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Psychology > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

Psychology

A

is defined as the “scientific study of mental processes and behaviour in humans”

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2
Q

Scientific method

A

a data- gathering method that involves testing a hypothesis by means of careful measurement and controlled observation

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3
Q

Overt behaviour

A

directly observable e.g. walking, talking, blinking…

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4
Q

Covert behaviour

A

Indirectly observable (internal) e.g. thinking, feeling, learning…

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5
Q

Research method

A

a particular way of conducting a research study to collect accurate and reliable information about behaviour and mental processes

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6
Q

Experiment

A

Used to test a cause-effect relationship between variables under controlled conditions

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7
Q

Independent variable

A

the variable that is systematically manipulated, changed or varied by the researcher in order to assess its effect on the DV

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8
Q

Dependent variable

A

Is a measurement variable that is used to access the effects of the IV

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9
Q

Experimental group

A

In a controlled experiment, the group of participants exposed to the independent variable

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10
Q

Control group

A

In a controlled experiment, the group of participants exposed to all conditions or variables except the independent variable

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11
Q

Hypothesis

A

a testable prediction of the relationship between two variables (educated prediction)

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12
Q

Research Hypothesis

A

It is a prediction of the outcome of a study that expresses the relationship between the IV and DV. The variables are defined and stated in terms of how they will be observed, manipulated and measured.

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13
Q

Extraneous variable

A

any variable other than the IV that can cause a change in the DV and affect the results of the experiment in an unwanted way

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14
Q

Confounding variable

A

A variable other than the IV that has had an unwanted affect on the DV (making it difficult to determine which of the variables has produced the change in the DV)

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15
Q

Operational variables

A

The variables to be tested are expressed in terms of the procedures to be used i.e. how the IV will be manipulated and how the DV will be measured

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16
Q

Placebo effect

A

Any change in a participant’s response/behaviour due to their belief that that they are receiving some kind of experimental treatment and they respond in accordance with that belief rather than to the effect of the IV

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17
Q

Experimenter effect

A

when there is a change in a participant’s response due to the experimenter’s expectations, biases or actions rather than the IV

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18
Q

Order Effect

A

when the DV is influenced by the specific order in which the conditions, treatments or tasks are presented (potential confounding variable)

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19
Q

Sampling

A

the process of selecting participants for a research study

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20
Q

Population

A

The larger group of research interest from which the sample is drawn

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21
Q

Sample

A

The group of participants in a research study that is representative of the population.

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22
Q

Convenience sampling

A

involves selecting participants who are readily available without making any attempt to make the sample representative of the population

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23
Q

Random sampling

A

a sampling procedure that ensures every member of the population of research interest has an equal chance of being selected as a participant in the study (e.g. lottery method, randomly generating numbers)

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24
Q

Stratified sampling

A

Dividing the population that is to be sampled into distinct subgroups (strata), then selecting a separate sample from each stratum, in the same proportions as they occur in the target population

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25
Q

Stratified- random sampling

A

identifying all members of each stratum of research interest, then randomly selecting samples of proportionate size from within each stratum

26
Q

Random allocation

A

Participants have the same chance of being in the experimental or control group

27
Q

Counterbalancing

A

a method used to control order effects. Half the participants in an experiment are exposed to the control condition first and the other half are exposed to the experimental condition first. This is then reversed in the second instance. (Can counter potential unwanted order effects e.g. practice, fatigue, boredom)

28
Q

Single- blind procedure

A

An experimental procedure where participants do not know if they have been assigned to the control group or the experimental group. (but the experimenter does)
• Controls placebo effects

29
Q

Double- blind procedure

A

An experimental procedure where both the participants and the experimenter do not know which experimental condition the participants have been allocated to. (Control or experimental group)
• Controls placebo and experimenter effects

30
Q

Standardised instructions

A

Instructions given to all participants for each condition should be predetermined and identical in terms of what they state and how they are given

31
Q

Standardised procedures

A

Techniques used for making observations and measuring responses should be identical for all participants, participants should all be treated in the same way

32
Q

Repeated- measures design

A

Each participant is involved in both the experimental and control group

Advantages:
The effects of individual participant differences balance out exactly

Disadvantage
Order effects

33
Q

Matched- participants design

A

Participants are paired according to a characteristic they share that can influence the DV. Once matched, one person is allocated to the control and the other to the experimental group.

