Research Methods Gcse Edexcel Psychology 1 Flashcards
What is an independent variable (IV)?
The variable directly manipulated by the researcher
The IV can have two or more levels, seen in the conditions of an investigation.
What is a dependent variable (DV)?
The variable being measured in a study
The DV should be affected by the manipulation of the IV.
Define operationalisation in research.
Making the variables in an investigation detailed and specific
This ensures that variables are testable and measurable.
What is an extraneous variable?
A variable that is not controlled and could affect the results of a study
Extraneous variables can interfere with the IV or DV.
What is a confounding variable?
An extraneous variable that affects the results of the study so that the effect of the IV is not truly being seen
Confounding variables damage the results.
Identify the IV and DV: A study to investigate whether cats or dogs sleep longer.
IV: Type of pet (cats or dogs); DV: Amount of sleep
The study measures sleep duration based on the type of pet.
Identify the IV and DV: A study to see if age affects the amount of sleep we need.
IV: Age; DV: Amount of sleep needed
This study examines how sleep requirements change with age.
Identify the IV and DV: An investigation into how the type of praise you receive influences grades achieved in exams.
IV: Type of praise; DV: Grades achieved
The focus is on the relationship between praise type and exam performance.
True or False: The influence of extraneous variables is irrelevant in psychological research.
False
Extraneous variables must be controlled to prevent interference with results.
What is the importance of operationalising variables?
Ensures that they are testable and measurable
This allows for clarity and replicability in research.
What are situational variables?
Situational variables are present in the environment of the investigation, including noise, distractions, light levels, and temperature.
How can situational variables influence a study?
Situational variables can influence the outcome of a study if they vary between conditions. For example, poor lighting may hinder performance compared to good lighting.
What are participant variables?
Participant variables are associated with the participants involved in an investigation, including their abilities, attributes, and tendencies.
What are order effects?
Order effects occur when participants improve or worsen in the second condition due to practice or fatigue.
What are demand characteristics?
Demand characteristics are when participants alter their behavior in response to the perceived aims of the investigation.
What are investigator effects?
Investigator effects occur when a researcher unintentionally gives clues to participants, altering their behavior.
What is a confounding variable?
A confounding variable is an extraneous variable that is not controlled and affects the outcome of a study, confounding the results.
What should researchers consider regarding participant variables?
Researchers should consider what participant variables are likely to influence the findings of their study.
How can researchers control extraneous variables?
Researchers can eliminate or control extraneous variables, such as placing a ‘silence’ sign to prevent distractions.
What is a standardised procedure?
A standardised procedure involves keeping the situation and procedure exactly the same across all conditions of an investigation.
What are participant variables?
Participant variables are extraneous variables specific to the participants of an investigation, such as mood, ability, or personality.
What is counterbalancing?
Counterbalancing is a technique where half of the participants experience condition A then condition B, while the other half experience condition B then condition A.
This helps to prevent order effects in research.
How does randomisation control order effects?
Randomisation assigns participants to conditions based on chance, such as drawing from a hat or using a computer to generate order.
This ensures that order effects are equally distributed.
What is a single-blind technique?
A single-blind technique withholds information about the study’s aims or expectations from participants.
It is often used in clinical trials where participants do not know if they receive the actual medication or a placebo.
What is a double-blind technique?
A double-blind technique means that neither participants nor researchers know the aims of the study.
This helps to control demand characteristics caused by investigator effects.
How can participant variables be controlled?
Participant variables can be controlled by using the same participants in both conditions or by matching different participants on important characteristics.
Random allocation can also be used to randomly assign participants to conditions.
What is a null hypothesis?
A null hypothesis is a prediction that there will be no difference or relationship that is consistent or systematic.
It serves as a baseline for statistical testing.
What is the purpose of controlling extraneous variables?
Controlling extraneous variables ensures that any observed effects in a study are due to the independent variable and not other factors.
What is random allocation?
Random allocation involves randomly assigning participants to one condition or another to achieve a random distribution of participant variables.
