Reasearch Methods Flashcards
Social desirability bias
During an interview, a respondant may answer a question in a way that is deemed socially acceptable
Inter-rater reliability
When more than one observer codes behaviour and their results are compared to check for agreement
Observer bias
When an observer interprets the observed behaviour according to their own view
One strength of an observation
Allow researchers to gather first-hand information
weakness of an observation
Observations can lack validity because of observer bias.
Ethical issues
Naturalistic observation
An observation conducted in an everyday environment where behaviour being studied is normally seen
A controlled or structured observation
An observation carried out in a laboratory or controlled environment
Overt observation
Participants know they are being observed as a part of an investigation
Covert observation
Participants are unaware that they are being observed
Participant observation
When an observer is involved in the group they are observing
Non-participant observation
The observer watched and records people without being actively involved
Independent variable(IV)
The variable directly manipulated by the researcher
Dependant variable(DV)
The variable being measured in a study
Extraneous variable
A variable that is not controlled which could affect the results of a study
Confounding variable
An extraneous variable that affects the results of the study so that the effect of the IV is not truly seen
Situational variable
An extraneous variable present in the environment of the study
Order effects
When participants improve or worsen in the second condition because they have practised or become fatigued
Demand characteristics
When the participant alters their behaviour in response to the perceived aims of the investigation
Investigator effect
When a researcher unintentionally gives clues to participants, altering their behaviour
Participant variables
Extraneous variable specific to the participants of an investigation, for example, their mood,ability, or personality
Standardised procedure
Where the procedure of a study is the same across all conditions
Counterbalancing
Where half of the participant group experience condition A then condition B, while the other half experience condition B then condition A
Randomisation
When participants are randomly assigned to condition A or B as their first or second test condition
Single-blind technique
When information about the study is withheld from participants
Double-blind technique
When the aims of the study is withheld from both participants and researchers
Random allocation
When participants are randomly assigned to a condition of the study
Null hypothesis
A prediction that the results will fail to show any difference (or relationdhip) that is consistent or systematic
Alternative (experimental) hypothesis
A prediction of the outcome of a study based on what is expected to happen
Direct hypothesis
A hypothesis that predicts the direction the results will go in
Non-direct hypothesis
A hypothesis that predicts that a difference/relationship will be found but does not specify what the difference/relationship will be
Experimental hypothesis
The name given to a hypothesis when used in field and laboratory experiments
Target population
The group of people being investigated in a study
Sample
A selection of the target population that is directly studied in an investigation
Generalisability
The extent to which the results of a study represent the whole population, not just the sample used
Sampling method
A technique used to gather a representative group of people as a sample from the target population
Random sampling technique
A technique used to gather a random sample of participants from the target population
Stratified sampling technique
A technique that ensures subgroups of the target population are proportionately represented in a sample
Sample error
When a sample differs in qualities from the target population it intends to represent
Volunteer sampling technique
A technique that asks for participants by placing an advert for volunteers
Biased sample
When the sample recruited is made up of a particular type of person, which may not reflect the target population
Opportunity sampling technique
A technique that recruits participants who are readily available at the time
Research design
How participants are allocated to the conditions of a study
Experimental design
The name given to research design when used in an experiment
Independent measures design
Participants are split into groups, with each group tested in only one condition of a study
Repeated measures design
The same participants are used in all conditions of a study
Matched pairs design
Different participants are used in each condition of the study, but are matched for likeness on important characteristics
Descriptive statistics
Ways of summarising data to make raw data easier to understand. Descriptive statistics include the mean, mode, range, and graphs
Raw data
The results themselves, without analysis
Range
The difference between the highest and lowest score in a set of data, to show the spread of scores
Measure of dispersion
A way of showing the spread of scores and variability
Mode
In a set of numbers, the most common one (the one found most often
Bi-modal
When there are two modes in a set of numbers
Multi-modal
When there are more than two modes in a set of numbers
Median
The middle score in a set of numbers
Mean/ arithmetic mean
The average of a set of numbers, found by adding them all up and dividing the result by how many original numbers there were
Normal distribution
When mean,median, and mode are very similar or the same
Skewed distribution
When median and/or mode differ from the mean
Frequency scores
The number of times each score is found in a dataset
Frequency table
Shows how often each score in a dataset is found using tallying
Tally
A way of recording each instance of something using a vertical mark for each instance
Frequency diagram/histogram
Illustrates frequency to show the distribution of continuous data
Bell curve
The shape of a normal distribution curve
