Research Methods Flashcards
Define behaviour categories
operationalised actions counted during observations
Define closed questions
questions with pre-written, finite or restricted possible answers
Define confederate
an actor or volunteer who is supporting the experiment
Define Confidentiality
keeping data private/secret and destroying it after publication
Define confounding variable
nuisance situational factor that varies systematically with the IV and affects the DV
Define correlation coefficient
strength and direction of a relationship (-1 to +1)
Define cost-benefit analysis
weighing potential ethical harms against expected benefits of research
Define counterbalancing
ABBA; splitting RM sample to average out order effects
Define curvilinear correlation
non-linear relationship that curves
Define debriefing
disclosing fully after experiment to account for BPS guidelines
Define demand characteristics
behaving as participants think they “should” to help an experimenter
Define directional hypothesis
prediction that specifies a particular type of result (eg. more/less)
Define ecological validity
ability of finding to explain real-world phenomena
Define event sampling
counting behaviours in observations during a set time limit
Define experimental design
the organisation of samples into groups for levels of the IV
Define extraneous variable
nuisance participant factor that does not vary systematically with the IV
Define field experiment
IV controlled; naturally occurring DV
Define independent variable
the changed/manipulated factor
Define investigator effects
Unintended actions or characteristics of the experimenter that impact the DV
Define matched pairs design
pair participants on key relevant variables then split them into each condition to average out extraneous variables
Define naturalistic observation
nothing is manipulated in the environment
Define non-participant observation
investigator observes without interacting with the group being studied
Define operationalise
present as measurable, objective and precise
Define order effect
scoring better on later tests because of practice obtained in earlier tests during a RM design
Define population validity
ability of results to apply to groups outside the sample
Define presumptive consent
obtaining consent from responsible representative of participants when they’re unable to provide it
Define social desirability status
acting to look good and/or avoid criticism rather than acting on genuine impulses
Define stratified sample
identify relevant sub-groups in the target population then randomly select available participants into those groups at the same level they are present in the population
Define systematic sample
select “nth” person or block from a list
Define time sampling
score behaviour during predetermined time intervals in an observation
Define volunteer bias
people who volunteer are likely to be well-motivated, have prior knowledge of the subject, etc. so they are not representative of the target population
