Research Methods Flashcards
What is the experimental design’s aim?
General expression of what the researcher wants to investigate.
What is the experimental design’s hypothesis?
Should be operationalised (clearly defined and measurable). Directional hypothesis states whether changes are greater or lesser, positive or negative etc. A non directional hypothesis does not state the direction, just that there is difference, correlation, association.
What is the experimental design?
Researcher causes the independent variable (IV) to vary, and records the effect of the IV on the dependant variable (DV). There are different levels of the IV.
What is the independent variable (IV)?
The characteristic of the experiment that is changed by the researcher, and not any of variable.
What is the dependent variable (DV)?
Variable that changes as a result of the independent variable manipulation. It “depends” on the independent variable.
What are extraneous variables (EVs)?
“Nuisance” variables that do not vary with the IV. A researcher may control some of these.
What are cofounding variables (CVs)?
Change with the IV so we cannot be sure if any observed changed in the DV, is due to the CV or the IV. CVs must be controlled.
What are demand characteristics?
Refers to any cue from the researcher or research situation that may reveal aim of the study.
What are the investigator effects?
What is randomisation?
Use of chance when designing investigations to control for the effects of bias.
What is standardisation?
