Research methods

Question 1

extraneous variable

Answer 1

Any variable that is not manipulated but still might have an effect on the dependent variable; confounding variable which decreases the validity and realiability of a study.

Question 2

correlation

Answer 2

Correlation is a statistical technique that can show whether and how strongly pairs of variables are related.

Question 3

correlation coefficient

Answer 3

A correlation coefficient is a statistical measure of the degree to which changes to the value of one variable predict change to the value of another. Can get the values -1.0 - 1.0.

Question 4

positive correlation

Answer 4

A positive correlation is a relationship between two variables such that their values increase or decrease together.

Question 5

negative correlation

Answer 5

A negative correlation is a relationship between two variables such that as the value of one variable increases, the other decreases.

Question 6

intervening variable

Answer 6

An intervening variable is “the third variable” in correlational studies (the probable reason to cause the change in both measured variables (like the coorrelation between ice cream consumption and drowning fatalities can be explained by summer)

Question 7

quantitative data

Answer 7

Anything that can be expressed as numbers (data that can be measured in numbers).

Question 8

qualitative data

Answer 8

Descriptive data (cannot be measured in numbers). Instead os statistical analysis this kind of data is analysed by using content analysis.

Question 9

overt observation

Answer 9

Researcher reveals that participants know that they are being observed as a part of the study.

Question 10

covert observation

Answer 10

Researcher does not inform participants that they are observed and what is observed.

Question 11

naturalistic observation

Answer 11

Observing participants overtly or covertly in their natural environment. Used when lab experiments are unrealistic.

Question 12

controlled observation

Answer 12

Observational study where the researcher has planned the situation or environment. Control of variables consequently makes establishing a cause and effect easier.

Question 13

participant observation

Answer 13

Researcher is part of the observed group (like lives in a distant village and makes observations about it)

Question 14

non-participant observation

Answer 14

The researcher does not take part in the activity observed, the researcher is an outsider

Question 15

observer bias

Answer 15

observer bias occurs when the observers (or researcher team) know the goals of the study or the hypotheses and allow this knowledge to influence their observations during the study

Question 16

inter-observer reliability

Answer 16

the extent to which independent observers agree in their observations - is increased for example by defining clearly the behaviour and events recorded (good coding system)

Question 17

case study

Answer 17

an in-depth and detailed study of an individual or a small group of people, often applied to unusual or valuable examples of behaviour which may provide important insights into psychological function or counterargument of psychological theory (e.g. cases of H.M. and Genie)

Question 18

key ethical guidelines

Answer 18

informed consent, only justified deception, protection of participants, debriefing, right to withdraw, confidentiality, privacy

Question 19

informed consent

Answer 19

before the study the researcher must outline to the participants what the research is about and ask their permission to take part (an ethical guideline)

Question 20

deception

Answer 20

participants are misled or wrongly informed about the aims of the research, necessary to some extent, ethically wrong at some point

Question 21

debriefing

Answer 21

the act of revealing the details of the experiment for the participant in order to minimize any psychological harm or stress the experiment might have caused

Question 22

protection of the participants

Answer 22

making sure that the participants in the experiment don’t suffer psychological harm because of the test

Question 23

confidentiality

Answer 23

Confidentiality is about what is and isn’t allowed to be revealed about the participants of an experiment. There are many laws in place regarding this matter. If the participant doesn’t agree to releasing the information about themselves the researchers are not allowed to.

Question 24

reliability

Answer 24

Reliability refers to the consistency of results. A highly reliable experiment provides similar results with similar conditions.

Question 25

test-retest reliability:

Answer 25

If there is no variance in the results collected with the same methods in the same conditions then there is test-retest variability. Test-retest reliability therefore refers to the degree of reliability the test has when repeated under same conditions.

Question 26

split-half reliability

Answer 26

Split-half reliability means the consistency of a test when the test is split into two parts and the results of the two halves are compared to each other.

Question 27

Inter-rater reliability

Answer 27

This is the extent to which two raters provide consistent or similar responses. The ratings for each observer are correlated to check for agreement. It is a method of assessing the reliability of a set of measurements or ratings such as in an observation.

Question 28

Validity

Answer 28

The extent to which results accurately measure what the they claim to measure. There are also several subcategories for validity.

Question 29

Ecological validity:

Answer 29

How well the study can be related or reflectes to everyday life, real life. So if the study has high ecological validity it can be generalised beyond the setting it was carried out in, but studies with low ecological validity can not be.

Question 30

Generalisability

Answer 30

whether the findings of the study can be transferred to people or situations other than those in the original study.

Question 31

Experimenter bias

Answer 31

Errors in the research study due to the predisposed notions and beliefs of the experimenter(s).

Question 32

Demand characteristics

Answer 32

A research effect where participants form impressions of the research purpose and (un)consciously alter their behavior accordingly.

Question 33

laboratory experiment

Answer 33

The experment takes place in a highly controlled (often artificial) environment, the reseacher manipulates IV, measures DV and controls all other variables. Cause and effect relationship can be established.

Question 34

field experiment

Answer 34

The experiment takes place in a natural environment, impossible to obtain total control over all variables so there may be confounding variables and that’s why we cannot be as sure as in lab about the the cause and effect relationship. The researcher manipulates the independent variable (IV)

Question 35

natural experiment

Answer 35

Iindependent variable (IV) is naturally occuring and not manipulated like in real experiments. The researcher does not use random assignment and manipulate the IV but records possible effects of a variable (like gender, race, previous experiences) on another (DV).

Question 36

quasi experiment

Answer 36

There is no control over independent variable or possible extraneous variables and/or no possibility of random allocation to conditions: Field experimentts and natural experiments are quasi experiments.

Question 37

random assignment / allocation

Answer 37

an experimental technique for assigning subjects to different conditions in order to get as similar groups as possible and controlling possible confounding variables that way

Question 38

independent variable (IV)

Answer 38

An independent variable is the one manipulated by the researcher (“the cause /predictor /exposure variable”)

Question 39

dependent variable (DV)

Answer 39

DV is the variable which is measured in experimental studies, “the effect”