Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Psychology, Research Methods > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

1
Q

Variable

A

Any factor that can vary/change within an investigation

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

Dependent Variable

A

The variable that is measured

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

Independent Variable

A

An aspect of the experimental situation that is manipulated (changed), so the effect on the dependent variable can be measured

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

Alternative hypothesis

A

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

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

Null hypothesis

A

Predict there will be no difference or association between variables that you are studying

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

Directional hypothesis

A

States the difference or relationship between 2 conditions. Say positive/negative if looking for relationship
(Alternative hypothesis)

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

Non-directional hypothesis

A

There will be a difference between 2 conditions
(Alternative hypothesis)

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

Extraneous Variable

A

Something that affects all groups in an experiment equally
e.g. anyone in a study could get bored

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

Cofounding Variable

A

Affects one group more than the other e.g. studying one group in the afternoon and the other in the morning, one group may do better than that other

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

Demand characteristics

A

Participants find out the experiments intentions. Prevention: Single-blind, Double-blind, Experimental realism, Counterbalancing, Pilot studiesI

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

Investigator effects

A

Conscious or unconscious clues the investigator may give that leads to demand characteristics. Prevention: Standardised instructions

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

Single-Blind

A

The participants are unaware of the research aims and which condition they are receiving

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

Double-Blind

A

Neither the participant or researcher are aware of the aim

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

Experimental Realism

A

Researcher makes the task sufficiently engaging,, so the participant pays attention to the task and not the observation
Representative of real life situations

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

Counterbalancing

A

Half the participants in a repeated measures design do A then B and some do B then A
Order effects can be controlled for

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

Standardised Instructions

A

Written instructions that are read out loud to each participant in exactly the same way (Verbatim)
Must include a check to make sure participants understood

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

Standardised Procedure

A

Set of procedures written and followed, so each participant experiences the same procedure

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

Pilot Studies

A

Small-scale study that is conducted before a large-scale study to remove any problems with the design

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

Lab Experiment

A

In a controlled environment,
Lacks real world application,
Extraneous variables are controlled,
High internal validity/Low external validity

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

Field Experiments

A

In a natural environment but IV is manipulated b researcher and DV is measured, most participants unaware of being in the study so lacks informed consent,
Less control of extraneous variables than Lab, High ecological validity due to lack of demand characteristics,
Low internal validity/High external validity

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

Natural Experiment

A

Pre-existing IV in a condition that is unethical to repeat (naturally occurring),
Allows for research into an area where IV cannot be manipulated,
High external validity,
Cannot demonstrate cause and effect because cannot be repeated and often studied on an individual or small group,
Low internal validity/High external validity

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

Quasi Experiment

A

IV that is natural. A pre-existing difference between people (gender, age…),
Cannot demonstrate cause and effect because IV is not directly manipulated,
Carried out under controlled conditions so shares strengths with Lab,
High internal validity or Low (participant variables)/Low external validity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Validity

