Research methods key terms

Question 1

What is the independent variable

Answer 1

an event that is directly manipulated by an experimentor in order to tests its effect on the DV

Question 2

dependent variable

Answer 2

a measurable outcome of the action of the independent variable in the experiment

Question 3

aim

Answer 3

a statement of what the researcher intends to find out in the research study

Question 4

hypothesis

Answer 4

a precise and testable statement about the assumed relationship between variables

Question 5

directional hypothesis

Answer 5

states the direction of the predicted difference between two conditions or two groups

Question 6

non-directional hypothesis

Answer 6

predicts that there is a difference between the two conditions or two groups without stating the difference

Question 7

null hypothesis

Answer 7

predicts that there will be no difference between conditions or relationships and any difference is too small to be due to anything other than chance factors

Question 8

what is a research hypothesis?

Answer 8

a general prediction made at the beginning of the stdy as to what the research expects to happen, this is not operationalised

Question 9

what is an alternative hypothesis

Answer 9

a general predicition made at the beginning of the study as to what the experimenter expects to happen but is operationalised

Question 10

experimental hypothesis

Answer 10

same as alternative but only used in experiments

Question 11

extraneous variable

Answer 11

do not vary systematically with the iv therefore are not an alternative iv but they may have an effect on the dv

Question 12

confounding variable

Answer 12

a variable that is not the iv but varies systematically with the iv, this would act as an alternative iv and could effect the dv making the results worthless

Question 13

what is internal validity

Answer 13

the degree to which an observed effect was due to the experimental manipulation rather than other factors such as confounding and extraneous variables

Question 14

external validity

Answer 14

the degrees to which a research finding can be generalised to other settings (ecological), time (historical) and people (population)

Question 15

Operationalise

Answer 15

ensuring that all variables are in a form that can easily be measured and tested

Question 16

what is a random error

Answer 16

an error that occurs when an extraneous variable affects the participants in a random way

Question 17

constant error

Answer 17

an error that effects the dv in a consistent and systematic way so is more of a problem

Question 18

participant effects

Answer 18

characteristics of the participant that may effect the outcome of the study

Question 19

situational effects

Answer 19

factors about the environment or setting that could effect the dv or behaviour of the participants

Question 20

experimenter effects

Answer 20

factors relating to the investigator that could effect the outcome

Question 21

what is order effect

Answer 21

repeated measures that can effect the performance

Question 22

mundane realism

Answer 22

refers to how a study can mirror the real world

Question 23

What is a demand characteristic?

Answer 23

A cue that makes participants unconsciously aware of the aims of the study and helps the participants work out what the researcher expects to find

Question 24

What is investigator effects?

Answer 24

Anything that an investigator does that has an effects on a participants performance in a study other then what was intended

Question 25

Population

Answer 25

Group of people that the researcher is interested in

Question 26

Sampling

Answer 26

The method used to select participants