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AS Psychology > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

1
Q

Independent variable

A

the variable that is changed by the experimenter, interested in its effect.
We want to see the effect of the IV on the DV

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2
Q

Dependent variable

A

the thing we measure, it measures the effect of the IV

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3
Q

Extraneous Variable

A

anything that affects the DV that isn’t the IV

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4
Q

Confounding variable

A

when EV actually effects the experiment

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5
Q

Laboratory experiment

A

takes place in a artificial environment with high degree of control

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6
Q

Field experiment

A

takes place in a natural environment, but the experiment is still manipulating the IV

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7
Q

Natural experiment

A

takes place in a natural environment and the experimenter is NOT manipulating the IV, but rather observing and using information produced by natural circumstances

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8
Q

Independent measures design

A

Experiment where sample is split into groups. There is one control group to compare to the ones from the experimental group

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9
Q

Repeated measures design

A

Experiment where sample is split into groups. The sample does both control and experimental group. Both in different in orders and compare the data.

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10
Q

Matched participants design

A

an experimental design where pairs of participants are matched in terms of key variables, such as age and IQ. From there, they are split into experimental and control group

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11
Q

Control conditions

A

The IV is not present. This data is compared to the experimental group

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12
Q

Experimental condition

A

The IV is present. Testing the effect of the IV on the DV

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13
Q

Demand characteristics

A

parts of the experiment may give away the aims and therefore cause participants to change their behavior to do what they think they should (this can be conscious or unconscious)

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14
Q

Order Effects

A

Practice & fatigue effects are the consequences of participating
in a study more than once (repeated measures design) and can cause
changes in performance between conditions not due to the IV

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15
Q

Participants variables

A

Individual differences between participants (like age,
gender, ethnicity, intelligence, etc) can create differences in behaviour in a
study and alter the outcome instead of differences being solely due to the IV
(either hiding or exaggerating differences)

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16
Q

Practice Effect

A

Performance improves because the participant has experienced the experimental task more than once (due to learning or familiarity)

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17
Q

Fatigue Effect

A

Performance declines because the participant has done the task more than once (due to boredom or tiredness)

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18
Q

Counterbalancing

A

used to overcome order effects in a repeated measures design experiment. Each possible order of levels of the IV is done by different subgroups. Can be ABBA, BAAB, ABAB, BABA, etc.

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19
Q

Standardization

A

Keeping the procedure for each participant exactly the same to ensure that any differences between participants or conditions are due to the variables being tested rather than differences in how they were treated

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20
Q

Reliability

A

The extent to which a procedure, task, or measure is consistent
(eg. Do you get the same results each time you do it)

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21
Q

Validity

A

The extent to which the researcher is testing what they claim to be
testing

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22
Q

Internal validity

A

The extent to which a piece of evidence supports a claim about cause and effect, within the context of a particular study

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23
Q

External Validity

A

The validity of applying the conclusions of a scientific study outside the context of that study

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24
Q

Ecological Validity

A

The extent to which the findings in one situation would generalise to other situations. This is influenced by whether the situation represents the real world effectively and whether the task is relevant to real life

Eg. doing an experiment about playground behaviour amongst 10 year olds in a laboratory with experimenters watching will change the way participants behave and is not therefore ecologically valid)

