Research Methods Flashcards
Scientific
Ideas and theories
generated through
observation
and experiment.
Non-scientific
Ideas formed without
empirical evidence
or the use of scientific
methods or principles.
Aim
A statement outlining
the purpose
of an investigation.
Variable
A condition
or component
of an experiment that
can be measured
or manipulated.
Independent variable
The variable for which
quantities are manipulated
by the researcher, and
is assumed to have
a direct effect on the
dependent variable.
Dependent variable
The variable the
researcher measures
for changes it may
experience due
to the effect of the
independent variable.
Hypothesis
A testable prediction
that identifies the
population, the
strength and direction
of a relationship
between two variables
Population
The group of people
that are the focus
of the research
to which findings from
the sample can be
generalised to.
Controlled experiment
A type of investigation that
measures the causal
relationship between one
or more independent
variables and a dependent
variable, whilst controlling
for all other variables.
Extraneous variable
Any variable that is not
the independent
variable, but may cause
an unwanted effect on
the dependent variable
Controlled variable
Variables other than
the IV that a researcher
holds constant
(controls) in an
investigation, to ensure
that changes in the DV
are solely due to
changes in the IV.
Control group
The group of participants
who receive no
experimental treatment or
intervention to serve as a
baseline for comparison.
Experimental group
The group of participants
exposed to a manipulated
independent variable.
Between-subjects design
An experimental design
in which individuals are
divided into different
groups and complete only
one experimental
condition.
Within-subjects design
An experimental design
in which participants
complete every
experimental condition.
Mixed-method design
An experimental design
which combines
different elements of
within-subjects and
between-subjects
designs.
Correlational study
A study in which
researchers observe
and measure the
relationship between
two or more variables
without any active
control or
manipulation.
Convenience sampling
Sampling readily available members of the population
Random sampling
Any sampling
technique that uses
a procedure to ensure
every member of
the population has
the same chance of
being selected.
Stratified sampling
A sampling technique
that involves selecting
people from
the population in a way
that ensures that
its strata (subgroups)
are proportionally
represented
in the sample.
Random allocation
Every member of the
sample has an equal
chance of being
in the control
or experimental group.
Participant-related
variables
Characteristics of
a study’s participants
that may affect
its results.
Non-standardised
instructions and
procedures
When directions and
procedures differ
across participants
or experimental
conditions.
Experimenter effects
When expectations
of the researcher
affects the results
of an experiment.
Confounding variable
A variable other
than the IV that has
a systematic effect
on the DV.
Systematic effect
A reliable and
predictable effect.
Counterbalancing
A method to reduce
order effects that
involves ordering
experimental conditions
in a certain way.
Single-blind procedure
A procedure in which
participants are unaware of
the experimental condition
they have been allocated to.
Double-blind procedure
A procedure in which
both participants and the
experimenter are unaware
of the experimental
conditions participants
have been allocated to
Systematic errors
Errors in data that differ
from the true value by a
consistent amount.
Random errors
Errors in data that are
unsystematic and occur
due to chance.
Accuracy
How close
a measurement
is to the true value
of the quantity
being measured.
Precision
How closely a set
of measurement values
agree with each other.
Uncertainty
The lack of exact
knowledge about
something being measured
due to potential sources of
variation in knowledge.
Validity
The extent to which
a tool measures what
it is supposed
to measure
Internal validity
The extent to which
a tool measures what
it claims to.
External validity
The extent to which
the results of a study can be
applied to similar people in
different settings.
Repeatability
The extent to which
successive measurements
or studies produce the
same results when carried
out under the same
conditions.
Reproducibility
The extent to which
successive measurements
or studies produce the
same results when carried
out under the different
conditions.
