Research Method Key Terms Flashcards
Quantitative research method
Data in form of numbers that are easy to summarize and submit to statistical analysis
Qualitative research method
Data gathered through direct interaction with participants- rich data
Aim
Purpose of a study
Procedure
Step-by-step process used by the researcher to carry out the study
Findings
State how the researcher interpreted the data that were collected
Independent variable
Variable causes a change in the other variable- the manipulated one
Dependent variable
Variable measured after the manipulation of the ind. variable
Operationalized
Written in such a way that it is clear what is being measured
Experimental hypothesis
Predicts the relationship between the IV and the DV- what is expected from the manipulation of IV
Null hypothesis
States that the IV will have no effect on the DV, or that any change in IV will be due to chance
Experimental (treatment) condition
When the condition in which the IV is manipulated
Control condition
Condition where a group gets no treatment/ condition
Repeated measures design
Uses the same participants in both the treatment and control group
Independent samples design
Makes use of two different groups of participants: one group is given the experimental treatment; the other group has no treatment
Target population
Group whose behaviour the researcher wishes to investigate
Participants
People who take part in a psychological study
Sample
The nature of the group of participants
Representative sample
A sample that represents a population
Bidirectional ambiguity
Where b/c no independent variable is manipulated, no cause-and-effect relationship can be determined
-do not know if x cause y or the other way around
Opportunity (convenience) sampling
Sample of whoever happens to be present and agrees to participate
Self-selected sampling
Sampling method made up of volunteers
Snowball sampling
When participants recruit other participants from among their friends and acquaintances
Random sampling
Defined as one in which every member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected
Sampling bias
An imbalance in a sample that has an under or over representation of gender, ethnicity, age so that it is not represented of the target population
Generalizability
The ability to assume that the behaviors observed in the random sample are representative of those in the larger population
Reliability
Results can be replicated
Inter-rater reliability
It assesses the external consistency of a test to ensure that people making subjective assessments are all in tune with one another. This refers to the degree to which different raters give consistent estimates of the same behavior.
Test-retest reliability
A measure of the consistency of a psychological test across time. It administers a test twice at two different points in time and assumes that there will be no change in the quality or construct being measured.
Internal validity
When the research actually measures what it intended to
Ecological validity
The study represents what happens in real life
Cross-cultural validity
Is the research relevant to other cultures
Confounding variables
Undesirable variables that influence the relationship between the independent and dependent variables
Demand characteristics
When participants act differently simply because they are being observed
Hawthorne effect
When participants act differently simply because they know they are in an experiment and they try to guess the ends of the study and act accordingly
Researcher bias
When the experimenter sees what he or she is looking for or the expectations of the researcher consciously or unconsciously affect the findings of the study
Participant variability
When characteristics of the sample affect the dependent variable
Artificiality
When the situation created is so unlikely to occur that one has to wonder if there is any validity in the findings
Social desirability effect
When most people want to present a positive picture of themselves so they may not always tell the truth when asked personal questions in an interview
Ethnocentrism
refers to a tendency to use your own culture as the standard by which to judge and evaluate other cultures
Order effect
When you use the same participants and they would learn what to remember in the first trial and this would affect the second trial
Contamination
the analysis and trial and error processes of allowing information, anticipations, or other elements concerning a variable under examination to impact the gathering and perception of information about such a variable
Placebo effect
phenomenon in which some people experience some type of benefit after the administration of a placebo (a substance with no known medical effects)
Single-blind control
When participants do not know what the study is about
Double-blind control
Not only do the participants not know whether they are in the treatment or control group but the person carrying out the experiment does not know the aim of this study nor whether each group is a treatment or control group
Reflexivity
When the researcher needs to reflect on his or her own background and beliefs and how these could play a role in the research process
Counterbalancing
To help avoid order effect you divide participants into 2 groups so group 1 goes a to b, then group 2 goes b to a
Informed consent
Participants must be informed about the nature of the study and agree to participate
Deception
When researcher do not want the participants to know the exact aim of the research b/c it can effect the results
Protection of participants
To make sure that no harm is done to participants and it is not permitted to humiliate a participant or force them to reveal private information
Debriefing
At the end of all studies the true aims and purpose of the research must be revealed to the participants
Right to withdraw
The participants have the right to leave the study at any time and that they can withdraw their data at the end of the study if they wish
Confidentiality
All the information that is obtained in a study must be confidential
Stress and pain
Researchers should take measures to minimize stress and pain
Consider alternative ways
Researchers should consider whether there are alternatives to animal research
Approval of research projects by ethical committee
Researchers must ask for permission to conduct research with animals the application must include details of the study including potential harm to animals and possible benefits of that research
Researcher competence
The researcher must have skills and experience in doing research with animals
Theory
An explanation for a psychological phenomenon- used to summarize, organize, and explain observations; used to make predictions about observed events