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25
Mundane Realism
Is the task relevant to real life, or is it artificial and therefore participants treat it so?
26
Generalisability
Can the findings be applied more widely?
27
Self reports --> how is it different? --> what are the two types of self reports
A participant gives the researched information about themselves directly This is different to experimental tests or observations where the researcher finds the data out from the participant questionnaires and interviews
28
Questionnaires (3)
Written questions Could be a physical form or online Two types of questions: open and closed
29
Opened question
Asks for descriptive answers in the patient’s own words
30
Closed question
Has a fixed set of answers (quantitative)
31
Pros of opened and closed questions
opened questions - give better and in depth information closed questions - easier to anaylse (better for comparing sets of data) --> summarising data is easier
32
Cons of open questions
Open questions often need to be interpreted, which means they can also be misinterpreted
32
Social Desirability Bias
where participants lie to look more acceptable
32
filler questions (2)
can be used to disguise the real aim of a questionnaire - these aren’t analyzed, they are just there to hide the real aim of the study
33
If more than one researcher is involved their interpretations may not be consistent, this is a lack of ___.
inter-rater reliability
34
Interviews (3) --> types of interviews (2)
The researcher usually asks questions face to face, but could also be over the phone, or online chat Sometimes the interviewer even makes sure they use the same tone of voice, posture, clothes, etc. Answers are relatively easy to compare because every respondent answers the same questions --> Structured or unstructured
35
Structured interview (2) + advantages (1)
an interview with questions in a fixed order, usually scripted Sometimes the interviewer even makes sure they use the same tone of voice, posture, clothes, etc. Answers are relatively easy to compare because every respondent answers the same questions
36
Unstructured Interview (2) + disadvantages (1)
an interview where most questions depend on the person’s answers. The first question is the same, but then the questions change based on what the interviewer says Answers are quite difficult to compare because every respondent answers different questions
37
Semi-structured interview (1) --> affect (1)
an interview with a fixed list of open and closed questions. The interviewer can add more questions if they think it’s required This means there is more similarity between respondents than in an unstructured interview, but comparisons can still be difficult
38
Subjective
A personal viewpoint that can be biased by your own experiences, thoughts, emotions, or beliefs
39
Objective
An unbiased, external viewpoint, not influenced by any personal experiences, thoughts, emotions, or beliefs
40
Naturalistic observation
watching the participants’ behavior in their normal environment without interference from the researchers in either the social or physical environment
41
Controlled observation
watching the participants’ behavior in a situation where the social or physical environment has been manipulated by the researchers. It can be conducted in either the participants’ normal environment or an artificial situation
42
Unstructured observation
the observer records the whole range of possible behaviours which is usually confined to a pilot stage at the beginning of a study to refine the behavioural categories to be observed
43
Structured observation
the observer records only a limited range of behaviours
44
Behavioural categories
the activities recorded in an observation that are clearly operationalised and broken into discrete and recordable events that are observable actions
45
Participant observer
a researcher who watches from the perspective of being part of the social setting
46
Non-participant observer
a researcher who doesn’t become involved in the situation being studied (eg. Watching through one-way glass or keeping apart from the participants)
47
Overt observer
the role of the observer is obvious to the participants
48
Covert observer
the role of the observer is not obvious to the participants (because they’re either hidden or disguised)
49
Hypothesis
predicts a difference between levels of the IV, or a relationship between variables (correlation)
50
Alternate hypothesis
predicts a difference or relationship between variables in a particular direction
51
Non-directional (two-tailed) hypothesis
predicts only that one variable will be related to another, or that there will be a relationship between the measured variables in a correlation (in no particular direction)
52
53
Directional (one-tailed) hypothesis
predicts that one variable will be related to another, or that there will be a relationship between the measured variables in a correlation (in a particular direction)
54
Null hypothesis
predicts that any difference or correlation in the results is due to chance, ie. that no pattern in the results is because of the variables
55
Population
A part of the target group you plan to study, representative of the population
56
Sampling technique
the method used to obtain the participants for a study
57
Opportunity sampling
participants are chosen because they are available
58
Volunteer (self-selected) sample
participants are invited to participate and choose to
59
Random sample
all members of the population are equally able to be selected in an unbiased way
60
Qualitative data
descriptive, in-depth results showing the quality of something (such as open questions or detailed observations)
61
Quantitative
numerical results about something (such as a test score or pulse rate)
62
Mean
the average
63
Median
the exact middle
64
Longitudinal Studies (?)
• A study that follows a single group of people over time • These studies can go for months or even decades • Longitudinal studies can study the effects of something over a long period of time and how it affects development • It can look at one stage of life, or different stages of life • Longitudinal studies can look at behaviours, beliefs, attitudes, emotions, physical development, and many other things
65
Informed Consent
knowing enough about a study to decide whether you will agree to participate
66
Right To Withdraw
participants should know that they can remove themselves, and their data, at any time (before, during, or after the experiment)
67
Privacy
Privacy

AS Psychology (15 decks)

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