Research definitions

Question 1

What is the first step in designing an experiment?

Answer 1

develop a testable research question or problem.

Question 2

Hypothesis

Answer 2

a testable prediction about the relationship between two or more variables

Question 3

Raw data`

Answer 3

the actual data collected from the staudy

Question 4

Analysis of data

Answer 4

Involves:
 * organizing
* summarizing
*  representing
the raw data in a coherent
( understandable) and logical manner.

Question 5

Interpret the data

Answer 5

involves forming conclusions about what the data shows.

Question 6

Conclusion

Answer 6

is a decision or judgement about the meaningfulness of results in a study.
Addresses the Hypothesis, says if the results are statistically significant

Question 7

experiment

Answer 7

is a study that investigates a cause and effect relationship between two or more variables

Question 8

Variable

Answer 8

is any condition that can change

e.g. temperature, IQ

Question 9

Independent Variable

Answer 9

“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.

Question 10

Dependent Variable

Answer 10

What you measure in the experiment.

What is affected in the experiment.

Question 11

Operational Definition

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

Experimental Group

Answer 12

the group exposed to the experimental condition. The IV is applied to them
e.g. they are given an experimental drug

Question 13

Control Group

Answer 13

the group not exposed to the IV.

e.g. they are not given an experimental drug.

Question 14

Population

Answer 14

the entire group of people belonging to a particular category.

Question 15

Sample

Answer 15

a group of participants selected from and representative of a population .

Question 16

Random Allocation

Answer 16

a technique that ensures every member of the sample has an EQUAL OPPORTUNITY of being assigned to either the control or experimental group

Question 17

Extraneous Variables

Answer 17

any other variable that affects the results of the experiment.
e.g. mood, personality, motivation, memory etc.

Question 18

Artificiality

Answer 18

the unnatural environment in which the experiment takes place effects the results.

Question 19

Demand characteristics

Answer 19

the participants knowledge about the experiment affects their behavior.
This affects the experiments results.

Question 20

Standardised procedures

Answer 20

are used to keep consistent each test and its procedure, making sure all the conditions are the same each time.

Question 21

Order Effects

Answer 21

Occurs when the performance is influenced by the order in which the tasks are done
Mainly in repeated measures design.
(test and retest.)

Question 22

Carry-over effects

Answer 22

the influence that a particular task has on performance in a later task.

Question 23

Boredom effects

Answer 23

the repetition of the same task, or lack of concentration due to the simple nature of the task, its length etc.

Question 24

Experimenter effects

Answer 24

occurs when there is a change in the participants’ response due to the researcher’s expectations, biases or actions rather than the IV.

Question 25

Placebo

Answer 25

fake drug or treatment, used in the control group. | They are unaware if they are receiving the drug or not.

Question 26

Placebo effect

Answer 26

refers to the improvement in health or wellbeing due to a person's belief that the treatment given to them will be effective.

Question 27

Independent Group Design

Answer 27

involves randomly allocating the members of the sample to either the experimental or control group.

Question 28

Independent Group Design Adv and Disadv

Answer 28

Adv = is quick and easy Disadv = may not be fully representative of the population.

Question 29

Matched Participants Design

Answer 29

involves pairing each participant based on a certain characteristic they share.

Question 30

Matched Participants Design Adv and Disadv

Answer 30

Adv = minimized extraneous variables Disadv = time consuming, one may drop out etc.

Question 31

Repeated Measures Design

Answer 31

only using one group of participants and exposing that group to both the control and experimental conditions.

Question 32

Repeated Measures Design Adv and Disadv

Answer 32

Adv = eliminates the impact of participant differences , requires rel small number of people. Disadv = order effects, boredom effects , practice effects, carry-over effects.

Question 33

Subjective data

Answer 33

data collected through observations of behavior or information based on self-report

Question 34

Objective data

Answer 34

data collected and measured under controlled conditions and are easily compared and measured with other data (e.g. numbers)

Question 35

Convenience sampling

Answer 35

selecting people based on the researchers accessibility to them.

Question 36

Convenience sampling Adv and Disadv

Answer 36

Adv = convenient, quick Disadv = biased, unable to generalize to people

Question 37

Random Sampling

Answer 37

carefully planned and systematic method of selecting people for a study.

Question 38

Random Sampling Adv and Disadv

Answer 38

Adv = very quick and inexpensive, not biased. Disadv = may not represent population

Question 39

Stratified Sampling

Answer 39

breaking down the population into distinct subgroups. | Then select sample from each group.

Question 40

Stratified Sampling Adv and Disadv

Answer 40

Adv = representative of population. Disadv = time consuming

Question 41

Data Collection methods

Answer 41

case studies observational studies self report brain imaging and recording technologies

Question 42

case studies

Answer 42

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.

Question 43

Observational Studies

Answer 43

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.

Question 44

Self- report

Answer 44

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.

Question 45

Brain Imaging

Answer 45

technology that involves gaining structural or functional images of an active brain CT scans, MRI,