Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

AS Psychology > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Psychology flashcards Psychology 101 flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards
1
Q

Independent Variable

A

A variable that stands alone and isn’t changed by other variables you are trying to measure (the DV is dependent on this- e.g gender/age)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Dependant Variable

A

A variable that depends on other factors, and is measured (e.g. artistic ability)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Extraneous Variable

A

Any variable not being investigated that has the potential to affect the outcome of a research study

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Confounding variable

A

A third variable that influences both the independent and dependent variables

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Control condition

A

A condition that is used as a standard of comparison in a scientific experiment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Lab Experiment

A

An experiment in a controlled environment, with a controlled IV

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Experimental condition

A

A level of the independent variable that is manipulated by the researcher to assess the effect on a dependent variable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Natural Experiment

A

An experiment in a natural environment, with no set IV

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Field Experiment

A

An experiment in a natural environment, with a controlled IV

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Independent measures design

A

An experimental design in which you only assign participants to one of your experimental conditions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Repeated measures design

A

An experimental design where the same participants participate in each IV condition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Matched Participants Design

A

An experimental design where pairs of participants are matched in terms of key variables

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Standardization

A

Keeping the procedure for each participant in a study (experiment/interview) exactly the same to ensure any differences between participants were treated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Reliability

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

External Validity

A

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)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Internal Validity

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Ecological Validity

A

Is it valid for the real world (is the ENVIRONMENT matching the real world?)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Generalisability

A

How widely do findings apply to other settings and populations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Mundane realism

A

Is the ACTION match the real world? (is it valid for the real world)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Self Report

A

A questionnaire/survey/interview that obtains information from the participants about themselves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Questionnaire

A

A set of questions that is sent out to collect data from a variety of people to reach a conclusion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Closed Question

A

A question sent out in a questionnaire with direct, set answers (“How many months has your leg been hurting?”)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Open Question

A

A question sent out in a questionnaire with an open, longer answer (“How was your day today?”)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Inter-rater reliability

A

When you have at least 2 experimenters evaluating data/results and seeing whether or not they agree on the interpretation

23
Q

Social Desirability Bias

A

Answering questions on a questionnaire to look better/exaggerate your abilities in a non-truthful way

24
Q

Filler Question

A

Disguising what you’re actually testing for so participants cannot prepare for the test, to get the most accurate results

25
Q

Interview

A

A verbal question-and-answer discussion/conversation

26
Q

Structured interview

A

A question-and-answer conversation that has a set format to follow

27
Q

Semi-structured interview

A

A question-and-answer conversation that is slightly formatted, but also can be random

28
Q

Unstructured interview

A

A question-and-answer conversation that is not formatted whatsoever and is random

29
Q

Subjectivity

A

A statement that is up for interpretation (opinion that cannot be backed up by fact)

30
Q

Objectivity

A

A statement that can be proven

31
Q

Naturalistic observation

A

Observing/watching an individual/group of people in their natural environment

32
Q

Controlled observation

A

Controlling an aspect of the observation/study

33
Q

Unstructured observation

A

Watching everything play out naturally in an experiment

34
Q

Structured observation

A

Structuring/planning things to happen to observe within an experiment

35
Q

Behavioral categories

A

Deciding on categories of behavior you will observe

36
Q

Participant observer

A

An observer who secretly plays a part in an experiment without the other participants knowing (acts as a participant but isn’t)

37
Q

Non-participant observer

A

An observer who doesn’t play a part in the experiment (could be either a covert or overt)

38
Q

Overt observer

A

Being visible to the group you’re observing

39
Q

Covert observer

A

Being hidden from the group you are observing

40
Q

Hypothesis

A

A testable statement based on the aims of an experiment

41
Q

Alternative hypothesis

A

Predicting the direction of change (same as directional hypothesis)

42
Q

Non-directional (two-tailed) hypothesis

A

Predicting the occurrence of change, but not which direction it will go in

43
Q

Directional (one-tailed) hypothesis

A

Predicting the direction of change (same as an alternative hypothesis)

44
Q

Null hypothesis

A

Two things that correlate strongly but have no actual link

45
Q

Informed consent

A

The participant has given the experimenter consent to perform the experiment

46
Q

Privacy

A

Participants’ emotions and physical space should not be invaded, for example, they should not be observed in situations or places where they would not expect to be seen

46
Q

Right to withdraw

A

Participants are free to withdraw from a study/withdraw their data at any point

47
Q

Confidentiality

A

Participants’ results and personal information should be kept safely and not released to anyone outside of the study

48
Q

Debriefing

A

Taking time to talk through what happened in the experiment afterward, especially if deception was involved/trauma was brought up

49
Q

Deception

A

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.

50
Q

Replacement

A

Can you test another animal instead/can a computer simulation be used for your experiment with an animal

51
Q

Species and Strain

A

The chosen species and strain should be the least likely to suffer pain/distress (do they have the ability to think/feel?)

52
Q

Number of animals

A

Is it possible to use fewer animals in a test? (use the least animals possible)

53
Q

Procedures: Pain and Distress

A

Research causing death, disease, injury, physical or psychological distress/discomfort should be avoided

54
Q

Reward, Deprivation, and Averse Stimuli

A

Using deprivation of the normal feeding/drinking patterns should be considered so that their needs can be satisfied

55
Q

Housing

A

Isolation and crowding can cause distress, so cage conditions should depend on the social behavior of the creature

56
Q

Anaesthesia, Analgesia, and Euthanasia

A

Animals should be protected from pain usnig appropriate anaesthesia and analgesia for surgeries, and euthanised if suffering lasting pain

AS Psychology (9 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions