Research Methods

Question 1

What is the experimental method?

Answer 1

Manipulation of an IV to measure the effect of the DV

Question 2

What is an aim?

Answer 2

A general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate, the purpose of the study

Question 3

What is a Hypothesis?

Answer 3

A clear, precise, testable statement that states the realtionship between the variables to be investigated

Question 4

What are the 2 types of hypothesis?

Answer 4

• Directional hypothesis
• Non-directional hypothesis

Question 5

What is a directional hypothesis?

Answer 5

States the direction of the difference or relationship

Question 6

What is a non-directional hypothesis?

Answer 6

Does not state the direction of the difference of the difference or relationship

Question 7

What are variables

Answer 7

Any ‘thing’ that can vary or change within an invesitgation

Question 8

What is the IV?

Answer 8

(Independent Variable) The varible that’s changed

Question 9

What is the DV?

Answer 9

(Dependent Variable) Variable that is measured by the researcher

Question 10

What is Operationalisation?

Answer 10

Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured

Question 11

What are EV’s?

Answer 11

(Extraneous variable) Any variable, other than the IV, that may affect the DV

Question 12

What are confounding variables?

Answer 12

A kind of EV that changes as the IV changes

Question 13

What are demand characteristics?

Answer 13

Any cue from the researcher or from the research situation that may be interpreted by participants as revealing the purpose of an investiagtion which causes participants to change their behaviour

Question 14

What are investigator effects?

Answer 14

Effects of the invesitgators behaviour on the DV

Question 15

What is randomisation?

Answer 15

The use of chance methods to control for the effects of bias when designing materials and deciding the order of experimental conditions

Question 16

What is standardisation?

Answer 16

Using exactly the same formalised procedures and instructions for all participants in a research study

Question 17

What is experimental design?

Answer 17

The different ways in which participants can be organised in relation to the experimental conditions

Question 18

What is independent groups design?

Answer 18

Participants are allocated to different groups where each group represents one experimental condition

Question 19

What are repeated measures?

Answer 19

All participants take part in all conditinos of the experiment

Question 20

What is matched pairs design?

Answer 20

Pairs of particiapnts are first matched on a variable that may affect the dependent variable. One participant is assigned to condition A and the other to condition B

Question 21

What is random allocation?

Answer 21

An attempt to control for participant variables in an Independent groups design which ensures that each participant has the same chance of being in one condition as any other

Question 22

What is counterbalancing?

Answer 22

An attempt to control for the effects of order in a repeated measures design : ABBA

Question 23

What is a field experiment?

Answer 23

An experiment that takes place in a natural setting within which the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV

Question 24

What is a natural experiment?

Answer 24

An experiment where the change in the IV is not brought about the researcher but would not have happened even in the researcher had not been there. The researcher records the effects on a DV they have decided on

Question 25

What is a Lab experiment?

Answer 25

An experiment that takes place in a controlled environment within which the researcher manipulates the IV and recorders the effect on the DV, whilst maintaining strict control of the EV’s.

Question 26

What is a Quasi-experiment?

Answer 26

A study that is almost an experiment but lacks the key ingredients. The IV has not been determined by anyone, the variables simply exist (e.g. age)

Question 27

What is Bias?

Answer 27

When certain groups are over- or under-represented within the sample selected. (e.g. too many young people compared to young people)

Question 28

What is a Generalisation?

Answer 28

The extent to which findings and conclusions from a particular investigation can be broadly applied to the population.

Question 29

What are ethical issues?

Answer 29

Problems that arise when a conflict exists between the right of participants in research studies and the goals of research to produce authentic, valid and worthwhile data

Question 30

What is the BPS code of ethics?

Answer 30

A quasi-legal document produced by the British Psychological Foundation that instructs psychologists in the UK about what behaviour is and isn’t acceptable when dealing with participants. The code is built around 4 major principles: respect, competence, responsibility and integrity

Question 31

What is a pilot study?

Answer 31

A small-scale version of an investigation that takes place before the real investigation is conducted.

Question 32

What is a naturalistic observation?

Answer 32

Watching and recording behaviour in the setting within which it would normally occur

Question 33

What is a controlled observaion?

Answer 33

Watching and recording behaviour within a structured environment

Question 34

What is a covert observation?

Answer 34

Participants’ behaviour is watched and recorded without their knowldge or consent

Question 35

What is an overt observation?

Answer 35

Participants behaviour is watched and recorded with their knowledge and consent

Question 36

What is participant observation?

Answer 36

The researcher becomes a member of the group whoes behaviour they are watching and recording