Research Methods

Question 1

What is an aim?

Answer 1

A general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate; the purpose of the study

Question 2

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 2

A clear, precise, testable statement that states the relationship between the variables to be investigated

Question 3

What is a directional hypothesis?

Answer 3

States the direction of the difference or relationship

Question 4

What is a non-directional hypothesis?

Answer 4

Does not state the direction

Question 5

What is the independent variable?

Answer 5

Some aspect of the experimental situation that is manipulated by the researcher - or changes naturally - so the effect on the DV can be measured

Question 6

What is the dependent variable?

Answer 6

The variable that is measured by the researcher. Any effect on the DV should be caused by the change in the IV.

Question 7

What is operationalisation?

Answer 7

Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured and the methods used

Question 8

What is the extraneous variable?

Answer 8

Any variable, other than the IV, that may have an effect on the DV if it is not controlled.

Question 9

What is the cofounding variable?

Answer 9

Any variable, other than the IV, that may have affected the DV so we cannot be sure of the true source of changes to the DV. Confounding variables vary systematically with the IV.

Question 10

What are demand characteristics?

Answer 10

Any cue from the researcher or from the research situation that may be interpreted by participants as revealing the purpose of the investigation may lead to a participant changing their behaviour within the research situation.

Question 11

What are investigator effects?

Answer 11

Any effects of the investigator’s behaviour (conscious or unconscious) on the research outcome (the DV). This may include everything from the design of the study to the selection of, and interaction with, participants during the research process.

Question 12

What is randomisation?

Answer 12

The use of chance in order to control for the effects of bias when designing materials deciding the order of conditions.

Question 13

What is standardisation?

Answer 13

Using exactly the same formalised procedures and instructions for all the participants in a research study

Question 14

What is an independent groups design?

Answer 14

Participants are allocated to different groups where each group represents one experimental condition.

Question 15

What are the pros of an independent groups design?

Answer 15

Avoids order effects

Question 16

What are order effects?

Answer 16

Practice, fatigue, boredom, becoming wise to the requirements of the experiment

Question 17

What are the cons of an independent groups design?

Answer 17

• More participants are needed than with the repeated measures design
• Individual differences are likely

Question 18

What are individual differences?

Answer 18

Differences between participants in the groups may affect results, for example; variations in age, gender or social background.

Question 19

How do you control an independent groups design?

Answer 19

After the participants have been recruited, they should be randomly assigned to their groups. This should ensure the groups are similar, on average (reducing participant variables).

Question 20

What is a repeated measures design?

Answer 20

All participants take part in all conditions of the experiment