Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Psychology AQA AS Level > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Psychology 101 flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards AP® Psychology flashcards
1
Q

Define aim

A

A statement of what the researcher intends to find out in a research study

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

Define debriefing

A

A post-research interview designed to inform participants of the true nature of the study and to restore them to the state they were at the start of the study

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

Define ethical issues

A

Concern questions of right or wrong

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

Define hypothesis

A

A precise and testable statement about the assumed relationship between variables

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

Define independent variable

A

The factor that is changed by the experimenters

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

Define dependent variable

A

The factor that is measured by the experimenters

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

Define extraneous variable

A

A factor that is not being investigated and affects the dependent variable

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

Define confounding variable

A

An observation study where the researchers control some variables - often takes place in laboratory setting

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

Define operationalise

A

The process of defining variables into measurable factors

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

Define control variable

A

Factors that stay the same during the experiment

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

Define experimental method

A

A research method that uses random allocation of participants and manipulation of variables to determine cause and effect

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

Define standardised procedures

A

A set of procedures that are the same for all participants in order to repeat the study

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

Define validity

A

Refers to whether an observed effect is a genuine one

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

Define internal validity

A

The degree to which an observed effect was due to the experimental manipulation of the independent variable rather than other factors

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

Define external validity

A

The degree to which a research finding can be generalised

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

Define ecological validity

A

The degree to which a research finding can be generalised to another setting

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

Define population validity

A

The degree to which a research finding can be generalised to another group of people

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

Define historical validity

A

The degree to which a research finding can be generalised to a different time period

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Define mundane realism

A

Refers to how a study mirrors the real world

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Define demand characteristics

A

A cue that makes participants unconsciously aware of the aims of the study or helps participants work out what the researcher expects to find

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Define investigator effects

A

Anything that the researcher does to effect the participant’s performance in a study

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Define single blind trial

A

An experiment in which the participants are not aware of the aims or hypothesis or which condition of the independent variable they are receiving

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Define double blind trial

A

An experiment in which neither participant nor the investigator are aware of the aims or hypothesis of the study

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Define counterbalancing

A

An experimental technique used to overcome order effects when using a repeated measured design. It ensures that each conditions is tested first or second in equal amounts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Define experimental design

A

A set of procedures used to control the influence of factors such as participant variables in an experiment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Define independent groups design

A

Participants are allocated to two (or more) groups representing different levels of the independent variable. Allocation is usually done using techniques

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Define matched pairs design

A

Pairs of participants are matched in terms of key variables such as age or IQ. One member of each pair is allocated to one of the conditions under test and the second person is added to the other condition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Define order effect

A

In a repeated measures design, an extraneous variable arising from the order in which conditions are presented

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Define random allocation

A

Allocating participants to experimental groups or conditions using random techniques

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Define repeated measures design

A

Each participant takes part in every condition under test

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Define field experiment

A

An experiment carried out in a natural environment, outside of the lab. The independent variable is manipulated by the investigator

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Define laboratory experiment

A

An experiment carried out in a controlled environment. The independent variable is manipulated by the investigator

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Define natural experiment

A

An experiment in which the independent variable has not been manipulated by the investigator

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Define quasi experiment

A

An experiment in which the independent variable cannot be manipulated by the investigator as it is a characteristic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Define bias

A

A systematic distortion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

Define generalisation

A

Applying the findings of a study to the population

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

Define opportunity sample

A

A sample of participants produced by selecting people who are most easily available at the time of the study

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

Define population validity

A

The group of people the researcher is interested in

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

Define random sample

A

A sample of participants produced by using a random technique such that every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

Define sampling

A

The method used to select participants

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

Define stratified sampling

A

A sample of participants produced by identifying subgroups according to their frequency in the population. Participants are then selected randomly from the subgroups

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

Define systematic sample

A

A sample obtained by selecting every nth person

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

Define volunteer bias

A

A form of sampling bias because volunteer participants have special characteristics

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

Define volunteer sample

A

A sample of participants that relies solely on volunteers making up the sample

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

Define confidentiality

A

Concerns the communication of personal information from one person to another, the trust that the information will be protected

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

Define deception

A

A participant is not told the true aims of the study

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

Define informed consent

A

Participants must be given comprehensive information concerning the nature and purpose of research and their role in it, in order to make an informed decision about whether to participate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

Define privacy

A

A person’s right to control the flow of information about themselves

49
Q

Define protection from harm

A

During a research study, participants should not experience negative physical or psychological effects

50
Q

Define right to withdraw

A

Participants can stop participating in a study if they are uncomfortable in some way

51
Q

Define cost-benefit analysis

A

A systematic approach to estimating the negatives and positives of any research

52
Q

Define debriefing

A

A post-research interview designed to inform participants of the true nature of the study and to restore them to the state they were in at the start of the study

53
Q

Define ethical guidelines

A

A set of principles designed to help professionals behave honestly and with integrity

54
Q

Define ethics committee

A

A group of people within a research institution that must approve of a study before it begins

55
Q

Define presumptive consent

A

A method of dealing with lack of informed consent or deception, by asking a group of people who are similar to the participants whether they would agree to take part in the study. If this group consents then it is presumed that the real participants would also consent

56
Q

Define controlled observation

A

A form of investigation in which behaviour is observed but under conditions where certain variables have been organised by the researcher

57
Q

Define covert observations

A

Observing people without their knowledge

58
Q

Define inter-observer reliability

A

The extent to which there is an agreement between two or more observers involved in observations of a behaviour

59
Q

Define inter-observer reliability

A

The extent to which there is agreement between two or more observers involved in observations of a behaviour

60
Q

Define naturalistic observation

A

An observation carried out in an everyday setting, in which the investigator does not interfere in any way but merely observes the behaviour(s) in question

