Research Methodology

Question 1

determinism

Answer 1

assumption of order, not randomness or chaos. Events have systematic, meaningful causes.

Question 2

parsimony

Answer 2

the pragmatic recommendation that, everything else being equal, we should prefer simplicity over complexity. Explanations and causes should not include unnecessary factors or processes. If there are two valid explanations; then the simpler one of the two should be accepted.

Question 3

Occam’s Razor

Answer 3

Simplicity over unnecessary complexity.

Question 4

testability

Answer 4

ideas should be (dis)confirmable using available research techniques

Question 5

systematic empiricism

Answer 5

structured and organised approach to gathering data/observations in order to answer questions

Question 6

theory

Answer 6

general principle or set of principles that explain a phenomenon or event

Question 7

concept/construct

Answer 7

labels that refer to abstract ideas

e.g., intelligence, memory, happiness, depression

Question 8

hypothesis

Answer 8

prediction to be tested in a research study

Question 9

research ethics

Answer 9

application of moral principles and practice to consider the risks versus benefits of doing a research study

Question 10

population

Answer 10

set of individuals that the research question focuses on

Question 11

variables

Answer 11

concrete indicator of a concept/construct, that is measured or manipulated using observable methods

Question 12

process

Answer 12

a general term to describe operations or relationships

Question 13

theoretical/conceptual framework

Answer 13

a more formal way of articulating or presenting a set of principles. A framework is a set of principles that is presented in a systematic or structured way

Question 14

research rationale

Answer 14

An argument for why/how this new study makes a novel contribution to existing knowledge. Including ‘making a novel contribution to’: theory/conceptual understanding, methodology, and practice.

Question 15

score

Answer 15

response on variable of interest to psychology

Question 16

groups

Answer 16

any categorisation, collective units of individuals. There are many used in psychology.

Question 17

null hypothesis

Answer 17

H0 = statement that there is no effect. There is no difference between the groups/there is no relationship between the variables

Question 18

experimental/alternative hypothesis

Answer 18

H1 = statement that there is an effect. There is a difference between the groups/there is a relationship between the variables

Question 19

directional hypothesis

Answer 19

states the nature of the effect between variables/relationship between groups

Question 20

non-directional hypothesis

Answer 20

states the overall effect only. There is a difference between the groups/there is a relationship between the variables

Question 21

systematic variation

Answer 21

variation due to the effect that is being investigated.

Question 22

unsystematic/random/error/residual variation

Answer 22

variation due to reasons other than the effect that is being investigated in the research question

Question 23

probability

Answer 23

chance of an event occurring, ranging from 0 (certainly will not occur) to 1 (certainly will occur)

Question 24

BPS four general principles

Answer 24

1) respect for the
autonomy, privacy, 
and dignity of individuals and communities.
2) maximising benefit 
and minimising harm.
3) scientific integrity.
4) social responsibility.

Question 25

autonomy

Answer 25

independence; freedom from external control or influence

Question 26

privacy

Answer 26

state of being free from public attention

Question 27

dignity

Answer 27

being worthy of honour and respect

Question 28

scientific integrity

Answer 28

being correct and honest. Being truthful in the way that we conduct and report scientific research

Question 29

social responsibility

Answer 29

the duty to act in the best interests of individuals and communities

Question 30

coercion

Answer 30

persuasion using threats or force (physical or psychological)

Question 31

confidentiality

Answer 31

maintenance of participants’ privacy

Question 32

anonymity

Answer 32

cannot identify individuals from their responses

Question 33

passive deception

Answer 33

withholding full truth or key pieces of relevant information

Question 34

active deception

Answer 34

intentionally misinforming participants about the true state of affairs in a study

Question 35

experimental realism

Answer 35

extent to which a study engages participants’ attention and feels like a genuine activity/experience to them

Question 36

researcher control

Answer 36

holding everything constant except variables of interest

Question 37

sampling error

Answer 37

the likely difference/discrepancy between the results found in a particular sample and the results that would have been obtained in the population

Question 38

Within-participants manipulation

Answer 38

each participant is in every condition of the study and provides a DV score in every condition

Question 39

between-participants manipulation

Answer 39

each participant is in one condition/group of the study and provides a DV score for that one condition.

Question 40

practice effect

Answer 40

task can get easier in each new condition

Question 41

interference effect

Answer 41

task can get harder in each new condition

Question 42

counterbalancing

Answer 42

systematically varying the order in which participants complete the conditions in a within-participant’s design

Question 43

true experiment

Answer 43

random assignment of individuals to conditions/groups

Question 44

quasi experiment

Answer 44

non-random assignment of individuals to conditions/groups; it makes use of pre-existing groups e.g gender