Psychology Research Methods Flashcards
What is a Hypothesis ?
A Hypothesis is a statement that is made at the start of a study what describes the relationship between variables as stated by the theory. Its a statement, not a question.
What is an Experimental Method ?
Experimental Methods, involves manipulating the independent variable to determine if these changes causes changes in the dependent variables. This method relies on high levels to control to test a hypothesis.
What are Research Aims ?
Research aims is a statement about what the researcher intends to investigate. It’s the purpose of the study.
Are Hypothesises precise and testable ?
Hypothesis’s is a precise and testable statement where their is a relationship between 2 variables.
What is a Null Hypothesis ?
A Null Hypothesis states that there will be no significant difference between 2 variables. There will be no significant difference/correlation.
What is a Independent Variable ?
A Independent Variable is an aspect of the researcher situation that is manipulated by the researcher, or that changes naturally.
What is a Dependent Variable ?
A Dependent Variable is something that is measured in an experiment by a researcher, and should be caused by the Independent Variable.
What is a Extraneous Variable ?
A Extraneous variable are any variable other than the Independent Variable that might affect the dependent variable and thus affect the results.
What are Confounding Variable ?
A Confounding Variable is a variable that varies systematically with the Independent variable so we cannot be sure of the source of the change of the Dependent variable. If the Extraneous varaible is not controlled it becomes a confouding varaible.
What are Participant Variables ?
Participant Variables is anything to do with people used in the study which could affect the dependent variable other than the independent variable. An example is Gender.
What are Situational Variables ?
Situational Variables are anything to do with the environment the way the study was conducted in which could affect the Dependent Variable other than the Independent Variable. An example is Noise.
What is involved in a Repeated Measures Design ?
In a Repeated Measure Design the same participants take part in all conditions of the Independent Variable. Participants do 2 different test. For example if the first test is to listen to music while doing a test. A week later the same participants will do the next test to do the tests without music.
What are the Strengths of Repeated Measures ?
-It eliminates participant variables.
-Fewer participants needed, what makes it less time consuming.
What are the Limitations of Repeated Measures?
-The order of the conditions, may affect performance.
-When participants do the second tests they may guess the purpose of the experiment, which may affect their behaviour.
What is a solution to dealing with these limitations in Repeated Measures ?
-Researcher may use 2 different tests to reduce a practise effect. The tests must be equivalent. This can be done by conducting a test of 40 items and randomly allocating item to Test A and B.
-The main way that order effects are dealt with is using counterbalancing. In order to avoid participants guessing the aims of the study, a cover story can be presented about the purpose of the test.
What is involved in a Independent Group Design ?
Participants are placed in separate groups, each group will do one level of the Independent Variable.
-We can compare the performance of the Dependent Variable of the 2 groups.
What are the limitations of Independent Measures ?
-The researcher cannot control the effects of participant variables.
An example is when participants in Group A might happen to have a better memory than those in Group B. This can be a confounding variable.
-Independent Groups design needs more participants than Repeated Measures design in order to end up with the same amount of data.
What is a solution to dealing with these limitations in Independent Measures?
- Randomly Allocating participants to conditions can distribute participant variables evenly.
-Random allocation can be done by putting the participants names in a hat and drawing out names, allocating them to different groups.
What are the strengths of Independent Measures ?
-There are no order effects presented.
-Participants are less likely to guess the aims of the study[demand characteristics are eliminated].
What is involved in Matched Paired Design ?
-Matched Paired Design involves using 2 group of participants by matching participants on their key characteristics.
That affect performance on the Dependent Variables.
-These characteristics of matching must be relevant to the study.
For example you don’t need to match participants by gender if you are carrying out a memory test. Unless you have evidence that women have a better memory than men.
