research methods

Question 1

sample

Answer 1

is a group that is a subset or part of a larger group chosen to be studied for research purposes

Question 2

population

Answer 2

the larger group from which a sample is selected and to which the researcher will seek to apply the results

Question 3

research hypothesis

Answer 3

a testable prediction about the relationship between two or more variables. it should state the variables between them & a possible result of the research

Question 4

independent variable

Answer 4

the variable that’s manipulated in some way by the researcher to measure its effect on the DV

Question 5

dependant variable

Answer 5

the variable that’s used to observe & measure the effects of the IV

Question 6

experimental group

Answer 6

exposed to the experimental condition in which the iV under investigation is present

Question 7

control group

Answer 7

exposed to the control condition in which the IV is absent

Question 8

extraneous variable

Answer 8

any variable that can cause a change in the DV & thus affect the results in an unwanted way

Question 9

confounding variable

Answer 9

any variable other than the IV that has had an unwanted effect on the DV

Question 10

EV - individual participant differences

Answer 10

biological, psychological or social - age, gender, athletic ability, intelligence, education, culture

Question 11

EV - use of non standardised procedures & instructions

Answer 11

need to make sure all participants receive exactly same instructions, tested at same time of day, same materials

Question 12

EV - order effects

Answer 12

in some experiments participants are exposed to more than one condition and they may be asked to perform the same task a number of times under slightly different conditions, may change performance in terms of practice effects or carry over effects

Question 13

EV - experimenter effects

Answer 13

unwanted influence on the results due to the experiemnter, can include experimentar expectancy - cues the experimenter provides about responses they desire from individual

Question 14

EV - placebo effects

Answer 14

occurs when there’s a change in the responses of participants due to their belief they are receiving some kind of experimental treatment & respond in accordance to that believe rather than the IV

Question 15

Random sampling

Answer 15

means that every member of the pop has an equal chance of being selected to be part of the sample

Question 16

stratified sampling

Answer 16

involves dividing pop into distinct subgroups then selecting a separate sample from each group reflecting their proportions in the population

Question 17

convenience sampling

Answer 17

involves selecting participants that are readily available not trying to make the sample representative

Question 18

random allocation

Answer 18

every participant has an equal chance of being in experimental & control conditions

Question 19

counterbalancing

Answer 19

used to manage order effects

systematically changing the order of treatments or tasks for participants in a ‘balanced’ way to ‘counter’ the unwanted effects on performance of any one order

Question 20

single blind procedures

Answer 20

where the participant don’t know whether they’re in the control or experimental group

Question 21

double blind procedure

Answer 21

where neither the experiemntar or particpants know whether the particpants are in the control or experimental group

Question 22

placebos

Answer 22

the controlgroup can be given a placebo to mimic the expectations/beliefs of the experimental group

Question 23

standardised instructions

Answer 23

all directions & explanations given to all particpants in all conditions are uniform, pre deetermined, identical

Question 24

research design - independant groups

Answer 24

particpants allocated to either control or experimental

Question 25

research design - repeated measures

Answer 25

each particpant is in both experimental & control groups, groups are identical so individual particpant differences are controlled

Question 26

research design - matched particpants

Answer 26

each particpant in one conditon is ‘matched’ with someone in the other condition on one or more variables.- gender

Question 27

experimental research designs advantages

Answer 27

• greater control over variables
• easily replicated & tested

Question 28

experimental research designs disadvantages

Answer 28

lab setting
not eveything can be measures

Question 29

research design - cross sectional study

Answer 29

selects & compares different groups of participants in one or more variables of interest at a single point in time

Question 30

case studies

Answer 30

an intesnive in depth investigation of some behaviour or event of interest in an individual, small group or organisation

Question 31

research design - observational studies

Answer 31

collecting date by carefully watching & recording behaviour as it occurs

Question 32

research design - self report

Answer 32

the particpants written or spoken responses to questions, statements or instrcutions presented by the researcher

Question 33

conclusion

Answer 33

a decision about what the results obtained from research mean, state whether hypothesis was supported

Question 34

generalisation

Answer 34

a decision or judgement about how widely the findings of a study can be applied

Question 35

reliability

Answer 35

the extent to which the results obtained from a research study are consistent, dependable 7 stable

Question 36

validity

Answer 36

the extent to which the procedures used for research study measure what the research intended to measure

Question 37

ethics

Answer 37

• voluntary participation
  -withdrawal rights
• informed consent
• use of deception
• debriefing