RESEARCH METHODS Flashcards
Population
Group of interest to research. Eg: Mount scopus students
Sample
Subset of the population that is used in an experiment to represent the population
Eg: Mount scopus VCE students
Independent variable (x)
The variable that has been systematically manipulated by the researcher.
Dependent variable (y)
The variable that is measured as a result of the change made to the independent variable
Extraneous variable
Any variable other than the IV that could have an impact on the DV (and therefore should be controlled) Eg: sleep
Hypothesis
IPAD
Independent variable, population, affect, dependent variable
Random sample
Where all members of the population have an equal chance of being chosen to participate in the research.
Eg: Put VCE students number in a hat and selected 20 numbers
Convenience sample
Using participants who are readily available to participate in the research.
Eg: get 20 students from the quad
Stratified sample
Where the proportions in the sample represent the proportions in the population. Eg: Year 12 students number in a hat and year 11 student number in a hat and select 10 from each hat
Experimental group
Group of participants that are exposed to the IV.
Eg: the group that drinks the diet coke
Control group
Group of participants that are not exposed to the IV (are used as a point of comparison for the DV).
Eg: the group that drinks the water
Placebo Effect
Where the participant’s behaviour changes due to their expectations that the treatment given will change their behaviour.
Experimenter Effect
The person conducting the experiment may influence the DV unintentionally. This can be accounted for by using a double blind procedure.
Single Blind Procedure
Where the participant does not know if they are in the experimental or control group (blind to their position)
Double Blind Procedure
Where neither the person administering the experiment, nor the participants know which is the experimental group and which is the control group . (experimenter should know)
Case study
An in depth study of one person or a very small group
Advantages –> Rich information, in depth details about the person or condition
Limitations –> This one person might not represent the population
Qualitative
Information collected in word form
Eg: How are you feeling today? What’s your favourite colour?
Quantitative
Information collected in number form
Eg: On a scale of 1-5, how are you feeling today? How long does it take you to fall asleep?
Objective
Data that cannot be interpreted eg: number of, measurements etc
Subjective
Data that can be interpreted eg: how are you feeling today?
Reliability
This refers to the consistency of the measurement tool. If it is reliable then the same experiment repeated again should produce similar results.
Validity
This refers to the ability of the measurement tool to measure what it claims to be measuring
Internal validity
This is the extent to which the IV is the only impact on the DV. If there are extraneous variables present, the research lacks internal validity. It would therefore be problematic to try to reach a conclusions
External validity
This is the extent to which the results of an experiment can be generalized to the population of interest.
If the sample is too small (or biased) then the research lacks external validity and it would not be possible to generalise the results of the population of interest
Independent groups
Each participant is exposed to only one experimental condition
Matched participants
Each participant in one condition has a pair with corresponding characteristics / traits in the other conditions
Repeated measures
Each participant is exposed to all experimental conditions
Ethical considerations
Confidentiality, voluntary participation, withdrawal rights, informed consent, use of deceptions, debriefing
