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Psychology > Research methods > Flashcards

Research methods Flashcards

1
Q

What is a variable

A

Anything that can vary (time to perform task,memory,attention)

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2
Q

What is a true experiment

A

Must be a control condition and an experimental condition and ppts must be randomly assigned to conditions

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3
Q

Why does a researcher manipulate the IV

A

To test its effect on the dependent variable

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4
Q

What is an independent variable

A

Manipulated by the researcher or changes naturally

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5
Q

What is the level of the IV

A

The number of different versions of the IV there are in the experiment a

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6
Q

What is a dependent variable

A

Measured by researcher. Any effect on DV should be caused by changes in the IV

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7
Q

How do you test the effect of the IV

A
  • Control condition
  • Experimental condition
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8
Q

What is the control condition

A

It provides a baseline measure of behaviour without experimental treatment

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9
Q

What is the experimental condition

A
  • When theres been researcher manipulation.
  • The condition in which the researcher is particularly keen to see if a difference in behaviour has occurred
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10
Q

What is operationalisation

A

Clearly defining variables so they can be measured

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11
Q

What is an aim

A

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

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12
Q

What is an hypothesis

A

A testable statement predicting the outcome of the study which is made at the start of the study.

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13
Q

Directional hypothesis (one-tailed)

A

Researcher makes it clear what sort of difference or relationship that may be seen in 2 conditions
- May use ‘less’ ‘more’ ‘higher’ or ‘lower’

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14
Q

Non directional hypothesis (two-tailed)

A

Used when there has been no previous research to suggest what direction the research will go in.
- Researcher claims theres a difference/ relationship but outcome isn’t mentioned

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15
Q
A
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16
Q

Lab experiments

A
  • Highly controlled environments
  • IV is manipulated to see effects on DV
  • Ppts can be randomly allocated to conditions.
  • Considered a true experiment
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17
Q

Field experiments

A
  • IV is manipulated to see effects on DV
  • Conducted in a real life setting.
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18
Q

Natural experiment

A
  • Researcher takes advantage of naturally occurring IV and effect it has on DV.
  • Researcher didn’t manipulate IV directly
  • Researcher cannot randomly allocate ppts to conditions & no control over IV so NOT A TRUE EXPERIMENT
    ( the IV isn’t natural, not the setting)
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19
Q

Quasi experiment

A
  • ‘Almost’ experiments
  • IV doesn’t vary at all - difference between ppl that exists and sees effects on DV
  • Ppts aren’t randomly allocated as not control over IV, NOT A TRUE EXPERIMENT.
20
Q

Extraneous variables

A

Any variable other than the IV that may have an effect on the DV if its not controlled
- eg: age, intelligence - ppt
- eg: personality, appearance - experimenter

21
Q

Confounding variables

A

Any variable other than the IV that has not been controlled so affects the DV.
- So therefore can’t ben sure to true reasons of changes in DV

22
Q

Demand characteristics

A

Ppts are not ‘passive’ and might work out aims and change their bevahiour to ‘please u’ or ‘screw u’

23
Q

Investigator effect

A

Effects on the investigators behaviour (conscious or unconscious) on the research outcome

24
Q

Ways of minimising extraneous/confounding variables

A
  • Randomisation
  • Standardisation
25
Q

What is randomisation

A

The use of change in order to control bias. Randomly generating names from a hat

26
Q

What is standardisation

A

Using exactly the same procedures for all ppts, such as the same environment, instructions and experiments

27
Q

What is validity

A

How accurate and representative the results are.
- There’s internal and external validity

28
Q

Internal validity

A

Whether the results are due to manipulation of the IV and not affected by the confounding variables

29
Q

External validity

A

The extent to which the results can be generalised to other settings
- temporal & ecological validity

30
Q

Temporal validity

A

Refers to how well we can generalise the results across different periods of time

31
Q

Ecological validity

A

Whether the experimental results can be generalised to their settings from artificial settings to real life environments.

32
Q

Reliability

A

Refer to how consistent the results are . If the result is repeated and has similar results the its reliable

33
Q

Internal reliability

A

The extent to which a test is consistent within itself .
- eg: if someone was doing questionnaire on obedience they should have the same score on each question for it to be considered to have internal reliability

34
Q

External validity

A

The extent to which a test is consistent overtime.
- eg: if someone achieved 120 on IQ test nd they were testes again in 8 months, we would expect them to achieve the same results.

35
Q

Experimental design

A

How the ppts in an experiment will be used

36
Q

Matched pairs design

A

Where ppts are first matched based on similar participant variable (eg: IQ), then one member is assigned to condition A and the other assigned to condition B

37
Q

Limitations of matched pairs design

A
  • its time consuming
  • its impossible to match ppl on every exact characteristic
38
Q

strengths of matched pairs design

A
  • order effects are avoided
  • demand characteristics are less likely
  • ppt variables are reduced increasing internal validity
39
Q

independent groups design

A

When the researcher allocates different ppts to each group but doesn’t match them for any variable

40
Q

How does researcher control participant variables that could occur

A

random allocation

41
Q

Strengths of independent groups design

A
  • no order effects
  • no demand characteristics as ppts only take part once
42
Q

Limitations of independent groups design

A
  • participant variables may affect results
  • large amount of ppts are needed
43
Q

Repeated measures design

A

When all the ppts take part in both conditions

44
Q

What is the order effects

A

when the order of the experimental conditions influence the result of the study.

45
Q

Limitation of a repeated measures design

A
  • there are order effects (ppts may figure out aim cause task is done twice or become bored )
  • demand characteristics are likely as ppts know the aim of study
46
Q

How do you deal with order effects

A

COUNTERBALANCING

47
Q

What is counterbalancing

A
  • When half the ppts take part in condition A then B, then the other half take part in condition B then A (ABBA)

Psychology (9 decks)

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