A

The accuracy of a theory or study

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Internal Validity

A

Whether the study measures what it claims to

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
External Validity
The extent to which a study reflects real life
26
Ecological Validity
The extent to which a study's setting/task reflects real life
27
Generalisablility
Extent to which the sample of a study reflects the target population
28
Temporal Validity
Extent to which the study reflects today's society
29
Mundane Realism
If the task can be considered a task someone would normally complete e.g. helping and old person carry something heavy
30
Reliability
How consistent a study is
31
Economic Implications
The effect that psychological research has on the economy
32
Repeated Measures
Participants take part in all conditions, Participants may show demand characteristics, No participant variables/Less participants needed than in an independant
33
Independent Measures
Participants take party in one condition of an experiment, Avoids order effects, Cannot control participant variables e.g. abilities of participants
34
Matched Pairs
Participants are put into pairs based on key features (potential extraneous variables) and one takes part in condition A , whilst the other in condition B, Avoids order effects/Fewer demand characteristics, Time consuming and difficult to find exact pairs
35
How to deal with investigator effect
Standardised instructions
36
Random Sampling
Every member of the population has an equal chance of being chosen
37
Random Sampling strengths
Free from researcher bias, More likely to produce a representative sample than opportunity
38
Random sampling weaknesses
Difficult and time consuming Could produce unrepresentative data
39
Opportunity Sampling
Taking the sample from people who are available and convenient at the time in the study
40
Opportunity strength
Convenient, quick, easy Less costly than other methods
41
Opportunity weakness
Unrepresentative of target population so cannot generalise findings Reasearcher bias - complete representation of the target population is not possible
42
Volunteer Sampling
Participants becoming part of a study because they volunteer when asked or in response to an advert
43
Volunteer strength
Simple and easy Less time consuming
44
Volunteer weakness
Volunteer bias - may attract a certain type of profile, this affects the generalisability of the results
45
Systematic Sampling
Every nth member of the target population selected
46
Systematic strength
Avoids researcher bias - once the system has been chosen there is no influence over participants Fairly representative
47
Systematic weakness
Cannot reflect all the ways that people are different - complete representation of the target population is not possible
48
Stratified Sampling
Classifying the population into sub-groups. Work out the proportions of each sub-group/category. Randomly selecting participants within each strata so there is a similar proportion in each group as the population
49
Startified strength
Avoid researcher bias Representative sample - reflects target population so can generalise the findings
50
Stratified weakness
Cannot reflect all the ways that people are different - complete representation of the target population is not possible
51
Ethical Issues
When ethical guidelines are broken, so investigators become unethical
52
Informed Consent
Participants must be given comprehensive info about and purpose of the study, can make an educated decision if they want to participate
53
Deception
Participant not told true aim of the study
54
Protection From Harm
During a study the participant should not experience any negative physical/psycological effects
55
Confidentiality
Communication of personal information from one person to another
56
Privacy
Person has a right to control the flow of info about themselves
57
Right to withdraw
Can stop participating and remove their data at any point. Can withdraw before, during, and up to 2 weeks after
58
Debriefing
After study, if participants deceived, they have a right to know the true aim of the study
59
Cost-benefit analysis
Judge cost of doing research against benefits
60
Consent form
For participants to understand the purpose of the research and their involvement, appropriate to target population
61
Consent form (structure)
Title, Thank you, Introduction to purpose of the study, Answer to FAQs, Name and contact details of researcher, and somewhere to sign
62
Debrief form
Deals with deception and reminds participants of their ethical rights, given after study
63
Debrief form (structure)
Aim of study, Outline both conditions of study if uses independent measures, Ask if questions and give who to ask, Relevant ethical considerations, Offer someone to talk to if distressed, A thank you
64
Nominal
Data separated into categories e.g. grouping people according to their favourite football team
65
Ordinal
Ordered in a way e.g. Asking someone to list food in order of their personal preferences
66
Interval
Measured using units of equal intervals e.g. Measuring someone in cm
67
Closed questions
Questions with set answers like "Yes" or "No"
68
Open questions
Questions with no set answers like "Why" questions
69
Likert questions
Questions on a questionnaire to measure opinion/attitude/behaviour
70
Structured interview
Pre-determined questions, no deviation
71
Semi structured
Has some pre-prepared questions but can deviate from
72
Unstructured
No pre-prepared questions
73
Covert
Observation where people are unaware they are being studied
74
Covert strength
Produces natural behaviours Reduces chance of investigator effects
75
Covert weakness
Unethical as paarticipants cant give informed consent
76
Overt
Observation where the participant knows they are beings studied
77
Overt strength
Participants gain informed consent so is ethical
78
Overt weakness
Particpants may act differently to how they would if they werent being observed
79
Natrualistic
Observation carriedd out in a natural environment, investigtor doesnt interfere
80
Naturalistic strength
More accurate to how people behave in real life situations, ecological validity
81
Naturalistic weakness
Less control over behaviour Lower internal validity
82
Controlled
Observation where behaviour is observed under conditions where certain variables have been organised by the researcher
83
Controlled strength
High level of control Focus on participant aspect of behaviour more precise
84
Controll weakness
Observation feeling unnatural; Participants may be more likely to show demand characteristics
85
Participant
Observation made by someone who is participating in the activity being observed
86
Participant strength
More in-depth information on your participants behaviour Data more likely to be valid
87
Participant weakness
May have thical issues because covert Participants show demand characterstics becasuse overt
88
Non Participant
Observation where observer is separate from the people being observed
89
Non participant strength
Objective, researcher able to see behaviour from outsider perspective
90
Non-Participant weakness
Do not get participants insight
91
Content Analysis
Systematically analysing various kinds of qualitative data. Can be placed into categories and counted (quantitive), or analysed in themes (qualitiative)
92
How to conduct content analysis
1. Choose sample e.g. magazine 2. Choose sample method e.g. time sampling or event sampling 3.watch/read sample and identify potential categories 4.Two psychologists then compare categories and use the ones they have both agreed on 5.Give examples of the categories 6. Carry out the content analysis seperately, rewatch/read the sample and note the number of times something falls into one of the categories 7. Psychologists then compare answers, look for agreement and use appropraite statistical test to analyse reliability of results
93
Thematic Analysis
Qualitative, analysis of themes that appear in the material
94
How to conduct thematic anaylysis
1. Watch/read sample given (clip/diary/etc) 2. Identify potential implicated or explicit themes/ideas from the data (emergent themes) 3. Collect new sample of data to test validity of the themes 4. Write up a final report using direct qoutes from data to illistrate each theme
95
Content analysis strength
High ecological validity, because analysis of real life communication Sources accessable by others, so easily replicated, high reliability
96
Content analysis weakness
Observer bias, reduces validity and objectivity Likely to be culturally bias, interpritation of verbal/written content affected by language of observer and behavioural catergories
97
Inter-rater reliability
Observations should be consistent, observers discuss and agree beforehand their interpritation of the behaviours, they watch the same event but record data seperately, data then correlated appropriately with strong positive correlation (+0.8)
98
Inter-rater reliability improvement
Make sure behavioural categoriesproperlu operationalised and not broad, categories shouldnt overlap

Psychology, Research Methods (6 decks)

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