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GCSE Psychology > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

1
Q

What is an alternative hypothesis?

A

The hypothesis the researcher tests by conducting a study and collecting data, which attempts to show null hypothesis

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2
Q

What is a condition?

A

An experiment is usually organised so there are two trials, after which the performances of the participants are compared; these are the conditions of the experiment

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3
Q

What is a dependent variable?

A

The factor which will be measured in an experiment to see if changing the IV has had an effect

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4
Q

What is an experiment?

A

A research method in which the researcher tries to control all variables other than the independant variable (IV) and dependent variable (DV); this allows the researcher to identify a cause-and-effect relationship between the IV and DV

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5
Q

What is a hypothesis?

A

A testable statement about the relationship between two variables: the independent variable (IV) and the dependent variable (DV)

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6
Q

What is a independent variable?

A

The factor which will be varied or changed in an experiment to look for an effect on the other variable

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7
Q

What is a null hypothesis?

A

A hypothesis that exists and states that no variables affect on the other variables

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8
Q

What is a variable?

A

A factor or thing that varies: it can change

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9
Q

What is an experimental design?

A

How the participants are used in the conditions of an experiment

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10
Q

What is independent groups design?

A

Where two or more seperate groups of participants are used in an experiment; each group takes part in one of the conditions

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11
Q

What is matched pairs design?

A

Where people with similar qualities are grouped into pairs; each member of the pair takes part in a different condition

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12
Q

What are order effects?

A

When a participant’s performance in the second condition of an experiment is affected because they have already done the first condition. They may do better because of practise or worse because of tiredness. This may happen in a repeated measures design

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13
Q

What are participant variables?

A

The differences between the people who take part in the study. These may affect the results of an experiment that uses independent groups design

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14
Q

What is repeated measures design?

A

Where only one groups of participants is used in an experiment; this group takes part in both conditions

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15
Q

What is an extraneous variable (EV)?

A

A variable that is not the IV but might affect the DV if it is not controlled

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16
Q

What are instructions?

A

The written (or verbal) information given to participants during an experiment

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17
Q

What is randomisation?

A

Using chance to provide an order for a procedure

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18
Q

What is a standardised procedure?

A

A set order of carrying out a study that is applied to all participants when necessary

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19
Q

What is allocation to conditions?

A

Putting participants into the conditions of an experiment

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20
Q

What is counterbalancing?

A

An arrangement in which half of the participants in an experiment are given the conditions in one order (A followed by B) while the other half are given them in the opposite order

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21
Q

What is ecological validity?

A

The results of the investigation can be said to apply to real-life behaviour; they are an accurate account of behaviour in the real world

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22
Q

What is an opportunity sample?

A

People who are members of the target population and are available and willing to take part in research

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23
Q

What is a random sample?

A

Every member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected for the sample

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24
Q

What does representative mean?

A

When the sample of participants is made up of people who have the same characteristics and abilities as the target population

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25
Q

What is a sample?

A

The small group of people who represent the target population and who are studied

26
Q

What are sampling methods?

A

Strategies used by researchers to obtain people from the target population to take part in their studies

27
Q

What is a stratified sample?

A

The different subgroups in the target population are identified; then people are selected randomly from these subgroups in proportion to their numbers in the target population

28
Q

What is a systematic sample?

A

Every ‘nth’ member of the target population is selected for the sample

29
Q

What is target population?

A

The large group of people the researcher wishes to study

30
Q

What are closed questions?

A

A question where the possible responses are fixed, often as ‘yes’ or ‘no’ as the options

31
Q

What is a questionnaire?

A

A set of standard questions about a topic that is given to all the participants in the survey

32
Q

What is a survey?

A

A method used for collecting information from a large number of people by asking them questions, either by using a questionnare or in an interview

33
Q

What is an open question?

A

A question where the person answering cana give any repsonse they like

34
Q

What is an interview?

A

A method in which a researcher collects data by asking questions directly

35
Q

What is a structured interview?

A

All the questions are pre-set, given in a fixed order, and every interviewee is asked the same questions

36
Q

What is an unstructured interview?

A

Only the first questions is set and all the other questions are determined by the answers of the interviewee

37
Q

What is a case study?

A

An in-depth investigation of an individual, a small group, or an organisation

38
Q

What are categories of behaviour?

A

The seperate actions that are recorded as examples of the target behaviour

39
Q

What is an observation study?

A

A method of collecting information about behaviour by watching and recording people’s actions

40
Q

What is inter-observer reliability?

A

How closely the record sheets of two or more people match

41
Q

What is correlation?

A

A technique used by researchers to establish the strength of a relationship between two variables

42
Q

What is a positive correlation?

A

A relatioship between two variables in which, as the value of one variable increases, the value of the other variable also increases

43
Q

What is a relationship?

A

A connection or association between two or more variables

44
Q

What is a scatter diagram

A

A type of graph for representing correlations

45
Q

What is negative correlation?

A

A relationship between two variables, as the value of one variable increases, the value of the other variable decreases

46
Q

What is no correlation?

A

There is no relationship between two variables

47
Q

What is a prediction?

A

A statement about what will happen, made before the event occurs

48
Q

What are ethical issues?

A

Points of concern about what is morally right

49
Q

What is primary data?

A

Data collected firsthand from the source, by the researcher

50
Q

What is qualitative data?

A

Data in descriptive (non-numerical) form

51
Q

What is the qualitative method?

A

Any method which provides descriptive (non-numerical) data

52
Q

What is quantitative data?

A

Data in numerical form

53
Q

What is the quantitative method?

A

Any method which provides numerical data

54
Q

What is secondary data?

A

Data that is already published and just used, rather than gathered, from the researcher

55
Q

What is bar chart?

A

A type of graph that is used to display data

56
Q

What is an estimate?

A

Figures are rounded to make the calculation simpler

57
Q

What is range?

A

The difference between the lowest and highest value in a set of values

58
Q

What is a fequency table?

A

A way of displaying data that shows how often something occurs

59
Q

What is a histogram?

A

A type of graph that is used to display continuous data

60
Q

What is normal distribution?

A

An arrangement of data in which most values group in the middle of the rnage and the rest taper off symmetrically towards each end

GCSE Psychology (5 decks)

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