research methods Flashcards
define independent variable
what’s being changed across conditions (cause)
define dependent variable
what’s being measured (effect)
define extraneous variables
factors other than IV affecting DV (controlled)
explain some types of extraneous variables
situational: lighting, temp, distractions
individual variables: effected by individual
investigator effects: experimenter bias
define demand characteristics
when participants change behaviour to try suit aim of study
define cofounding variables
factors other than IV that effect EV (not controlled)
what are some control variables
standardisation: keeping everything same except IV (e.g. instructions)
randomisation: removing bias
define directional hypothesis
previous research provided + direct
define non-directional hypothesis
no previous research
define independent groups
two separate groups experience separate conditions and compare results
evaluate independent groups
A: no order effects
C: extraneous variables
define repeated measures
all take part in both conditions
evaluate repeated measures
A: no individual differences
C: order effects: DC, boredom
define matched pairs
participants matched in pairs with similar characteristics
evaluate matched pairs
A: no order effects
A: less individual differences
C: inconvenient
define lab experiment
artificial environment, researcher changes IV
define field experiment
natural environment, researcher changes IV
define natural experiment
natural environment, IV changed naturally
define quasi-experiment
natural environment, IV fixed by biology
evaluate types of experiment
internal validity, ecological validity, ethical
define random sampling
every person of target population has equal chance of selection (e.g. 10 randomly selected)
evaluate random sampling
A: no experimenter bias
C: not representative
C: inconvenient
define systematic sampling
names in alphabetical + pick nth
evaluate systematic sampling
A: no experimenter bias
C: not representative
C: inconvenient
define volunteer sampling
self selected via advert
evaluate volunteer sampling
A: convenient
A: no experimenter bias
C: not representative
define opportunity sampling
approach whoever is available
evaluate opportunity sampling
A: convenient
C: not representative
C: experimenter bias
define stratified sampling
split target population into categories + put names in separate bowls for random sampling
evaluate stratified sampling
A: representative
A: no experimenter bias
C: inconvenient
define natural observations
study in natural environment
evaluate natural observations
A: high ecological validity
C: lack of control of extraneous variables
define controlled observations
artificial environment
evaluate controlled observations
A: minimised extraneous variables
C: lack of ecological validity
define covert observations
not knowing being watched
evaluate covert observations
A: increased validity
C: unethical
define overt observations
know being watched
evaluate overt observations
A: reduced ethical issues
C: demand characteristics
define participant observations
researcher involved
evaluate participant observations
A: increased validity
C: may get too involved
define non-participant observations
researcher not involved
explain some sampling methods
event sampling: how many times behaviour/ event occurs
time sampling: recording behaviour in time frame
define interobserver reliability
consistency between all observers results
define and evaluate informed consent
participants made aware of task + consistency reminded of RTW
C: demand characteristics
define and evaluate deception
with holding information/ misleading participant
A: avoid demand characteristics
C: could cause harm
define and evaluate protection from harm
risk shouldn’t be more present than what participants experience daily
C: some distress may be needed for realistic results
define and evaluate confidentiality
right for participant’s info to be private
C: may need to breach if illegal/unsafe
define right to withdraw
protect participants from harm- constantly reminded
define debriefing
used after research is complete to check on participant and say if deceived
evaluate correlations
A: gives idea of further research
A: secondary data: convenient
A: shows strength of relationship
C: secondary data: not always reliable
C: findings are more descriptive than explanatory
define case studies
focus on one person/ small group
descriptive of event (qualitative data)
evaluate case studies
A: in depth
A: easy to understand
C: can’t generalist
C: can’t compare
define central tendencies
mean, mode, median
define measures of dispersion
range + standard deviation
more speed out= more abilities
define standard deviation
average distance of each score from mean