Research Methods

Question 1

Research methods

Answer 1

The means by which explanations are tested

Question 2

Dependent variable (DV)

Answer 2

The factor measured by researchers in an investigation

Question 3

Experimental method

Answer 3

A research method using random allocation of participants and the manipulation fo variables to determine cause and effect

Question 4

Independent variable (IV)

Answer 4

The factor manipulated by researchers in an investigation

Question 5

Operationalisation of variables

Answer 5

The process of defining variables into measurable factors

Question 6

Extraneous variables (EV)

Answer 6

Variables other than the IV that might affect the DV

Question 7

Confounding variables

Answer 7

Uncontrolled extraneous variables that negatively affect results

Question 8

Demand characteristics

Answer 8

Features of a piece of research which allow the participants to work out its aim or hypotheses. Participants may then change their behaviour and so frustrate the aim of the research

Question 9

Participant variables

Answer 9

The differing individual characteristics that may impact how a participant responds in an experiment

Question 10

Situational variables

Answer 10

Features of an environment that affect the degree to which individuals yield to authority figures

Question 11

Investigar effects

Answer 11

A research effect where researcher features influence participants responses

Question 12

Laboratory experiments - Strengths

Answer 12

High degree of control, Replication, Cause and Effect, Isolation of variables

Question 13

Laboratory experiments - Weaknesses

Answer 13

Experimenter bias, Problems operationalising the IV and DV, Low external validity, Demand characteristics

Question 14

Field experiments - Strenghts

Answer 14

High ecological validity, No demand characteristics

Question 15

Field experiments - Weaknesses

Answer 15

Less control, Replication, Ethics, Sample bias

Question 16

Natural experiments - Strengths

Answer 16

High ecological validity

Question 17

Natural experiments - Weaknesses

Answer 17

Less control, Replication, Ethics, Sample bias

Question 18

Quasi experiments - Strengths

Answer 18

Controlled conditions

Question 19

Quasi experiments - Weaknesses

Answer 19

May be confounding variables

Question 20

Lab experiments

Answer 20

Experiment conducted in a controlled environment allowing the establishment of causality

Question 21

Field experiments

Answer 21

Experiment conducted in a naturalistic environment where the researchers manipulate the IV

Question 22

Natural experiments

Answer 22

Experiment where the independent variable varies naturally

Question 23

Quasi experiments

Answer 23

Where the researcher is unable to freely manipulate the IV or randomly allocate the participants to the different conditions

Question 24

Controlled observations

Answer 24

Surveillance and recording of events occurring under controlled conditions

Question 25

Participant observations

Answer 25

Surveillance of events where the observer takes part in the activity being observed

Question 26

Non-Participant observations

Answer 26

Surveillance of events where the observer takes no part in the activity being observed

Question 27

Overt observations

Answer 27

Surveillance of events where participants are aware of being observed

Question 28

Covert observations

Answer 28

Surveillance of events where participants are unaware of being observed

Question 29

Replicability

Answer 29

Being able to repeat a study to check the validity of the results

Question 30

Causal explanations

Answer 30

Where a change in a DV is attributable to manipulation of an IV

Question 31

Experimenter bias

Answer 31

Any systematic errors in the research process or the interpretation of its results that are attributable to a researcher's behaviours

Question 32

Ecological validity

Answer 32

A type of external validity concerning the extent to which the findings of studies can be generalised to real-life settings

Question 33

Sample bias

Answer 33

Where the sample does not reflect the characteristics of the target population

Question 34

External validity

Answer 34

The extent to which conclusions can be generalised beyond the setting of a study

Question 35

Naturalistic observations

Answer 35

Surveillance and recording of naturally occurring events

Question 36

Behavioural categories

Answer 36

Dividing target behaviours into subsets of behaviours through use of coding systems

Question 37

Ethical considerations

Answer 37

Moral aspects of research that need to be taken into account before studies are conducted

Question 38

Ethical implications

Answer 38

The consequences of conducting psychological research in unethical ways for participants and wider society

Question 39

Ethical issues

Answer 39

The rules governing the conduct of researchers in investigations

Question 40

Representativeness

Answer 40

How a sample of participants can be generalised to a much wider group of people

Question 41

Target population

Answer 41

The whole group of people in which a sample is taken from and is representative a population