Research Methods Flashcards
Independent variable
The thing the experimenter changes/manipulates. Always more than one
Dependent variable
The thing the experimenter measures
Extraneous variable
A variable which could have an impact on the DV
Aim
Identifies the purpose of the investigation
Hypothesis
A statement predicting the outcome of research
Null hypothesis
States there will be no affect on the DV
One-tailed hypothesis
Predicts the nature of the affect of the IV on the DV
Two-tailed hypothesis
There will be an effect but the direction isn’t specified
Sample
A section of the population used to represent the group as a whole
Random sample
Each person has en equal chance of being picked(random number generator)
Opportunity sample
Whoever is available and willing to participate
Stratified sample
Researcher identifies the types of people making up the population and works out the proportions needed for the sample to be representative
External validity
Do the results reflect what would happen in the real world(naturalistic observations have highest external validity)
Internal validity
Causation- are we sure we know what causee the results( experiments with control and randomisation have the highest internal validity)
Reliability
How consistent or dependable it is. A reliable test carried out in the same circumstances on the same participants should always get the same results
Naturalistic observation
Behaviour is studied in a natural environment
Controlled observation
Behaviour observed in a controlled environment (lab) where the researcher can manipulate the iv
Overt observation
Participants know they’re being observed
Covert observation
Participants aren’t aware they’re being observed
Participant observation
Observer takes part in the experiment but their status is not made known to other participants
Non-participant observation
Researcher observes without taking part in the experiment
Event sampling
Uses a checklist of activities which are tallied as they occur
Time sampling
Behaviour as specified on a checklist is observed and recorded at a specific time intervals
Observer effect
Refers to participants changing their behaviour when aware an observer is present
Correlational study
A method where the researcher looks for relationships between variables
Structured interview
Each person has the same questions in the same order and the researcher aims to get quantitative data
Unstructured interview
Questions not prearranged data usually qualitative
Questionnaires
A set of written questions with a choice of answers
Open ended questions
Qualitative data can’t be answered with one word
Closed questions
Yes no/ multiple choice etc…
Rating scales
Participants answer a question by selecting a value to reflect their perception on a topic
Likert rating
Measures the attitude of individuals . An attitude statement is given and participants have to choose the one that suits them best
Social desirability
When participants answer questions in a way they think makes them look better
Demand characteristics
Participants pick up on the aims of the study
Order effects
Influence of the order of completion of conditions e.g getting bored or tired at the end
Age bias
The study and its results are more inclined toward a certain age group
Case study
Detailed research carried out over a period of time with the same group of individuals
Confederate
An actor who participates in an experiment along with other actual participants, unknown to them
Counterbalancing
Technique used to deal with order affects, each group takes part in conditions in varying orders.
Ecological validity
Can the findings be generalised to real life and still be valid
Ethnocentrism
Bias toward one ethnic group or culture
Experimenter bias
The researcher is biased towards certain results or observations in order to fulfill their beliefs
External reliability
The extent to which a measure varies from one use to the next
Face validity
The extent to which a study appears to do what it is supposed to do
Internal reliability
The extent to which the results are consistent across the same measure
Inter-rater reliability
A method of measuring the consistency of a measure by assessing the measures of multiple different observers
Population validity
The extent to which the sample is representative of the target population
Temporal validity
The extent to which the results from an experiment remain valid in different time periods
Type 1 error
Incorrectly rejecting the null hypothesis which is true(false positive)
Type 2 error
Incorrectly accepting the null hypothesis(false negative)
