Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Psychology > Research & Methodology > Flashcards

Research & Methodology Flashcards

1
Q

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE

A

A variable that can be changed or controlled, it is seen to have a direct effect on the DV
Eg the way the words are listed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

DEPENDANT VARIABLE

A

The variable being tested / measured

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

EXTRANEOUS VARIABLE

A

Factors that could affect the results that you identify before the study is done and control them

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

CONFOUNDING VARIABLES

A

Factors that happen during the study and affect the results

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

PARTICIPANTS

A

Characteristics of the people taking part

Control: things like a age,gender, social class and ethnicity keep them the same if necessary for the study

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

SITUATIONAL

A

Environmental factors that may affect the results

Control: counterbalancing ie giving half the participants condition A and half condition B

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

EXPERIMENTER

A

Cues given by the researcher eg muscular tension, gestures, tone of voice
May affect results.
Control: minimise contact between experimenter and participants

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Demand characteristics

A

When participants change their behaviour a a result cues from research situation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

When operationalising an independent variable I need to…

A

Describe exactly what the independent variable is and how it is measured

By doing this, it helps ensure that you know what they are looking at/manipulating, allowing you to measure it and determine if it’s the IV that is causing the changes to the DV

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

When operationalising a dependant variable I need to ..

A

Use a set of techniques/methods that allow you to measure the variable in research

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

PSYCHOLOGICAL VARIABLE: memory
OPERATIONAL DEFINITION:

A

The number of words recalled from a list

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

PSYCHOLOGICAL VARIABLE: intelligence
OPERATIONAL DEFINITION:

A

The ability to learn from experience , solve problems and use our knowledge to adapt to new situations (tests)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

PSYCHOLOGICAL VARIABLE:stress
OPERATIONAL DEFINITION:

A

Being in a state of worry/mental tension and feeling emotional strain and pressure (psychological questionnaire)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

PSYCHOLOGICAL VARIABLE: happiness
OPERATIONAL DEFINITION:

A

Questionnaires/self report surveys
State of being emotionally well

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

To test cause and effect what is used?

A

An experimental and control group

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How are the experimental and control group different to one another?

A

The experimental group is exposed to the independent variable whereas the control group is not

All conditions and variables are the same for the groups except the independent variable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What’s a baseline measure ?

A

The control group being used as a comparison to see how results differ from the experimental group

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What happens if there’s a difference in performances between the control and experimental group?

A

It’s fair to assume that the difference was caused by the independent variable , explaining the cause and effect of the studied behaviour

19
Q

Give the independent variable and dependant variable of this:
More words will be remembered if they are grouped in an organised way than when they are listed randomly

A

IV: the way the words are listed (list will be organised
DV: how many words can be accurately memorised

20
Q

IV and DV of:
Boys score differently on aggressiveness tests than girls

A

IV: who’s taking it (boys or girls)
DV: aggressiveness test

21
Q

Give the IV and the DV of
Students who have a computer at home do better in exams than those who don’t

A

IV: seeing whether a student owns a computer or not
DV: testing students with an exam and assessing their score

22
Q

What are extraneous variables?

A

All other variables other than the independent variable and it is important that the experimenter controls these

23
Q

What should be done for extraneous variables before the experiment starts?

A

They should be identified and controlled

24
Q

Give examples of extraneous variables

A

Environmental variables such as noise, temperature, lighting, distractions etc.

25
How is the lab experiment highly controlled?
It takes place in a room where the psychologist can have control over nearly if not all the confounding variables
26
Give the extraneous variables of the following: Testing drugs to enhance exam performance
What the exam is/ amount of hours of studying / background noise etc
27
What are participant variables and how can you control it?
Characteristics of the people taking part Have groups of people with similar characteristics and control them
28
What are situational extraneous variables and how can you control them
Environmental factors that may affect the results Try to control the noise levels/ temperature of the room/anything that could potentially influence this
29
What are experimenter extraneous variables and how can you control them
Cues given by the researcher ie muscular tension, gestures, tone of voice may affect the results Hire a different person to carry out the investigation so that no opinions are influenced
30
What are demand characteristics
When participants change their behaviour as a result of cues from a research situation
31
Independent measures description
A group of participants are selected to take part in the experiment. Then they are allocated to one or other of experimental conditions. Therefore it’s 20 participants are selected ten would be allocated experimental group and 10 would go in the control group. They would only completed all the tasks. The results of the two groups would then be compared.
32
Repeated measures description
In this type of experiment, one group of participants chosen, and the participants take part in the conditions of the experiment. For example, in an experiment to see how lack of sleep affect memory, the participants are given a memory test. Then they are not allowed to sleep at night and give an alarm for memory test. They would complete both tasks. The results are compare to see if lack of sleep affects her memory.
33
Matched pairs description
Have the participants are tested first on whatever skills involved in the experiment. Then the schools are compared and each participant is matched to someone who scored similar to them on the test. One of the matched pair is put into the experimental condition and one is put into the control. This is similar to the independent measures design as they only take part in one condition therefore only doing one of the tasks.
34
Strengths / advantages of independent measures
- No order effects less chance practice effects fatigue - less demand characteristics
35
Strengths/advantagesof repeated measures design
- Less chance participant variables impacting - less participants are needed
36
Strengths advantages of the matched pair design
- - participant variables are reduced
37
Weaknesses) disadvantages of independant measures designs
_ Participant variables impact results - more participants are needed
38
Weaknesses/disadvantages of repeated measures design
Order affects more chance of practice, effects and fatigue More chance demand characteristics
39
Weaknesses disadvantages of matching pairs design
Participant variables, But not removed completely. Difficult to match exactly Time-consuming and expensive More participants are needed
40
For self selecting/volunteering write: What is it? Example of how to carry it out Strengths Weaknesses
- Consists of participants becoming part of a studybecause they volunteer when assed or response to an adult - ask people to have themselves participate in the research - quick ,convenient and economicalican reach a wide variety of participants - Can be unrepresentative , people personal reason (personal gain/ self-interest, similar characteristics, so biased
41
For stratified write: What is it? Example of how to carry it out Strengths Weaknesses
_ Classifying the population into categories and then choosing a sample which consists of participants from each category in the same proportion they are in the population - eg from sixth Som, important variables are sex, 1st and 2nd years age. identify many participants there are in each of these categories - representative - time consuming
42
For random write: What is it? Example of how to carry it out Strengths Weaknesses
- Gives every person from the forget population an equal chance of being selected - every name is given a number and a list of random numbers is then used to select the sample either magical or using a computer - can be representative every member has an equal chance of getting picked - can be unrepresentative eg a disproportionate amount of female studeres might be picked
43
For opportunity write: What is it? Example of how to carry it out Strengths Weaknesses
-Opportunity samples are made up of anyone who is willing once available to take part at the time of the study taking place -N/a - quick, convenient and economical - can be unrepresentative (Eg work hours- not include individuals who work, school )
44
What is systematic sampling?
Every 4th or 10t person for example

Psychology (14 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions