Research methods

Question 1

Independent Variables

Answer 1

The variable that is manipulated by the researcher in an experiment.

Question 2

Dependent variable

Answer 2

The variable that is measured in an experiment.

Question 3

Operationalisation

Answer 3

making the variables in an investigation detailed and specific

Question 4

extraneous variable

Answer 4

a variable that is not controlled, which could affect the results of a study

Question 5

confounding variable

Answer 5

an extraneous variable that affects the results of the study so that the effect of the IV is not truly being seen

Question 6

situational variable

Answer 6

an extraneous variable present in the environment of the study

Question 7

order effects

Answer 7

when participants improve or worsen in the second condition because they have practised or become fatigued

Question 8

demand characteristics

Answer 8

When a participant works out the aim of the experiment and so changes their behaviour.

Question 9

investigator effect

Answer 9

when a researched unintentionally gives clues to participants, altering their behaviour

Question 10

participant variables

Answer 10

extraneous variables specific to the participants of an investigation, for example, their mood, ability or personality

Question 11

standardised procedure

Answer 11

where the procedure of a study is the same in all conditions

Question 12

counterbalancing

Answer 12

where half of the participant group experience condition A then condition B, while the other half experience condition B then condition A

Question 13

randomisation

Answer 13

when participants are randomly assigned to condition A or B as their first or second test condition

Question 14

single-blind technique

Answer 14

when information about the study is withheld from participants

Question 15

double-blind technique

Answer 15

when the aims of the study are withheld from both participants and researchers

Question 16

random allocation

Answer 16

when participants are randomly assigned to a condition of the study

Question 17

null hypothesis

Answer 17

a prediction that the results will fial to show any difference that is consistent or systematic

Question 18

alternative hypothesis

Answer 18

a prediction of the outcome of a study based on what is expected to happen

Question 19

directional hypothesis

Answer 19

a hypothesis that predicts the direction the results will go in

Question 20

non-directional hypothesis

Answer 20

a hypothesis that predicts that a difference/ relationship will be found, but does not specify what the difference/ relationship will be

Question 21

experimental hypothesis

Answer 21

the name given to a hypothesis when used in field and laboratory experiments

Question 22

target population

Answer 22

the group of people being investigated in a study

Question 23

sample

Answer 23

a selection of the target population that is directly studied in an investigation

Question 24

generalisability

Answer 24

the extent to which the results of a study represent the whole population and not just the sample used

Question 25

sampling method

Answer 25

a technique used to gather a representative group of people as a sample from the target population

Question 26

random sampling technique

Answer 26

a technique used to gather a random sample of participants from the target population

Question 27

stratified sampling technique

Answer 27

a technique that ensures subgroups of the target population are proportionately represented in a sample