Research Methods Flashcards
What is an Aim?
A statement of the study’s purpose. Research should state its aim beforehand so it’s clear what the study tends to investigate.
What is a one tailed hypothesis?
A hypothesis that predicts a difference between your variables
What is a two tailed hypothesis?
A hypothesis that predicts a difference but doesn’t state where the difference lies
What is a null hypothesis?
This is what you assume is true during the study. Any data you collect will either back this assumption or won’t. If the data doesn’t support your null hypothesis, you reject it and go with your alternative hypothesis instead
What will a null hypothesis predict?
There is no difference between variables
What is a correlation?
It is a measure of how closely two variables are related.
What are the advantages of correlational analysis?
Advantages
• Do not need to use a controlled experiment
• Can use sensitive data obtained from hospitals, for example.
What are the disadvantages of a correlational analysis
Disadvantages
• Cannot establish cause and effect – third variable
• Coefficients can be due to chance
What is normal distribution?
symmetrical around the mean- mean, mode and median are the same
What is negative skew?
there are more scores at the higher end of the data set. The tail is on the left side of the peak. The mode is more than the median which is more than the mean.
What is positive skew?
Positive skew: there are more scores at the lower end of the data set. The tail is on the right side of the peak. The mode is less than the median, which is less than the mean.
What is the independent variable?
is the variable directly manipulated by the researcher (what you are changing).
What is the dependent variable?
is the variable you think will be affected by changes in the IV.
What is operationalisation?
describing the process by which the variable is measured. This allows other researchers to see exactly how you are defining and measuring your variables.
What is random allocation? (Control)
means everyone has an equal chance of doing either condition.
What is counterbalancing (control)
mixing up the order of the tasks. This helps with order effects in repeated measures designs
What is randomisation? (Control)
when materials are presented to the participants in random order.
What is standardisation? (Control)
everything should be as similar as possible for all the participants.
What are extraneous variables?
Any variable (other than the IV) that could affect what you’re trying to measure.
What are confounding variables
What are they? Any variables that influence your DV
What is validity?
Accuracy- internal and external
What is ecological validity?
generalisable to real life settings
What is concurrent validity
Results from a new test can be compared to a previously well-established test.
What is population validity?
whether you can reasonably generalise the findings from your sample to a larger group of people