Research methods key terms

Question 1

Experimenter variables

Answer 1

changes in personality, appearance and conduct of the researcher.

e.g female researchers may get different results to male ones.

Question 2

Demand characteristics

Answer 2

Any cue from the researcher or research situation that can be interpreted by participants as reveling the purpose of the investigation.

Question 3

Investigators effects

Answer 3

any effect the investigators behavior can have on the research outcome. such as the design of the study.

Question 4

Randomization

Answer 4

the use of chance in order to control effects of bias when designing/deciding order of conditions.

Question 5

operationalisation

Answer 5

defining the effects of variables in terms of how they can be measured.

Question 6

Experimental method

Answer 6

the manipulation of an independent variable to measure the effect of a dependent variable. can be lab, field, or quasi.

Question 7

Aim

Answer 7

a general statement of what the researcher intents to investigate, the purpose of the study.

Question 8

Hypothesis

Answer 8

a clear, precise, testable statement that states the relationship between variables to be investigated. stated at the outset of the study.

Question 9

Variables

Answer 9

anything that can vary r change within the investigation. generally used to determine if changes in one thing changes another.

Question 10

Extraneous variables

Answer 10

any variable, not IV, that can have an effect on the DV if not controlled.

Question 10

Pilot study

Answer 10

a smaller scale investigation, taking place before the actual investigation is conducted.

Question 11

Directional hypothesis

Answer 11

states direction of the difference or relationship e.g more or less.
usually when previous research suggests a particular outcome.

Question 12

Non-directional hypothesis.

Answer 12

does not state the difference or relationship.
tends to be when no previous research has been done.

Question 13

Independent variables

Answer 13

aspects manipulated by the researcher, so the effect on the DV can be measured.

Question 14

single-blind procedure

Answer 14

the participant is not aware of the research aims or condition of the experiment.

Question 15

Situational variables

Answer 15

experimental setting or environment e.g hot whether.

Question 16

Co-founding variables

Answer 16

other variables, not IV, that may have affected the DV, so cannot be too sure of the changes.

Question 17

Double-blind procedure

Answer 17

neither patient nor researcher conducting the study is aware of the research aims, no expectations that may alter participants behavior.

Question 18

Dependent variables

Answer 18

measures by the researcher to observe the effect of the IV.

Question 19

control conditon

Answer 19

provides a baseline measure of behavior without the experimental treatment.

Question 19

standardisation

Answer 19

using exact same formalized procedures / instructions for all participants.

Question 20

Participant variables

Answer 20

concern factors: age, IQ, gender