Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Psychology > Research Methods Key Words > Flashcards

Research Methods Key Words Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Psychology 101 flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards AP® Psychology flashcards
1
Q

Experimental method

A

Involves the manipulation of independent variable to measure the effect on the dependent variable. Experiments may be laboratory, field, natural or quasi

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Aim

A

A general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate; the purpose of the study

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Hypothesis

A

A clear, precise testable statement that states the relationship between the variables to be investigated. Stated at the outset of any study

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Directional hypothesis

A

States the direction of the difference or relationship between the variables

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Non-directional hypothesis

A

Does not state the direction of the difference or relationship between the variables

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Variables

A

Any ‘thing’ that can vary or change within an investigation. Variables are generally used in experiments yo determine if changes in one thing result in changes to another

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Independent variable

A

Some aspect of the experimental situation that is manipulated by the researcher - or changes naturally - so the effect on the DV can be measured

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Dependent variable

A

The variable that is measured by the researcher. Any effect on the DV should be caused by the change in the IV

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Operationalisation

A

Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Theory

A

A collection of general principles used to explain specific observations and facts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Extraneous variable

A

Any variable, other than the IV, that may have an effect on the DV if it is not controlled. EV’s are essentially nuisance variables that do not vary systematically with the IV

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Confounding variables

A

Any variable, other than the IV, that may have affected the DV so we cannot be sure of the true source of changes to the DV. Confounding variables vary systematically with the IV.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Demand characteristics

A

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 a participant changing their behaviour within the research situation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Investigator effects

A

Any effect of the investigator’s behaviour on the research outcome. This may include everything from the design of the study to the selection of, and the interaction with, participants during the research process

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Randomisation

A

The use of chance in order to control the effects of bias when designing materials and deciding the order of conditions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Standardisation

A

Using exactly the same formalised procedures and instructions for all participants in a research study

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Participant reactivity

A

The tendency for participants to react to cues from the researcher or the research environment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Counterbalancing

A

An attempt to control for the effects of order in a repeated measures design: half of the participants experience the conditions in one order, and the other half in the opposite order

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Experimental design

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Independent groups design

A

Participants are allocated to different groups where each group represents one experimental condition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Repeated measures

A

All participants take part in all conditions of the experiment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Matched pairs design

A

Pairs of participants are first matched on some variables that may affect the DV. Then one member of the pair is assigned to Condition A and the other to Condition B

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Random allocation

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Participant variables

A

Characteristics of individual participants (such as age and intelligence) that might influence the outcome of a study

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Order effects

A

In a repeated measures design, a confounding variable arising from the order which conditions are presented, e.g. practice effect or boredom effect

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Laboratory (Lab) experiment

A

An experiment that takes place in a controlled environment within which the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on DV, whilst maintaining strict control of extraneous variables

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Field experiment

A

An experiment that takes place in a natural setting within the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Natural experiment

A

An experiment where the change in the IV 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 DV

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Quasi-experiment

A

A study that is almost an experiment but lacks key ingredients. The IV has not been determined by anyone (the researcher or any other person) - the ‘variables’ simply exist, such as being old or young

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Population

A

A group of people who are the focus of the researcher’s interest, from which a smaller sample is drawn

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Sample

A

A group of people who take part in a research investigation. The sample is drawn from a target population and is presumed to be representative of that population

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Sampling techniques

A

The method used to select people from the population

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Bias

A

In the context of sampling, when certain groups may be over or under-represented within the sample selected. For instance, there may be too many younger people or too many people of one ethnic origin in a sample. This limits the extent to which generalisations can be made to the target population

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Generalisation

A

The extent to which findings and conclusions from a particular investigation can be broadly applied to the population. This is made possible if the sample of participants is representative of the population

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Random sample

A

All members of the target population have an equal chance of being selected

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

Stratified sample

A

The composition of the sample reflects the proportions of people in certain sub-groups within the target or wider population

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

Opportunity sample

A

Where researchers select anyone who happens to be willing and available

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

Volunteer sample

A

Participants selecting themselves to be part of the research

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

Ethical issues

A

These arise when a conflict exists between the rights of participants in research studies and the goals of research to produce authentic, valid and worthwhile data

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

BPS code of ethics

A

A quasi-legal document produced by the British Psychological Society that instructs psychologists in the UK about what is an is not acceptable when dealing with participants. It is built around 4 major principles: respect, competence, responsibility and integrity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

Informed consent

A

Making participants aware of the aims of research, the procedures, their rights (including the right to withdraw)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

Deception

A

Deliberately withholding information from participants at any stage of the investigation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

Protection from harm

A

Ensuring the participants aren’t placed at any more risk than they would in their daily lives

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

Privacy

A

TPersonal infroamtion that participants can control about theimselves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

