Research Methods

Question 1

Correlation

Answer 1

a mutual relationship or connection between two or more variables.

Question 2

Experiment

Answer 2

a scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact.

Question 3

Co-variables

Answer 3

a continuous control variable that is observed rather than manipulated but can affect the outcome of an experiment or study.

Question 4

Scattergrams

Answer 4

a graph in which the values of the two variables are plotted along to axes, the pattern of the result revealing any correlation present.

Question 5

Correlation co-efficient

Answer 5

a number between +1 and -1 calculated so as to represent the linear interdependence of two variable sets of data.

Question 6

validity

Answer 6

the quality of being logically or factually sound; soundness or congency.

Question 7

Inter- observer

Answer 7

the amount of variation between the results obtained by two or more observers examining the same material.

Question 8

Ethical issue

Answer 8

a problem or situation that requires a person or organization to choose between alternatives that must be evaluated as right or wrong.

Question 9

Ethical commitee

Answer 9

a body responsible for ensuring that medical experimentation and human research are carried out in a ethical manner in accordance with national and international law.

Question 10

Independent variable

Answer 10

Manipulated or charged.

Question 11

Dependent variable

Answer 11

what is being measured.

Question 12

Extraneous variable

Answer 12

not intentionally studying in your experiment or test.

Question 13

Confounding variable

Answer 13

factors other that IV that may cause a result.

Question 14

Operationalise

Answer 14

process of defining the measurement of phenomenon that is not directly measurable.

Question 15

Control group

Answer 15

composed of participants who do not receive the experimental treatment. They also closely resemble the participants who are in the experimental group.

Question 16

presumptive consent

Answer 16

when researchers based on their participants gender, age and background, presume they are likely to give consent to being studied on.

Question 17

Prior general consent

Answer 17

Before participants are recruited they are asked whether they are prepared to take part in research where they might be deceived about the true purpose.

Question 18

ethical guidelines

Answer 18

Ethical guidelines or codes are used by groups and organizations to define what actions are morally right and wrong. Psychologists use ethical guidelines in order to be certain that treatment and research are being conducted in a manner which is not harmful to participants.

Question 19

Lab experiment

Answer 19

takes place in controlled environment within which the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effects on the DV, whilst maintaining strict control of extraneous variables.

Question 20

field experiment

Answer 20

takes place in a natural setting within which the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV

Question 21

Natural experiment

Answer 21

where the change in IV is not brought about by the researcher but would have happened even if the researcher had not been there. The researcher records the effect on the DV.

Question 22

Quasi experiment

Answer 22

a study that is almost an experiment but lacks key ingredients. The Iv has bot been determined by anyone - the variables simply exist, such as being old or young. strictly speaking this is not an experiment.

Question 23

Demand Characteristics

Answer 23

refers to an experimental artifact where participants form an interpretation of the experiment’s purpose and unconsciously change their behavior to fit that interpretation.

Question 24

Investigator effects

Answer 24

occur when a researcher unintentionally, or unconsciously influences the outcome of any research they are conducting.