PY3 Definitions Flashcards
What is the independent variable?
Some aspect of the experimental situation that is manipulated by the experimenter to see if it causes a change in some other behaviour which is measured.
What is operationalisation?
How the concept is defined.
What are extraneous variables?
Any variable other than the IV that could affect the DV.
What are confounding variables?
Extraneous variables that have not been controlled and have had an effect on the behaviour being measured.
What is qualitative data?
Research findings that are in written or spoken form
What is quantitative data?
Data that are numerical in form
What are laboratory experiments?
A study that takes place in an artificial environment where variables being altered and measured are controlled and as many extraneous variables as possible are held constant or eliminated.
What is mundane realism?
When the artificial situation or activity is made to resemble a real-life situation, giving more ecological validity
What are demand characteristics?
This is when a participant attempts to work out the hypothesis being tested and provide results that they think are expected
What is evaluation apprehension?
Participants are apprehensive about being judged and this may affect the results.
What are experimented effects?
The experimenters behaviour, appearance and so on may have an effect on participants behaviour and may then effect the results.
What is experimenter bias?
How the experimenter treats the participants and the results in a way that supports his or hers own view.
What is a field experiment?
An experiment that takes place in a natural environment.
What is a natural experiment?
The IV is naturally occurring and is not under the control of the experimenter.
What is an independent groups design?
Two or more groups are used in different conditions of the experiment.
What are individual differences?
The variables between participants in different experimental conditions may affect the DV instead of the IV.
What are repeated measures?
One group of participants takes part in all conditions if the experiment
What is matched subjects design?
Two groups of participants are used, but the individual members if each group are matched on as many variables as possible.
What are order effects?
The effect that doing the experiment in a certain order has on the participant. Their behaviour in the second condition may change in the IV but because they are tired bored or have had practice at whatever they study is testing.
What is a naturalistic observation?
No interference in any way, generally used when studying non - human animals.
What is participant observation?
The observer joins in with the group to be observed. This can be done in two ways. The researcher either blends in with the group and hides his or her true identity or the observer can be introduced to the group and explain the research to the participants.
What is non-participant observation?
The observer studies behaviour without participating. There are two ways to do this: the observer can either be seen to observe the specific group and their behaviour or can remain hidden while studying the behaviour of the group.
What is an observation?
Simply observing and measuring the behaviour of animals and humans, generally in a natural setting with no interference from the researcher.
What is a correlation study?
A study that attempts to see how one variable is related to another.
What are open questions?
Questions that allow for a wide range of answers to be produced verbally. This type of questions allows participants to give a free range of answers, with no restrictions. However the data gained are very difficult to classify and manipulate statistically.
What are closed questions?
These tend to produce either quantitative data or one-word answers, which can be changed into numerical answers. The responses to these questions can be analysed more easily using descriptive and inferential statistics. This type if question imposes certain responses on the participants and offers very little detail and insight into the behaviour being studied.
What is an interview?
A way of asking questions by face-to-face interaction, questions are usually asked verbally and can be open or closed.
What is social-desirability bias?
Participants change their normal behaviour in order to be viewed in a more favourable light.
What is a questionnaire?
A way of gaining information about a particular topic, generally through the use if written questions open and closed.