Research Methods & Ethics Flashcards
Independent Variable
The variable that the experimenter changes, and is interested in its effect. We want to see the impact of the IV on the DV
Dependant Variable
A variable that is measured and measures the effect of the IV
Extraneous Variable
Any variable not being investigated that has the potential to affect the DV and the outcome of a research study that isn’t the IV
Confounding variable
When an extraneous variable does affect the experiment
Control condition (3 points)
-A condition that is used as a standard of comparison in a scientific experiment
-The IV is not present
-Is used to be compared to the experimental condition
Lab Experiment
An experiment in a controlled (artificial) environment, with a controlled IV
-HIGH DEGREE OF CONTROL
Experimental condition
The Independent Variable IS present, and you are testing the effect that the IV has on the DV
Natural Experiment (2 points)
-Takes place in a natural environment and the experimenter is not manipulating the IV
-The experimenter is rather observing and using information produced by natural circumstances
Field Experiment
An experiment in a natural environment, with a controlled IV
Independent measures design
An experimental design in which you only assign each of your participants to one of your experimental conditions
Repeated measures design
An experimental design where the same participants participate in each IV condition of the experiment
Matched Participants Design
An experimental design where pairs of participants are matched in terms of key variables
Standardization
Keeping the procedure for each participant in a study (experiment/interview) exactly the same to ensure any differences between participants were treated
Reliability
The extent to which a procedure, task, or measure is consistent, for example, that it would produce the same results with the same people on each occasion
External Validity
Is it valid outside of the primary group (you are able to generalize it outside of the group to other situations and groups of people)
Internal Validity
Is it valid within the primary group (are they testing what they say they’re testing for?) - testing that it is not influenced by other factors or variables
Ecological Validity
Is it valid for the real world (is the ENVIRONMENT matching the real world?)
Generalisability
How widely do findings apply to other settings and populations
Mundane realism
Is the ACTION match the real world? (is it valid for the real world)
Self Report
A questionnaire/survey/interview that obtains information from the participants about themselves
Questionnaire
A set of questions that is sent out to collect data from a variety of people to reach a conclusion
Closed Question
A question sent out in a questionnaire with direct, set answers (“How many months has your leg been hurting?”)
Open Question
A question sent out in a questionnaire with an open, longer answer (“How was your day today?”)
Inter-rater reliability
When you have at least 2 experimenters evaluating data/results and seeing whether or not they agree on the interpretation
Social Desirability Bias
Answering questions in a self report to look better/exaggerate your abilities in a non-truthful way
Filler Question
Disguising what you’re actually testing for so participants cannot prepare for the test, to get the most accurate results
Interview
A verbal question-and-answer discussion/conversation
Structured interview
A question-and-answer conversation that has a set format to follow
Semi-structured interview
A question-and-answer conversation that is slightly formatted, but also can be random
Unstructured interview
A question-and-answer conversation that is not formatted whatsoever and is random
Subjectivity
A statement that is up for interpretation (opinion that cannot be backed up by fact)
Objectivity
A statement that can be proven
Naturalistic observation
Observing/watching an individual/group of people in their natural environment
Controlled observation
A study conducted by watching the participants’ behavior in a situation in which the social or physical environment has been manipulated by the researchers
Unstructured observation
Watching everything play out naturally in an experiment
Structured observation
Structuring/planning things to happen to observe within an experiment
Behavioral categories
Categories of behavior an experimenter will observe
Participant observer
An observer who secretly plays a part in an experiment without the other participants knowing (acts as a participant but isn’t)
Non-participant observer
An observer who doesn’t play a part in the experiment (could be either a covert or overt)
Overt observer
Being visible to the group you’re observing
Covert observer
Being hidden from the group you are observing
Hypothesis
A testable statement based on the aims of an experiment
Alternative hypothesis
Predicting the direction of change (same as directional hypothesis)
Non-directional (two-tailed) hypothesis
Predicting the occurrence of change, but not which direction it will go in
Directional (one-tailed) hypothesis
Predicting the direction of change (same as an alternative hypothesis)
Null hypothesis
A testable statement saying that any difference or correlation in the results is due to chance
Informed consent
The participant knowing enough about the study to decide whether or not they will agree to participate
Privacy
Participants’ EMOTIONS and PHYSICAL SPACE should not be invaded (e.g. They should not be observed in situations or places where they would not expect to be seen)
Right to withdraw
Participants should know that they can remove themselves, and their data, at any time (before, during, or after the experiment)
Confidentiality
Participants’ results and personal information should be kept safely and not released to anyone outside of the study
Debriefing
-Giving participants a full explanation of the aims and potential consequences of the study at the end of a study is vital
-so that they leave in AT LEAST as positive a condition as they arrived
Deception (3 points)
-Participants should not be deliberately misinformed (lied to) about the aim or procedure of the study
-If this is unavoidable, the study should be planned to minimize the distress risk, and participants should be thoroughly debriefed.
-It may be done to reduce the effects of demand characteristics but should be avoided.
Replacement
Researchers should consider replacing animals with alternatives like videos from previous studies or computer simulations
Species and Strain
& What are 3 key things you should CONSIDER
The chosen species and strain should be the least likely to suffer pain or distress
CONSIDER:
-Were they bred in captivity?
-Have they been in previous experiments?
-What is their ability to think and feel?
Number of animals
(what is vital for this?)
Only the minimum number of animals should be needed to get reliable and valid results (good experimental design is vital for this)
Procedures: Pain and Distress
Research causing death, disease, injury, physical or psychological distress/discomfort should be avoided where possible
Reward, Deprivation, and Averse Stimuli
-Using deprivation of the normal feeding/drinking patterns should be considered so that their needs can be satisfied
-The use of rewards should be considered rather than the use of punishments to control behavior
Housing
Isolation and crowding can cause distress, so cage conditions should depend on the social behavior of the creature
Anaesthesia, Analgesia, and Euthanasia
Animals should be protected from pain using appropriate anaesthesia and analgesia for surgeries, and euthanised if suffering lasting pain
What are order effects?
Differences in the participants’ responses that result from the order in which experimental materials are presented to them
Counterbalancing is used to overcome ____ in a _________ design experiment
Counterbalancing is used to overcome order effects in a repeated measures design experiment. (ABBA, BAAB)
