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Research Methods Flashcards

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
Stratified- random sampling
identifying all members of each stratum of research interest, then randomly selecting samples of proportionate size from within each stratum
26
Random allocation
Participants have the same chance of being in the experimental or control group
27
Counterbalancing
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
Single- blind procedure
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
Double- blind procedure
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
Standardised instructions
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
Standardised procedures
Techniques used for making observations and measuring responses should be identical for all participants, participants should all be treated in the same way
32
Repeated- measures design
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
Matched- participants design
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
Independent- groups design
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
Data
the observed facts that constitute the results of an experiment
36
Qualitative data
Data that describes the change in a quality of a behaviour (They are descriptions of feelings, personal attitudes etc.)
37
Quantitative data
Data collected through systematic and controlled methodology and presented in numerical form
38
Case study
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
Observational study
a method of data collection that involves watching and recording behaviour as it occurs
40
Naturalistic observation
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
Participant observation
when observations of behaviour are made in a field setting- that is the real world surroundings in which the behaviour occurs
42
Self report
a data collection technique in which individuals are asked to freely express their attitudes (verbally or in writing) by answering questions.
43
Questionnaire
a written set of standardised questions that can be administered face-to-face, by mail, by telephone or via the Internet.
44
Survey
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
Interview
a form of qualitative data-collection where individuals are asked to comment on their attitude towards a particular issue(s)
46
Descriptive statistics
statistics used to analyse, organise, summarise and describe the results (e.g. measures of central tendency mean, median and mode)
47
Inferential statistics
Used for interpreting and giving meaning to the results (e.g. the p value)
48
Measure of central tendency
Indicates the ‘central’ or ‘average’ value in a set of scores
49
Mean
(a measure of central tendency) found by adding up all the values and dividing the total by the number of values
50
Median
(a measure of central tendency) found by arranging scores from highest to the lowest, and selecting the scores that lie in the middle
51
Mode
(a measure of central tendency) found by selecting the most frequently occurring score in a group of scores
52
Statistical significance
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
Conclusion
a decision or judgement about what the results obtained from an investigation mean
54
Generalisation
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
Ethics
standards that guide individuals to identify good, desirable or acceptable conduct.
56
Participants’ rights
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
Confidentiality
a participants right to privacy in terms of access, storage and disposal of information related to the research study in which they participated
58
Voluntary participation
participation whereby participants agree to take part in an experiment free from pressure or fear of negative consequences.
59
Withdrawal rights
a participant’s right to withdraw from a study or research without experiencing any negative consequences.
60
Informed consent
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
Debriefing
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
Deception
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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