Research Design Flashcards
What is a population
Population
• Refers to the entire group of research interest from which a sample is drawn.
o All Year 11 SACE Psychology Students in SA.
What is a sample
• Usually a subsection, or smaller group of research participants selected from a larger group (population) of research interest.
o Brighton Secondary Students Year 11 SACE Psychology Classes.
What is reliability
• The ability to produce consistent results.
o If a test has high reliability, every time the same participant partakes in the test, they will receive the same result.
What is validity
• The measure’s ability to assess the variable it is supposed to assess.
o If a test has high validity, it will achieve similar results to those that have already been validated.
What is experimental design
• Most scientifically rigorous and controlled research method used in psychology.
• Used to test whether one variable or factor influences or causes change in another variable.
• Contains the following features:
o Variables (Independent/Dependent)
o Experimental and Control Groups
o Attempt to control extraneous variables – such as participant, experimental and situational.
What is observational design
- Any form of examination of an observable event, and recording data in the form of scores, values or written responses that represent a phenomenon.
- Both qualitative and quantitative data can be collected.
What is qualitative design
- Establishing answers to the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ of a particular phenomenon occurring rather than directly establishing cause and effect.
- Generally, a reflective process, adapting to the needs of the experimenters and research participants.
what is the independent variable
The characteristic of a psychology experiment that is manipulated or changed by researchers.
what is the dependent variable
The variable that is being measured or tested in the experiment.
extraneous variable
Is a variable other than the IV that can cause a change in the DV in an experiment. They can be classified as either participant, situational or experimental. They are the overarching name for variables which change the DV that is not the IV.
participant
The individual characteristics that participants involved in research bring with them. They can include biological sex, intelligence, personality characteristics, motivation, emotional state, cultural background etc.
Placebo: a type of participant variable, refers to an improvement in health or wellbeing due to an individuals belief that the treatment given to them will be effective. Response is influenced by expectation.
situational
All participants of different groups within an experiment must be tested under the same conditions and situation.
Variables associated with the experimental situation itself that may affect the outcome of an experiment in an unwanted way.
experimenter
Personal characteristics of the experimenter and their behaviour during the experiment may unintentionally affect the way in which the research participants respond.