Advantages:
Participant differences on important characteristics are reduced

Disadvantages:
Other participant variables still exist
This method is time consuming

34
Q

Independent- groups design

A

Each participant is involved in the experimental group or the control group

Advantages:
Large samples can be used
Participant variables can be minimised using random allocation

Disadvantages:
Cannot eliminate participant variables

35
Q

Data

A

the observed facts that constitute the results of an experiment

36
Q

Qualitative data

A

Data that describes the change in a quality of a behaviour (They are descriptions of feelings, personal attitudes etc.)

37
Q

Quantitative data

A

Data collected through systematic and controlled methodology and presented in numerical form

38
Q

Case study

A

An in depth detailed study of all aspects of a single participant, group or event, usually undertaken to gain insight into a particular psychological phenomenon

39
Q

Observational study

A

a method of data collection that involves watching and recording behaviour as it occurs

40
Q

Naturalistic observation

A

A naturally occurring behaviour is viewed by the researcher in in inconspicuous manner so that their presence does not influence the behaviour being observed

41
Q

Participant observation

A

when observations of behaviour are made in a field setting- that is the real world surroundings in which the behaviour occurs

42
Q

Self report

A

a data collection technique in which individuals are asked to freely express their attitudes (verbally or in writing) by answering questions.

43
Q

Questionnaire

A

a written set of standardised questions that can be administered face-to-face, by mail, by telephone or via the Internet.

44
Q

Survey

A

a highly structured questionnaire that is used to collect self-report data from a large number of people in a short period of time

45
Q

Interview

A

a form of qualitative data-collection where individuals are asked to comment on their attitude towards a particular issue(s)

46
Q

Descriptive statistics

A

statistics used to analyse, organise, summarise and describe the results (e.g. measures of central tendency mean, median and mode)

47
Q

Inferential statistics

A

Used for interpreting and giving meaning to the results (e.g. the p value)

48
Q

Measure of central tendency

A

Indicates the ‘central’ or ‘average’ value in a set of scores

49
Q

Mean

A

(a measure of central tendency) found by adding up all the values and dividing the total by the number of values

50
Q

Median

A

(a measure of central tendency) found by arranging scores from highest to the lowest, and selecting the scores that lie in the middle

51
Q

Mode

A

(a measure of central tendency) found by selecting the most frequently occurring score in a group of scores

52
Q

Statistical significance

A

a number obtained from inferential statistics that provides an estimate of how often experimental results could of occurred by chance alone; expressed as a ‘p-value’

53
Q

Conclusion

A

a decision or judgement about what the results obtained from an investigation mean

54
Q

Generalisation

A

a decision or judgement about how widely the findings of a study can be applied, particularly to members of the population from which the sample was drawn.

55
Q

Ethics

A

standards that guide individuals to identify good, desirable or acceptable conduct.

56
Q

Participants’ rights

A

the individual rights of all participants that must be respected by the researcher, as outlined in ethical guidelines relating to psychological research.

These rights include confidentiality, voluntary participation, withdrawal rights, informed consent and debriefing

57
Q

Confidentiality

A

a participants right to privacy in terms of access, storage and disposal of information related to the research study in which they participated

58
Q

Voluntary participation

A

participation whereby participants agree to take part in an experiment free from pressure or fear of negative consequences.

59
Q

Withdrawal rights

A

a participant’s right to withdraw from a study or research without experiencing any negative consequences.

60
Q

Informed consent

A

Where a participant gives their written consent to participate in a study after being fully informed of the true nature and purpose of the experiment (where appropriate), any foreseeable risks and their rights before an experiment commences.

61
Q

Debriefing

A

informing participants of the true purpose of an experiment once it has ended.
• Correcting mistaken attitudes or beliefs
• Providing the opportunity to gain information about the study
• Providing information about services to help with distress resulting from participation

62
Q

Deception

A

When information about the true purpose of a study is not given to participants before the study begins, in cases where giving participants specific information about the study influences the way they think, feel or behave during the research and as a consequence affects the accuracy of the results (participants must be debriefed at the end)

Psychology (28 decks)

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