61
Q

Define non-participant observation

A

The observer is seperate from the people being observed

62
Q

Define observer bias

A

Observers’ expectations affect what they see or hear. This reduces the validity of the observations

63
Q

Define overt observation

A

Observational studies where participants are aware that their behaviour is being studied

64
Q

Define participant observation

A

Observations made by someone who is also participating in the activity being observed

65
Q

Define behavioural categories

A

Dividing a target behaviour into a subset of specific or operationalised behaviours

66
Q

Define event sampling

A

An observational technique in which a count is kept of the number of times a certain behaviour occurs

67
Q

Define structured observation

A

A researcher uses various systems to organise observations, such as behavioural categories and sampling procedures

68
Q

Define time sampling

A

An observational technique in which the observer records different behaviours in a given time frame. The observer may select one or more behavioural categories to tick at this time interval

69
Q

Define interview

A

A research method that involves a face-to-face, ‘real time’ interaction with another individual and results in the collection of data

70
Q

Define interviewer bias

A

The effect an interviewer’s expectations, communicated unconsciously, on a respondents behaviour

71
Q

Define questionnaire

A

Data are collected through the use of written questions

72
Q

Define social desirability bias

A

A distortion in the way people answer questions

73
Q

Define structured interviewed

A

Any interview in which the question have been agreed in advance

74
Q

Define unstructured interview

A

The interview starts out with some general aims and lets the interviewee’s answers guide subsequent questions

75
Q

Define closed questions

A

Questions that have a premeditated range of answers from which respondents select one

76
Q

Define open questions

A

Questions that invite respondents to provide their own answers rather than select one of those provided

77
Q

Define qualitative data

A

Non-numerical data

78
Q

Define quantitative data

A

Data in numbers

79
Q

Define co-variable

A

The two measured variables in a correlational analysis. The variables must be continuous

80
Q

Define continuous variable

A

A variable that can take on any value within a certain range

81
Q

Define correlation

A

Determining the extent of an association between two variables

82
Q

Define zero correlation

A

When two co-variables are not linked at all

83
Q

Define positive correlation

A

When two co-variables increase together

84
Q

Define negative correlation

A

As one co-variable increases the other decreases

85
Q

Define correlation coefficient

A

A number between -1 and +1 that shows us how closely the co-variables in a correlational analysis are associated

86
Q

Define curvilinear correlation

A

A non-linear relationship between co-variables

87
Q

Define intervening variable

A

A variable that comes between two other variables which is used to explain the association between the two variables

88
Q

Define linear correlation

A

A systematic relationship between co-variables that is defined by a straight line

89
Q

Define scattergram

A

A graphical representation of the association between two sets of scores

90
Q

Define significance

A

A statistical term indicating that the research findings are sufficiently strong for us to accept the research hypothesis under test

91
Q

Define effect size

A

A measure of the strength of the relationship between two variables

92
Q

Define meta-analysis

A

A researcher looks at the findings from a number of different studies and produces a statistic to represent the overall effect

93
Q

Define review

A

A consideration of a number of studies that have investigated the same topic in order to reach a general conclusion about a particular hypothesis

94
Q

Define mean

A

The average of a data set. Takes all data into account

95
Q

Define measure of central tendency

A

A descriptive statistic that provides information about a typical value for a data set

96
Q

Define measure of dispersion

A

A descriptive statistic that provides information about how spread out a set of data are

97
Q

Define median

A

The middle value in a data set when the data is placed in order

98
Q

Define mode

A

The most frequently occuring value

99
Q

Define range

A

The difference between the highest and lowest item in a data set. Usually 1 is added as a correction

100
Q

Define standard deviation

A

Shows the amount of variation in a data set. It assesses the spread of data around the mean

101
Q

Define bar chart

A

A graph used to represent the frequency of data; the categories on the x axis have no fixed order and there is no true zero

102
Q

Define histogram

A

The type of frequency distribution in which the number of scores in each category of continuous data are represented by vertical columns. There is a true zero and no spaces between the bars

103
Q

Define negative skewed distribution

A

Most of the scores are bunched towards the right. The mode is to the right of the mean because the mean is affected by the extreme scores tailing off to the left

104
Q

Define normal distribution

A

A systematic bell-shaped frequency distribution. The mean, median and mode are at midpoint

105
Q

Define positive skewed distribution

A

Most of the scores are bunched towards the left. The mode is to the left of the mean because the mean is affected by the extreme scores tailing off to the right

106
Q

Define skewed distribution

A

A distribution is skewed if one tail is longer than the other, signifying there are a number of extreme values to one side or the other of the mid score

107
Q

Define primary data

A

Information observed or collected directly from first-hand experience

108
Q

Define secondary data

A

Information used in a research study that was collected by someone else or for a purpose other than the current one

109
Q

Define calculated value

A

The value of a test statistic calculated for a particular data set

110
Q

Define critical value

A

In an inferential test the value of the test statistic must be reached to show significance

111
Q

Define one-tailed test

A

Form of a test used with a directional hypothesis

112
Q

Define probability

A

A numerical measure of the likelihood or chance that certain events will occur

113
Q

Define sign test

A

A statistic test to determine the significance of a sample of related items of data

114
Q

Define significance

A

A statistical term indicating that the research findings are sufficiently strong for us to accept the research hypothesis under test

115
Q

Define table of critical values

A

A table that contains the numbers to judge significance

116
Q

Define test statistic

A

A statistical test is used to calculate a numerical value. For each test this value has a specific name

117
Q

Define two-tailed test

A

Form of test used with a non-directional hypothesis

118
Q

Define peer review

A

The practice of using independent experts to assess the quality and validity of scientific research and academic reports

Psychology AQA AS Level (1 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions