Research Methods

Question 1

Define behaviour categories

Answer 1

operationalised actions counted during observations

Question 2

Define closed questions

Answer 2

questions with pre-written, finite or restricted possible answers

Question 3

Define confederate

Answer 3

an actor or volunteer who is supporting the experiment

Question 4

Define Confidentiality

Answer 4

keeping data private/secret and destroying it after publication

Question 5

Define confounding variable

Answer 5

nuisance situational factor that varies systematically with the IV and affects the DV

Question 6

Define correlation coefficient

Answer 6

strength and direction of a relationship (-1 to +1)

Question 7

Define cost-benefit analysis

Answer 7

weighing potential ethical harms against expected benefits of research

Question 8

Define counterbalancing

Answer 8

ABBA; splitting RM sample to average out order effects

Question 9

Define curvilinear correlation

Answer 9

non-linear relationship that curves

Question 10

Define debriefing

Answer 10

disclosing fully after experiment to account for BPS guidelines

Question 11

Define demand characteristics

Answer 11

behaving as participants think they “should” to help an experimenter

Question 12

Define directional hypothesis

Answer 12

prediction that specifies a particular type of result (eg. more/less)

Question 13

Define ecological validity

Answer 13

ability of finding to explain real-world phenomena

Question 14

Define event sampling

Answer 14

counting behaviours in observations during a set time limit

Question 15

Define experimental design

Answer 15

the organisation of samples into groups for levels of the IV

Question 16

Define extraneous variable

Answer 16

nuisance participant factor that does not vary systematically with the IV

Question 17

Define field experiment

Answer 17

IV controlled; naturally occurring DV

Question 18

Define independent variable

Answer 18

the changed/manipulated factor

Question 19

Define investigator effects

Answer 19

Unintended actions or characteristics of the experimenter that impact the DV

Question 20

Define matched pairs design

Answer 20

pair participants on key relevant variables then split them into each condition to average out extraneous variables

Question 21

Define naturalistic observation

Answer 21

nothing is manipulated in the environment

Question 22

Define non-participant observation

Answer 22

investigator observes without interacting with the group being studied

Question 23

Define operationalise

Answer 23

present as measurable, objective and precise

Question 24

Define order effect

Answer 24

scoring better on later tests because of practice obtained in earlier tests during a RM design

Question 25

Define population validity

Answer 25

ability of results to apply to groups outside the sample

Question 26

Define presumptive consent

Answer 26

obtaining consent from responsible representative of participants when they’re unable to provide it

Question 27

Define social desirability status

Answer 27

acting to look good and/or avoid criticism rather than acting on genuine impulses

Question 28

Define stratified sample

Answer 28

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

Question 29

Define systematic sample

Answer 29

select “nth” person or block from a list

Question 30

Define time sampling

Answer 30

score behaviour during predetermined time intervals in an observation

Question 31

Define volunteer bias

Answer 31

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