Research methods Flashcards
What is an independent variable?
A variable a researcher manipulates (changes).
What is a dependent variable?
a variable a researcher measures
Define operationalisation.
it is when variables are clearly specified to make them precise. e.g. aggression is too vague to could be operationalised by counting the number of times a person punches another person.
Why is operationalisation important?
It ensures the research is objective, and also assesses the replicability of the findings.
What is an extraneous variable
It is any variable other than the IV that could affect the DV e.g. if participants had less sleep at night.
What is a confounding variable
A variable that varies with the IV and effect the DV. e.g. age
Why is it important to control extraneous variables
To prevent them from affecting the results. This would prevent the researcher from being able to establish cause and effect.
What is the purpose of counterbalancing
and what design is it used in
Used in repeated measure design to equally distribute the impact of order effects across conditions
What is the purpose of random allocation.
Ensure each participant has an equal chance of being placed into each condition. It also removes researcher bias.
What is the purpose of randomisation
Helps to reduce any predictable order in the presentation of stimuli. It therefore reduces the possibility that one condition will be easier than another
What is the purpose of standardisation
Ensure all participants have the same experience.
What is the procedure of counterbalancing
- Participants are grouped
- One group complete condition A first then condition B
- The other group complete condition B then condition A
What is the procedure of random allocation
- All participants names are written on a sperate piece of paper
- They are then placed in a hat and shuffled
- The researcher blindly picks out who will be assigned to the first condition
- The next name is then assigned to the second condition etc.
Discuss the procedure of randomisation
- All stimuli are printed on separate pieces of paper and placed into a hat
- The researcher then shuffles the hat and blindly picks out a stimuli one at a time
- The order it is pulled out is the order the stimuli’s are presented
Discuss the procedure of standardisation
Keeping same task, researcher, instructions etc.
What are the experimental designs
Independent groups design, Repeated measures design, Matched pairs design
Describe the procedure of a matched pairs design
Obtain a large enough sample, match participants on variables that could effect the DV, randomly allocate each member of a matched pair to a condition, place 2 names from a matched pair into a hat, the first name would go to condition A and the second name would go to condition B. Repeat this for all matched pairs
What experiments does the experimenter manipulate the IV
Lab and Field experiments
What experiments does the experimenter not manipulate the IV
Natural and Quasi experiment
What is an Aim
A statement about the purpose of the study i.e. what it it aiming to investigate
What is a hypothesis
A precise and testable prediction about the expected outcome of a study
What is the difference between a directional hypothesis and a non directional hypothesis
In a directional hypothesis there will be a difference or relationship and states the direction . In a non directional they know there will be a difference or relationship but doesn’t state the direction
When are directional hypothesis and no directional hypothesis used
Directional is used when there is previous research and non directional is used when there is no previous research
What are behavioural categories
they refer to specific/ operationalised behaviours that represent the general behaviour being observed.