Research methods Flashcards
When a question asks for an alternative hypothesis what do they mean?
A hypothesis of relationship between variables
When writing a hypothesis what must you do?
Operationalise it
What are ways to control extraneous variables?
Standardised instructions
Standardised procedures
Randomisation
What is quantitative data?
Data that can be counted
What is qualitative data?
Data in words and nonnumerical
What are the three types of experiments?
Laboratory
Field
Natural
What is an experiment?
The experimenter looks for a measurable change in the DV which has been caused by changes in the IV
What is a laboratory experiment?
An experiment in a controlled environment where the researcher deliberately changes the IV
What are the strengths of laboratory experiments?
EVs can be controlled- researcher can be more certain changes in DV are due to IV so can be more confident about cause and effect conclusions
They can use standardised procedures due to the control that’s possible- controls EVs and means experiment can be repeated to see if results are the same which confirms the validity of findings
What are the weaknesses of laboratory experiments?
May not be like everyday life- behaviour may not generalise well to wider world- may have low validity
Participants know they are being tested- may cause them to change their behaviour to help experimenter get desired results- means participants behaviour is not like it would be in everyday life- data lacks validity
What is validity?
How true something is
What is a field experiment?
An experiment in a natural setting where the experimenter deliberately changes the IV
What is a natural experiment?
An experiment where the IV is not manipulated by an experimenter
