****Research methods Flashcards
Aim
A description of what the researcher is trying to find out from conducting an experiment
Bar chart
A graph used for discrete categories, so there are gaps between the bars
Case study
A research method that involves the study of one person or event that is unusual in some way. It involves the collection of quantitative and qualitative data using a range of methods
Closed question
A question that produces quantitative data. The pp can only select from a set range of options, and there is no opportunity to expand on answers
Correlation
A research method that involves plotting two variables on a scatter graph to see if they relate to each other
Counterbalancing
A technique used to over come order effects in a repeated measure design, when half of the pp do condition 1 first and half do condition 2 of the IV first
Covert
When participants do not know that a researcher is in the group observing them
Demand characteristics
Cues about the aim of the experiment that participants pick up from the experimental situation, which can affect behaviour
Dependent variable
The variable that you measure in the experiment that is expected to be affected by changes in IV
Directional hypothesis
A statement predicting the direction of a relationship between variables
Ecological validity
Whether a research study has a realistic environment and task so the behaviour produced is similar to real life
Ethical guidelines
Guidelines for how to treat pps in the right way in research
Experimental design
The way in which pps are grouped and tested between conditions of IV
Experimenter bias
When an experimenter knows their hypothesis and their measurements may conform to what they expect to see
Extraneous variable
A variable, other than the IV, which could affect the DV
Field experiment
A research method where an IV is manipulated in a natural environment
Generalizability
This is about whether a study has a varied and large enough sample to be representative for a larger population
Histogram
A graph illustrating frequency to show the distribution of continuous data
Hypothesis
A predictive statement about what effect you expect the IV to have on the DV
Independent groups
A design where different people are used in each condition of the IV, without being matched
Independent variable
The variable that you manipulate to create two or more conditions that is expected to have an effect on the DV
Inter-rather reliability
The extent to which 2 researchers interpreting qualitative responses in a questionnaire will produce the same records
Lab experiment
A research method where the experimenter manipulates an IV and measures a DV in a controlled environment
The researcher decides where, when, who, in what circumstances and using a standardized procedure.
- Participants are randomly allocated to each independent variable group.
Matched pairs
A design where different, but similar people are used in each condition of the IV
Mean
The average of a set of numbers
Median
The middle score in a set of numbers
Mode
The most common score in a set of numbers
Natural experiment
A research method where the researcher has no control over the IV to the allocation of the groups
Naturalistic observation
An observation that involves observing pps in their normal environment
Non-directional hypothesis
A statement predicting there will be a difference in the measures of the DV from the conditions of IV
Non participant observation
An observation where the researcher is not part of the social setting being observed e.g. observe through a one way mirror
Normal distribution
When mean, median and mode are the same
Null hypothesis
A testable statement say that any difference or correlation is due to chance
Objectivity
An unbiased external viewpoint that is not affected by individual feelings or experiences, so would be consistent between researchers
Observation
A research method that involves watching people or recording their behaviors
Open questions
A question that produces qualitative data and pps are encouraged to expand their answers and answer in full sentences
Operationalisation
When you clearly DEFINE variables so they can be accurately measured or manipulated
Opportunity sample
When a sample is gathered by asking anyone immediately available to take part in the research study
Order effects
Effects caused by using a repeated measure design because pps repeat a task for more than once
Overt
When pps know who the researcher is and they are being observed
Participant observation
An observation where the researcher is part of the social setting being observed
Participant variables
Individual differences between participants
Controlled variable
Kept constant for all conditions of IV
Population
All individual of one type
Qualitative data
Non-numerical data , usually in the form of descriptions
Quantitative data
Numerical data
Questionnaire
A research method that uses written questions
Random allocation
A technique used to overcome individual differences when the pps have equal change of being allocated to either condition of the IV
Random sample
When a sample is gathered by using a system to select pps from a target sample list, where each person on the list has an equal chance of being selected
Range
A measure of dispersion that involves calculating the difference between the highest and the lowest score
- the spread
- showing not everyone is…
Reliability
This is about whether the data is consistent
Repeated measures
A design where same ppl are used in each condition of the IV
Representative
About whether a sample has similar kinds of people to the target population
Research method
The main way of collecting data in a research study
Sampling method
The way in which an experimenter gathers the sample for the research study
Scattergraph
A way to display data from a correlational study that shows whether the two variables plotted are related
Self report
A research method where a participant reports on their own thoughts and behaviours by answering a series of written questions in a set order
Semi-structured interview
An interview with questions in a fixed order, but the researcher is also allowed to add additional questions throughout the interview to allow the pp to expand on areas of interest
Situational variable
An extraneous variable caused by an aspect of the environment
Skewed distribution
When median or mode differ from the mean
Standard deviation
A measure of dispersion that calculates the average difference between each score and the mean. The bigger the SD, the greater the variation in scores
Structured interview
An interview with questions in a fixed order, which may be scripted
Structured observation
An observation where the observer records only a specific set of pre-defined behaviours
Subjectivity
A personal viewpoint, which may be biased by one’s feelings or experiences, so may differ between researchers
Target population
The group of people that we want to generalize the results of a study to
Test-retest reliability
A way to measure the consistency of a test by repeating it and checking whether the two sets of data correlate well
Unstructured observation
A study in which the observer records the WHOLE RANGE of behaviours - usually in the pilot stage to refine the behaviour always categories to be observed
Unstructured interview
A research method where the participants discusses something with a psychologist
Validity
Whether the experimenter has an accurate measurement of what they think that they are measuring
Volunteer sampling
When a sample is gathered by placing an advert and getting pps to volunteer themselves
Fatigue effect
A situation where pps performance declines because they have experienced an experimental task more than once e.g. due to boredom
