Psychology- research methods

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

General statements that describe the purpose of an investigation.

Question 2

Hypothesis

Answer 2

A statement that is made at the start of a study and clearly describes the relationship between variables as stated by the theory.

Question 3

Directional Hypothesis

Answer 3

The researcher makes a clear sort of difference that is anticipated between two conditions or groups of people.

Question 4

Non-directional hypothesis

Answer 4

Simply states that there is a difference between two conditions or groups of people but, unlike in a directional hypothesis, the nature of the difference is not specified.

Question 5

Extraneous variables

Answer 5

Any variable, other than the IV that may affect the DV if it is not controlled.

Question 6

Confounding variable

Answer 6

Kind of EV but the key features is that a confounding variable varies systematically with the IV. Therefore we cannot tell if any change in the DV is due to the IV or the confounding variables.

Question 7

Demand characteristics

Answer 7

Any cue from the researcher or from the research situation that may be interpreted by participants as revealing the purpose of an investigation. This may lead to a participant changing their behavior within the research situation.

Question 8

Investigator effects

Answer 8

Any effect of the investigator’s behavior on the research outcome.

Question 9

Experimental design

Answer 9

The different way in which participants can be organised in relation to experimental conditions

Question 10

Independent group design

Answer 10

Participants are allocated to different groups where each group represent one experimental condition
- no order effect

Question 11

Matched-pair design

Question 12

Random allocation

Answer 12

An attempt to control for participant variables in an independent group design which ensures that each participant has the same chance of being in one condition as any other.

Question 13

Counterbalancing

Answer 13

An attempt to control for the effects of order in a repeated measures design: half in one condition and the other half in another condition.

Question 14

Lab experiment

Answer 14

An experiment in an controlled environment within the researcher manipulates the IV. Strict control on EV

Question 15

Field experiment

Answer 15

An experiment that takes place in a natural setting and researcher can manipulate the IV.

Question 16

Natural experiment

Answer 16

An experiment where there is no manipulation of IV. Records DV

Question 17

Quasi experiment

Answer 17

A study that is almost an experiment but IV not manipulated and involves measuring what the researcher cannot change (EV)

Question 18

Population

Answer 18

A group of people who are the focus of the researcher’s interests, from a smaller sample is drawn.

Question 19

Sample

Answer 19

A group of people who take part in a research investigation. Sample is taken from target population and is presumed to be representative of that population

Question 20

Sampling technique

Answer 20

Method used to select people from the population

Question 21

Bias

Answer 21

When certain groups are over-under represented in a sample selected.

Question 22

Generalisation

Answer 22

The extent to which findings and conclusions from a particular investigation investigation can be broadly applied to the population.