Research Methods Flashcards
The foundation of psychology.
Alternative Hypothesis
-States a relationship/correlation between variables.
Null Hypothesis
-States no relationship/correlation between variables.
Hypothesis
- A clear testable statement that is written at the beginning of an investigation.
- It states the relationship of the variables being tested.
Dependent Variable (DV)
- The thing that the researcher measures in an investigation.
- Any changes in the DV should depend on the IV, and the IV alone.
Independent Variable (IV)
- The thing that is varied in an investigation- either deliberately changed by the experimenter or varies naturally.
- There are different levels of the IV which are called conditions.
Variable
-Any ‘thing’ that can vary or change within an investigation.
Extraneous Variable (EV)
- Any variable apart from the IV that could have an effect on the DV.
- If an EV is not controlled, the researcher won’t know what truly changed the DV.
Randomisation
-Using chance to control the effects of bias when designing a research study.
Standardised procedures
-Using exactly the same methods and instructions for all participants in a research study.
Field Experiment
- An experiment that takes place in an natural setting.
- The researcher deliberately changes the IV, and measures the effect of the IV on the DV.
- It is more difficult to control EVs in an field experiment than a laboratory experiment.
Laboratory Experiment
- An experiment that takes place in a controlled environment.
- The researcher deliberately changes the IV, and measures the effect of the IV on the DV.
- It is easier to keep control of EVs in a laboratory experiment than a field experiment.
Natural Experiment
- An experiment where the IV is not manipulated by the experimenter but would have changed whether the experimenter is interested or not.
- The experimenter records the effect of the change on the DV.
- Natural experiments can take place in natural settings or in a laboratory.
Qualitative method
-Using data that is expressed in words and is non-numerical.
(Although qualitative data may be converted into numbers for the purpose of analysis).
Quantitative method
-Using data that can be counted, usually given as numbers.
Allocations to conditions
In an independent groups design, each groups receive -one level of the IV.
- Random allocation is an unbiased method used to control for participant variables.
- If random methods are used, this ensures that each participant has the same chance of being in one group as any other.
Control group
- A group of participants who receive no ‘treatment’.
- Their behaviour acts as an baseline against which the effect of the IV may be measured.
Control condition
-The condition in a repeated measures design that provides a baseline measure of behaviour without the experimental treatment (IV).
Counterbalancing
- Used in repeated measures design to control for order effects.
- Half the participants complete the conditions in one order, and the other half in the opposite order.
Experimental design
-The different ways in which the participants can be organised in relations to conditions in an experiment.
Independent groups
- Participants are allocated to different groups where each group represents one experimental condition.
- E.G condition A and condition B.
Matched pairs
- Pairs of participants are matched in terms of variables relevant to the study, such as age or IQ.
- One member of the pairs takes part in condition A and the other takes part in conditions B.