Confidentiality

A

The right to have any personal data protected if privacy is invaded

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

Debriefing

A

Where participants are made aware of the true aims of an investigation after the study

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

Pilot study

A

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 to allow the researcher to make changes or modifications if necessary

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

Single-blind procedure

A

When participants are not informed about the aim of research at the beginning of the study

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

Double-bind procedure

A

Where neither the participants nor the researcher is aware of the aim of the study

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

Naturalistic observation

A

Watching and recording behaviour in the setting within which it would normally occur

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

Controlled observation

A

Watching and recording behaviour within a structured environment i.e. one where some variables are managed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
52
Q

Covert observation

A

Participants’ behaviour is watched and recorded without their knowledge or consent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
53
Q

Over observation

A

Participants’ behaviour is watched and recorded with their knowledge and consent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
54
Q

Participant observation

A

The researcher becomes a member of the group whose behaviour he/she is watching and recording

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
55
Q

Non-participant observation

A

The researcher remains outside of the group whose behaviour he/she is watching and recording

56
Q

Objectivity

A

Being uninfluenced be personal opinions or past experiences, being free of bias.

57
Q

Observation

A

A research study where only observational techniques are used

58
Q

Observational design

A

An overall plan for conducting observational research

59
Q

Behavioural categories

A

When a target behaviour is broken up into components that are observable and measurable

60
Q

Even sampling

A

A target behaviour or even is first established then the researcher records this even every time it occurs

61
Q

Time sampling

A

A target individual or group is first established then the researcher records their behaviour in a fixed time frame

62
Q

Structured observation

A

The researcher uses a pre-determined list of behaviours and sampling methods to quantify their observation

63
Q

Unstructured observation

A

The researcher may just want to write down everything they see

64
Q

Self-report technique

A

Any method in which a person is asked to state or explain their own feelings, opinions, behaviours and/or experiences related to a give topic

65
Q

Questionnaire

A

A set of written questions used to assess a person’s thoughts and experiences

66
Q

Interview

A

A ‘live’ encounter where the interviewer asks a set of questions to assess the interviewee’s thoughts and experiences. The questions may be pre-set or may develop as the interview goes along

67
Q

Open questions

A

Questions that don’t have a fixed range of answers and respondents are free to answer as they wish

68
Q

Closed questions

A

Questions that offer a fixed number of responses i.e. ‘yes’ or ‘no’

69
Q

Structured interviews

A

Made up of pre-determined questions asked in a fixed order

70
Q

Unstructured interviews

A

Interaction is free-flowing and there are no set questions

71
Q

Semi-structured interviews

A

A list of questions are available but follow-up questions may also occur when appropriate

72
Q

Social desirability bias

A

A tendency for respondents to answer questions in such a way that presents themselves in a better light

73
Q

Response bias

A

A tendency for interviewees to respond in the same way to all questions, regardless of content.

74
Q

Acquiescence bias

A

Tendency for a person to response to any questionnaire/interview item with agreement regardless of the actual content

75
Q

Correlation

A

A mathematical technique in which a researcher investigates an association between two variables, called co-variables

76
Q

Co-variables

A

The variables investigated within a correlation. Their no IV and DV as correlations investigate the association between the variables, rather than trying to show a cause and effect relationship

77
Q

Positive correlation

A

As one co-variable increases so does the other. For example, the number of people in a room and noise a positively correlated

78
Q

Negative correlation

A

As one co-variable increases the other decreases. For example, the following two co-variables: number of people in a room and amount of personal space are negatively correlated

79
Q

Zero correlation

A

When there is no relationship between the co-variables. For example, the association between the number of people in a room in Manchester and the total daily rainfall in Peru

80
Q

Intervening variables

A

A variable that comes between 2 other variables and can be used to explain their relationship

81
Q

Third variable problem

A

An unintentional their variable influences 2 separate variables that are being measured

82
Q

Qualitative data

A

Data that is expressed in words and non-numerical

83
Q

Quantitative data

A

Data that can be counted and is usually given as numbers

84
Q

Primary data

A

Information that has been obtained first-hand by the researcher for the purposes of research project.

85
Q

Secondary data

A

Information that has already been collected by someone else and so pre-dates the current research project

86
Q

Meta-analysis

A

‘Research about research’ - combining results from a number of studies on a particular topic to provide an overall view.

