Research Methods Flashcards
What is the experimental method?
Manipulation of an IV to measure the effect of the DV
What is an aim?
A general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate, the purpose of the study
What is a Hypothesis?
A clear, precise, testable statement that states the realtionship between the variables to be investigated
What are the 2 types of hypothesis?
- Directional hypothesis
- Non-directional hypothesis
What is a directional hypothesis?
States the direction of the difference or relationship
What is a non-directional hypothesis?
Does not state the direction of the difference of the difference or relationship
What are variables
Any ‘thing’ that can vary or change within an invesitgation
What is the IV?
(Independent Variable) The varible that’s changed
What is the DV?
(Dependent Variable) Variable that is measured by the researcher
What is Operationalisation?
Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured
What are EV’s?
(Extraneous variable) Any variable, other than the IV, that may affect the DV
What are confounding variables?
A kind of EV that changes as the IV changes
What are demand characteristics?
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
What are investigator effects?
Effects of the invesitgators behaviour on the DV
What is randomisation?
The use of chance methods to control for the effects of bias when designing materials and deciding the order of experimental conditions
What is standardisation?
Using exactly the same formalised procedures and instructions for all participants in a research study
What is experimental design?
The different ways in which participants can be organised in relation to the experimental conditions
What is independent groups design?
Participants are allocated to different groups where each group represents one experimental condition
What are repeated measures?
All participants take part in all conditinos of the experiment
What is matched pairs design?
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
What is random allocation?
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
What is counterbalancing?
An attempt to control for the effects of order in a repeated measures design : ABBA
What is a field experiment?
An experiment that takes place in a natural setting within which the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV
What is a natural experiment?
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
What is a Lab experiment?
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.
What is a Quasi-experiment?
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)
What is Bias?
When certain groups are over- or under-represented within the sample selected. (e.g. too many young people compared to young people)
What is a Generalisation?
The extent to which findings and conclusions from a particular investigation can be broadly applied to the population.
What are ethical issues?
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
What is the BPS code of ethics?
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
What is a pilot study?
A small-scale version of an investigation that takes place before the real investigation is conducted.
What is a naturalistic observation?
Watching and recording behaviour in the setting within which it would normally occur
What is a controlled observaion?
Watching and recording behaviour within a structured environment
What is a covert observation?
Participants’ behaviour is watched and recorded without their knowldge or consent
What is an overt observation?
Participants behaviour is watched and recorded with their knowledge and consent
What is participant observation?
The researcher becomes a member of the group whoes behaviour they are watching and recording
What is nominal data?
Data is sorted into categories
What is ordinal data?
