Research Methods Key Words Flashcards
Ethical issues
These arise when a conflict exists between the rights of participants in
research studies and the goals of the researcher to produce authentic, valid
and worthwhile data.
Confidentiality
A participant’s right to have personal information protected.
Deception
Where a participant is not told the true aims of the study e.g., what it will
involve and therefore cannot give truly informed consent.
Informed consent
Participants have the right to be given comprehensive information
concerning the nature and purpose of the research and their role in it, in
order that they can make an informed decision about whether to participate.
Protection from harm
During a research study, participants should not experience negative physicalor psychological effects such as physical injury, lowered self-esteem or embarrassment
Right to withdraw
Participants should have the right to withdraw from participating in a study if they are uncomfortable in any way and should also have the right to refuse permission for the researcher to use any data they produced.
Anonymity
A participant’s right to remain nameless.
Competency
The capacity for the researcher to deal professionally with issues that arise
during the course of the research programme.
BPS code of conduct
A quasi-legal document produced by the British Psychological Society (BPS)
that instructs psychologists in the UK about what behaviour is and is not
acceptable when dealing with participants. It is built around four major principles: respect, competence, responsibility and integrity.
Population
Refers to the large group of individuals that a particular researcher may be
interested in studying, for example students attending sixth form.
Target population
Refers to a particular subset of the overall population from which the sample will be taken, for example students attending sixth form in Newcastle
Sample
Refers to the group of people who take part in a research investigation. It is drawn from the target population and is presumed to be representative of that population.
Sampling techniques
The methods used to select people from the population.
Bias
When certain groups may be over- or under-represented within the sample selected. This limits the extent to which generalisations can be made to the target population.
Representative
In relation to sampling, this means that the sample contains the same
characteristics as the target population from which it was taken.
Generalisation
The extent to which findings and conclusions can be broadly applied to the population. This is made possible if the sample of participants is
representative of the population.
Aim
A general statement of what the research intends to investigate, the purpose of the study.
Hypothesis
A clear, precise, testable statement that states the relationship between the variables being investigated. It predicts a statistically significant effect of an independent variable on a dependent variable (i.e., an experiment), or a significant relationship between variables (i.e., a correlation study). It is stated at the outset of any study.
Directional hypothesis
Testable statement that states the direction of the difference or relationship.
Non directional hypothesis
Testable statement that does not state the direction of the difference or
relationship.
Null hypothesis
Testable statement that predicts that a statistically significant difference or
relationship will not be found.
Variable
Any ‘thing’ that can vary or change within an investigation. Variables are
used in experiments to determine if changes in one ‘thing’ result in changes to another ‘thing’.
Independent variable
The variable that is manipulated by the researcher so that they can measure the effect on the dependent variable.
Dependant variable
The variable that is measured by the researcher. Any effect on this variable
should be caused by changes to the independent variable.
Operationalisation
Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured.
Control condititon
The condition in an experiment that provides a baseline measure of
behaviour without the manipulation of the dependent variable. The results from the experimental condition are compared to this condition.
Experimental condition
The condition in an experiment that involves the manipulation of the
independent variable. Results from this condition are compared to the
results from the control condition.
Extraneous variable
Any variable other than the independent variable, that may have an impact on the dependent variable if it is not controlled. They are ‘nuisance variables’ that do not vary systematically with the independent variable. Their effect is random.
Confounding variable
Any extraneous variable that varies systematically with the independent
variable, so that the true source of change to the dependent variable cannot be known.
Demand characteristics
Any cue from the researcher or from the research situation that may be
interpreted by participants as revealing the purpose of the investigation. This may lead to participants deliberately changing their behaviour within the
research situation. It leads to the ‘please-U’ and ‘screw-U’ effects.
Participant reactivity
The tendency for participants to react to cues from the researcher or from
the research environment.
Investigator effects
Any effect of the investigators’ behaviour (conscious or unconscious) on the dependent variable. This may include everything from the design of the study to the selection of, and interaction with, the participants during the research.
Single blind procedure
When participants do not know which condition they are taking part in within an experiment.
Double blind procedure
When neither the participants nor the investigator knows which condition
the participants are taking part in within an experiment.
Randomisation
The use of chance to control for the effects of bias when designing materials and deciding the order of conditions.
Standardisation
Using exactly the same formalised procedures and instructions for all
participants in a research study.
Experimental design
The different ways in which the testing of participants can be organised in relation to the experimental conditions.
Independent groups design
Participants are allocated to different groups where each group represents one experimental condition.
Repeated measures design
All participants take part in all conditions of the experiment.
Matched pairs design
Pairs of participants are first matched on some variable(s) that may impact the dependent variable. Then one member of the pair is assigned to Condition A and the other to Condition B.
Random allocation
An attempt to control for participant variables in an independent groups
design which ensures that each participant has the same chance of being in one condition as any other.
Order effects
A confounding variable that occurs in repeated measures designs, arising from the order in which conditions are presented e.g., practice effect or boredom effect.
Counterbalancing
An attempt to control for the effects of order effects in a repeated measures design: half of the participants experience the conditions in one order (A then B) and the other half in the opposite order (B then A).
Experiment
Involves the manipulation of an independent variable to measure the effect on the dependent variable. Experiments may be laboratory, field, natural or quasi.
Lab experiment
An experiment that takes place in a controlled environment within which the researcher manipulates the independent variable and records the effect on the dependent variable, whilst maintaining strict control of extraneous variables.
Field experiment
An experiment that takes place in a natural setting within which the researcher manipulates the independent variable and records the effect on the dependent variable.
Natural experiment
An experiment where the change in the independent variable is not brought about by the researcher but would have happened even if the researcher had not been there. The researcher records the effect on the dependent variable.
Quasi experiment
A study that is almost an experiment, but the independent variable has not
been determined by anyone. The ‘variables’ simply exist, such as being old or young.
Pilot study
A small-scale version of an investigation that takes place before the real investigation is conducted. The aim is to check that procedures, materials, measuring scales etc. work and allow the researcher to make any changes or modifications if necessary.
Naturalistic observation
Watching and recording behaviour in the setting within which it would
normally occur.
Controlled observation
Watching and recording behaviour within a structured environment i.e., one where some variables are managed.
Covert observation
Participant behaviour is watched and recorded without their knowledge and consent.
Overt observation
Participant behaviour is watched and recorded with their knowledge and
consent.
Participant observation
The researcher becomes a member of the group whose behaviour they are watching and recording.
Non-participant
observation
The researcher remains outside of the group whose behaviour they are
watching and recording.
Unstructured observation
A type of observation where every instance of a behaviour is recorded in as much detail as possible. This is useful if the behaviours researchers are interested in do not occur very often.
Structured observation
A type of observation where the researcher uses various systems to
organise observations, such as a sampling technique and behavioural
categories.
Target behaviours
Behaviours which are the main focus of an investigation.
Behavioural categories
When a target behaviour is broken up into components that are observable
and measurable.
Behaviour checklist
A checklist of behaviour(s) to be observed in individual components. Each component be an observable behaviour which is measurable.
Continuous recording
Making a note of everything without pause.
Event sampling
When the researcher records the number of times a particular behaviour or event occurs in a target individual or group.
Time sampling
When the researcher records behaviour within a pre-determined time frame.
Inter observer reliability
The extent to which there is an agreement between two or more observers
involved in the observations of a behaviour. This is measured by correlating
the observations of two or more observers. If the correlation between the
two observers is +0.8, the data is said to have high inter observer reliability.