Research methods Flashcards
what is an aim
a statement of what the researchers intend to find out in a study
what is a hypothesis
a precise and testable statement to predict the outcome of the experiment
what is an experimental hypothesis
predicts something is going to happen
what is a null hypothesis
a prediction that no difference will be found
what is a directional hyphothesis
predicts what the difference will be
what is a non directional hypothesis
predicts a difference but not which will be better or worse
what are extraneous variables
any variable that could affect the DV that isnt the IV
what are situational variables
features of a research situation that may influence participants behaviour
how to control situational variables
counterbalance - split group and standardise everything
what are participant variables
the way each participant differs from one another and how it could affect the result
what are investigator effects
experimenter is unconciously biased towards the experiment
what two ways do you control investigator effects
double blind design
inter rater reliability
what is the double blind design
both the participant and the person conducting the experiment are blind in their aims
what is inter rater reliability
multiple people rate the same behaviours as the researcher - increases reliabilty decreases bias
what are demand characteristics
when the participant knows the intention of the study and may change their behaviour
how to control demand characteristics
single blind design
deception
what is the single blind design
participant is unaware of the experiments intentions
what is deception
lying about the aims of the study
what are independent groups
different participants take part in different conditions
strengths of the independent groups
- avoids order effects
- avoids demand characteristics
limitations of independent groups
- more people needed
- participant variables are hard to control
what are repeated measures
every participant takes part in each condition
strengths of repeated measures
- participant variables are controlled as compared with yourself
- less people needed
limitations of repeated measures
order effects
demand characteristics
what is matched pairs
different but similar participants are used in each condition and are matched on variables that are relevant to the study