Research Methods Flashcards
Aim
a statement outlining the purpose of the study p. 3
Allocation
the process of assigning participants to conditions in the experiment for the research p. 23
Bar chart
a graph that depicts the relationship between two variables using rectangular bars p. 49
Case study
an in-depth study of an individual or a very small group of individuals p. 12
Choosing an experimental research design
the process of choosing an appropriate experimental research design in order to reduce possible extraneous and confounding variables p. 29
Conclusion
a statement regarding the results of an investigation as to whether the hypothesis was supported or not p. 55
Confidentiality
the right of the participant for their personal details to remain private p. 36
Confounding variables
variables other than the independent variable that have directly and systematically had an effect on the dependent variable p. 28
Control group
a group that is used as a basis for comparison; participants are not exposed to the experimental conditions (the IV) p. 15
Convenience sampling
when a sample is selected using the quickest and easiest means possible, selecting people who are readily available from the population p. 22
Counterbalancing
a method used in repeated measures experimental designs to reduce order effects p. 30
Cross-sectional study
when data is collected from participants from different segments of the population (pre-existing cohorts) to represent a ‘snapshot’ in time p. 12
Debriefing
a process which occurs at the conclusion of a study and involves the researcher outlining the nature of the study to participants and includes ensuring that participants do not leave the study with lasting harm p. 36
Deception
when the participant is unaware of the true nature of the study p. 36
Dependent variable (DV)
the variable that is being measured in an experiment for changes it experiences due to the effect of something (i.e. the independent variable) p. 5
Descriptive statistics
statistics that are used to organise and summarise data p. 47
Double-blind procedure
a procedure in which both the participants and the person conducting the experiment are unaware of which condition participants have been allocated to in order to reduce experimenter bias and participant expectations p. 31
Empirical evidence
data that is collected through direct observation or through experiments p. 2
Ethical guidelines
a set of rules and considerations that researchers must abide by when conducting research p. 34
Ethics committee
a group of people who review research proposals and consider the potential risks, benefits and implications in order to either approve or disapprove them for research p. 35
Experiment
a study conducted in a carefully controlled environment to measure the cause and effect relationship between variables p. 11
Experimental group
the group within an experiment that are exposed to experimental conditions (the IV) p. 15
Experimenter effects
when an experimenter’s expectations about the study influence the results p. 31
External validity
the extent to which the results of an investigation can be applied to other settings, people and time p. 57
Extraneous variables
variables other than the independent variable that may produce unwanted results in an experiment p. 28
Generalisability
the extent to which the results of an investigation can be applied to the wider research population p. 56
Hypothesis
a testable prediction about the outcome of an experiment; it is written in the form of a statement and includes the variables that will be tested p. 3
Independent groups design
an experimental design in which participants are split into two or more groups; typically a control group and an experimental groups p. 16