Research definitions Flashcards
What is the first step in designing an experiment?
develop a testable research question or problem.
Hypothesis
a testable prediction about the relationship between two or more variables
Raw data`
the actual data collected from the staudy
Analysis of data
Involves: * organizing * summarizing * representing the raw data in a coherent ( understandable) and logical manner.
Interpret the data
involves forming conclusions about what the data shows.
Conclusion
is a decision or judgement about the meaningfulness of results in a study.
Addresses the Hypothesis, says if the results are statistically significant
experiment
is a study that investigates a cause and effect relationship between two or more variables
Variable
is any condition that can change
e.g. temperature, IQ
Independent Variable
“Miss Independent likes to change!”
Scientist controls.
It is a condition that an scientist systematically ( in an orderly way) varies or changes in order to gauge its effects on another variable.
e.g. a scientist studies if temperature effects the rate that seeds germinate.
Temperature is the IV.
Dependent Variable
What you measure in the experiment.
What is affected in the experiment.
Operational Definition
Explains what each variable is and how it is measured.
E.g. Operational definition of “work” is amount of study of text book in hours.
Experimental Group
the group exposed to the experimental condition. The IV is applied to them
e.g. they are given an experimental drug
Control Group
the group not exposed to the IV.
e.g. they are not given an experimental drug.
Population
the entire group of people belonging to a particular category.
Sample
a group of participants selected from and representative of a population .
Random Allocation
a technique that ensures every member of the sample has an EQUAL OPPORTUNITY of being assigned to either the control or experimental group
Extraneous Variables
any other variable that affects the results of the experiment.
e.g. mood, personality, motivation, memory etc.
Artificiality
the unnatural environment in which the experiment takes place effects the results.
Demand characteristics
the participants knowledge about the experiment affects their behavior.
This affects the experiments results.
Standardised procedures
are used to keep consistent each test and its procedure, making sure all the conditions are the same each time.
Order Effects
Occurs when the performance is influenced by the order in which the tasks are done
Mainly in repeated measures design.
(test and retest.)
Carry-over effects
the influence that a particular task has on performance in a later task.
Boredom effects
the repetition of the same task, or lack of concentration due to the simple nature of the task, its length etc.
Experimenter effects
occurs when there is a change in the participants’ response due to the researcher’s expectations, biases or actions rather than the IV.
Placebo
fake drug or treatment, used in the control group.
They are unaware if they are receiving the drug or not.
Placebo effect
refers to the improvement in health or wellbeing due to a person’s belief that the treatment given to them will be effective.
Independent Group Design
involves randomly allocating the members of the sample to either the experimental or control group.
Independent Group Design
Adv and Disadv
Adv = is quick and easy
Disadv = may not be fully representative of the population.
Matched Participants Design
involves pairing each participant based on a certain characteristic they share.
Matched Participants Design
Adv and Disadv
Adv = minimized extraneous variables
Disadv = time consuming, one may drop out etc.
Repeated Measures Design
only using one group of participants and exposing that group to both the control and experimental conditions.
Repeated Measures Design
Adv and Disadv
Adv = eliminates the impact of participant differences , requires rel small number of people.
Disadv = order effects, boredom effects , practice effects, carry-over effects.
Subjective data
data collected through observations of behavior or information based on self-report
Objective data
data collected and measured under controlled conditions and are easily compared and measured with other data
(e.g. numbers)
Convenience sampling
selecting people based on the researchers accessibility to them.
Convenience sampling
Adv and Disadv
Adv = convenient, quick
Disadv = biased, unable to generalize to people
Random Sampling
carefully planned and systematic method of selecting people for a study.
Random Sampling
Adv and Disadv
Adv = very quick and inexpensive, not biased.
Disadv = may not represent population
Stratified Sampling
breaking down the population into distinct subgroups.
Then select sample from each group.
Stratified Sampling
Adv and Disadv
Adv = representative of population.
Disadv = time consuming
Data Collection methods
case studies
observational studies
self report
brain imaging and recording technologies
case studies
in depth or detailed study on one person or small group
Most often longitudinal.
Adv = gain very specific info
Dis = time consuming, can’t generalize.
Observational Studies
a scientist observing another person or group of people in a natural environment, recording what they see.
Adv = eliminated artificiality
Dis = rely on scientist’s interpretation of events.
Self- report
Person asked to comment on own thoughts and feelings by answering questions on a particular topic
Adv = gain insight as to reasons behind behavior.
Dis = difficult to compare data due to subjective nature of data.
Brain Imaging
technology that involves gaining structural or functional images of an active brain
CT scans, MRI,
