conditions
Matched pairs
Screen participants in order to match them in pairs with similar attributes that are being tested/ have and effect on the DV, split the pair to experience the two different conditions
Counter balancing
splitting the group in half so one group experince the condition s in one order and the other half in the other order
- attemt to control order effects
BPS code of ethics
A quasi-legal document instructing psychologists in the UK about acceptable behaviour in experiments based around respect competence responsibility and integrity
5 different types of sampling
• random sample
• systematic sample
• stratified sample
• opportunity sample
• Volunteer sample
Random sampling
All members of target population have equal chance of being selected
Systematic sampling
Every nth member of target population is selected
Stratified sampling
Composition of the sample reflects the proportion of people in certain subgroups
Opportunity sampling
Takes anyone willing and available
Volunteer sampling
Participants select themselves i.e in a response to an add
Different types of experiments (4)
• lab experiment (in the lab)
• field experiment (in natural setting control over IV)
• natural experiment (IV would have happens without researcher)
• quasi-experiment (variables exist i.e they are old)
Laboratory experiment
- takes place in an controlled environment
- the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effects on the DV
- maintaining strict control of extraneous variables
Field experiment
In the natrual environment of the participant like the street
Natural experiment
When the IV would have happened with or without the researcher
Quasi experiment
Where the variables just exist already like age
Correlation
An association between two co variables
Co variables
Unlike DV or IV co variable aren’t trying to show a cause and effect relationship
Curvilinear relationship
Meta analysis
The process of combining findings from a number of studies in a particular topic to produce an overall statistical conclusion
Ethical evaluation
Deception
Consent
Protection from harm
Difference between correlation and experiment
Correlation is not causal relationship ?