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Psychology A-Level > Research methods- glossary > Flashcards

Research methods- glossary Flashcards

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1
Q

What do experiments try to establish?

A

Cause and effects

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2
Q

What is a lab experiment?

A

Studies which take place in a controlled environment where the variables are carefully controlled

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3
Q

What is a field experiement?

A

Studies that take place in a real-life, natural setting

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4
Q

What’s an independent variable?

A

The variable that is manipulated or changed by the researcher

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5
Q

What is a dependent variable?

A

The variable that is recorded or measured by the researcher

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6
Q

Does an experiment only have a dependent and independent variable?

A

Yes

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7
Q

What are some research aims?

A
  • A general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate.
  • The purpose of the study.
  • Concise and to-the-point statement that directs the overall ambition of the study.
    -Typically begins with “to investigate”
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8
Q

What’s a hypotheses?

A
  • A prediction
  • A clear, precise and testable statement
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9
Q

What’s an experimental hypothesis?

A

A statement that lays out what a researcher predicts will be found; predicts there will be a difference between two conditions.

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10
Q

What’s a directional hypothesis?

A

The direction of the results can be predicted. (also known as a one tailed test)

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11
Q

What’s a non-directional hypothesis?

A

A change or difference is predicted, but not the direction it will go in. (also known as a two a two tailed test)

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12
Q

What’s a null hypothesis?

A

Predicts no difference will be found or that any difference is due to change factors

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13
Q

What’s an experimental design?

A

The different ways in which the testing of participants can be organised in relation to the experimental conditions.

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14
Q

What’s an independent groups design?

A

When participants are divided into groups and are only involved in one of the experimental conditions of the experiment

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15
Q

What’s matched pairs design?

A

When different participants are designed to each condition of the experiment, but they are matched on characteristics important to the study.

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16
Q

What’s a repeated measures design?

A

When all participants take part in all conditions of the experiment

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17
Q

What’s a control group?

A

A group of participants who do not experience the experimental situation but acts as a baseline against which to judge any change.

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18
Q

What does operationalise mean?

A

Defining what the variables are and how you will measure them.

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19
Q

What are extraneous variables?

A

Any variable, other than the IV that might potentially affect the DV (E.g) participant variables and situational variable.

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20
Q

What are confounding variables?

A

A special class were the variable changes systematically with the IV

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21
Q

What is a situational variables?

A

These must affect a whole group or whole test in order for it to be an issue, so time of day, temperature, etc…

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22
Q

What’s are participant variables?

A

Participants may bring different characteristics to an experiment that could have an effect on the DV, such as gender, age, skills, level of experience, etc…

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23
Q

What’s the objectivity?

A

Based on facts, research process is not influenced by the researcher’s emotions, personal opinions or expectations.

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24
Q

What are demand characteristics?

A

Where participants alter their behaviour meet the perceived demands of the experiment

25
Q

What are experimental effects?

A

The presence of a researcher affects performance in a task

26
Q

What’s Quantitative data?

A

Data that is expressed numerically

27
Q

What are measures of central tendency?

A

Mean, mode, median

28
Q

What are measures of dispersion?

A

Range and standard deviation- how spread out the results are

29
Q

What’s the mean?

A

Arithmetic average that indicated the typical score in a data set

30
Q

What’s the median?

A

Middle value in an ordered list

31
Q

What’s the mode?

A

Most frequently occurring number in a set of data

32
Q

What are measures of dispersions based on?

A

The spread of scores; how far scores vary and differ from one another

33
Q

What’s the range?

A

Simple calculation of the spread scores

34
Q

What’s standard deviation?

A

A single value that tells us how far scores deviate (move away from) the mean.

35
Q

What are the 5 steps to work out standard deviation?

A

Step 1- Work out the mean
Step 2- Subtract the mean from each other
Step 3- Square the deviation score
Step 4- Add up the squared deviation scores and divide by ONE LESS than the total scores in data set
Step 5- Find the square root of the variance

36
Q

What are frequency tables?

A

They show how many times (the frequency) the scores occurred in a data set

37
Q

What are percentages?

A

An overall indication of the relative proportion of people who achieved a particular score

38
Q

What are bar charts?

A

Used to represent data from a categorical variable.

39
Q

What are histograms?

A

Used to present the distribution of scores by illustrating the frequency of values in the data set.

40
Q

What are normal and skewed distribution?

A

When we plot frequency data the y- axis usually represents frequency and the x-axis is the item of interest, this will then show the pattern of distribution

41
Q

What’s a normal distribution?

A
  • Occurs when certain variables are measured such as IQ or the life of a light bulb.
  • Most of the scores are clustered around the mean, median and mode
  • All measures of central tendency are at the mid- point
  • The curve has a characteristic symmetrical bell-shaped
42
Q

What’s a skewed distribution- positive?

A

Positive skew:
Most of the scores are hunched towards the left. The mode is to the left of the mean because the mean is dragged to the right by the extreme scores tailing in a positive direction (tail to the right)

43
Q

What’s a skewed distribution- negative?

A

Most of the scores are bunched to the right and some tail off in a negative direction (to the left)

44
Q

What is a case study of a brain damaged person?

A

An intensive study about a person, or a group of people about how their brain works/ comprehends when damaged and how this can impact their life

45
Q

What is inferential statistics?

A

Descriptive statistics.

46
Q

What are the 3 factors that need to be considered before you choose a statistical test?

A
  1. Is it a test of difference (experiment) or a test of correlation (relationship)?
  2. What is the level of measurement- Nominal/Ordinal/Interval/Ratio?
    3.What experimental design was used-independent/repeated measure or matched pairs?
47
Q

What is a Nominal?

A

A category
Data is put into categories

48
Q

What is an Ordinal?

A

When data can be put into order (1st, 2nd and 3rd) ( Ranked)

49
Q

What is an Interval?

A

Equal intervals
(e.g)- Time, temperature, weight

50
Q

What is the Mann-Whitney (U) test?

A

Difference, Ordinal, Unrelated

51
Q

What is the Chi-Squared (X2) test?

A

Difference, Nominal, Unrelated

52
Q

What is the Wilcoxon (t) test?

A

Difference, Ordinal, Related

53
Q

What is the Spearman’s Rho (r)?

A

Correlation, Ordinal

54
Q

What is Na?

A

Number of participants in group A

55
Q

What is Nb?

A

Number of participants in group B

56
Q

What is Ra?

A

Sum of ranks for scores in group A

57
Q

What is Rb?

A

Sum of ranks for scores in group B

58
Q

Is it true that the calculated value must be equal to or less than the critical value in this table for significance to be shown?

A

Yes

Psychology A-Level (13 decks)

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