87
Q

Descriptive statistics

A

The use of graphs, tables and summary statistics to identify trends and analyse sets of data

88
Q

Measures of central tendency

A

The general term for any measure of the average values in a set of data

89
Q

Mean

A

Average calculated by adding up the values in a set of data and dividing by the number of values there are

90
Q

Median

A

The central values in a set of data when values are arranged from lowest to highest

91
Q

Mode

A

The most frequently occurring value in a set of data

92
Q

Measures of dispersion

A

The general term for any measure of the spread or variation in a set of scores

93
Q

Range

A

Subtracting the lowest score from the highest and adding 1 as a mathematical correction

94
Q

Standard deviation

A

It tells us how much scores deviate from the mean

95
Q

Scattergram

A

A type of graph that represents the strength and direction of a relationship between co-variables in a correlational analysis

96
Q

Bar chart

A

A type of graph in which the frequency of each variable is represented by the height of the bars

97
Q

Normal distribution

A

A symmetrical spread of frequency data that forms a bell-shaped pattern. The mean, median and mode are all located at the highest peak

98
Q

Skewed distribution

A

A spread of frequency data that is not symmetrical, where the data clusters to one end

99
Q

Positive skew

A

A type of distribution in which the long tail is on the positive (right) side of the peak and most of the distribution is concentrated on the left

100
Q

Negative skew

A

A type of distribution in which the long tail is on the negative (left) side of the peak and most of the distribution is concentrated on the right

101
Q

Statistical testing

A

A way of determining whether hypotheses should be accepted or rejected.

102
Q

Sign test

A

A statistical test used to analyse the difference in scores between related items (i.e. the same participant tested twice)

103
Q

Peer review

A

The assessment of scientific work by others who are specialists in the same field to ensure that any research intended for publication is of high quality

104
Q

Economy

A

The state of a country or region in terms of the production and consumption of goods and services

105
Q

Research methods

A

The process by which information or data is collected usually for the purpose of testing a hypothesis and a theory

106
Q

Correlation Co-efficient

A

A number between -1 and +1 that represents the direction and strength of a relationship between co-variables

107
Q

Case studies

A

An in-depth investigation, description and analysis of a single individual, group, institution or event

108
Q

Content analysis

A

A research technique that enables the indirect study of behaviour by examining communications that people produce i.e. in texts, emails, TV, film and other media

109
Q

Coding

A

The stage of a content analysis in which the communication to be studiedis analysed by identifying each instance of the chosen categories

110
Q

Thematic analysis

A

An inductive and qualitative approach to analysis that involves identifying implicit or explicit ideas within the data. Themes will often emerge once the data has been coded

111
Q

Case history

A

A record of a person’s previous experiences or behaviours

112
Q

Reflexive

A

A research thinks about the factors that affect the behaviour of the researcher and the participants and how this affects the data collected

113
Q

Longitudinal study

A

Research conducted over a long period of time

114
Q

Test-retest reliability

A

A method of assessing the reliability of a questionnaire or psychological test by assessing the same person on two separate occasions which shows the extent to which the test produces the same answers

115
Q

Inter-observer reliability

A

The extent to which there is agreement between 2 or more observers involved in observations of a behaviour. This is measured by correlating the observations of 2 or more observers.

116
Q

Face reliability

A

A basic form of validity in which a measure is scrutinised to determine whether it appears to measure what it is supposed to measure

117
Q

Concurrent validity

A

The extent to which a psychological measure relates to an existing similar measure

118
Q

Ecological validity

A

The extent to which findings from a researcher study can be generalised to other settings and situations (external validity)

119
Q

Temporal validity

A

The extent to which findings from a research study can be generalised to other historical times and eras (external validity)

120
Q

Investigator effects

A

Any effect of the investigator’s behaviour on the research outcome. This may include the research design to the selection of participants

121
Q

Statistical tests

A

Tests used to determine whether a significant difference or correlation exists and whether the null hypothesis should be accepted or rejected

122
Q

Levels of measurements

A

Quantitative data can be classified into types or levels of measurement, such as nominal, ordinal and interval data

123
Q

Chi-Squared

A

A test for an association between two variables or condition. Data should be nominal level using an unrelated design

124
Q

Mann-Whitney

A

A test for a significant difference between two sets of scores. Data should be at least ordinal level using an unrelated design

125
Q

Wilcoxon

A

A test for a significant difference between 2 sets of scores. Data should be ordinal level using a related design

126
Q

Spearman’s rho

A

A test for correlation when data is at ordinal level

127
Q

Pearson’s r

A

A parametric test for correlation when data is at interval level

128
Q

Related t test

A

A parametric test for difference between 2 sets of scores. Data must be interval with a related design

129
Q

Unrelated t test

A

A parametric test between 2 sets of scores. Data must be interval with an unrelated design

130
Q

Probability

A

A measure of the likelihood that a particular event will occur where 0 indicates statistical impossibility and 1 statistical certainty

131
Q

Significance

A

A statistial term that tells us how sure we are that a difference or correlation exists. A ‘significant’ result means that the researcher can reject the null hypothesis

132
Q

Critical value

A

When testing a hypothesis, the numerical boundary between acceptance and rejection of the null hypothesis

133
Q

Type 1 error

A

The incorrect rejection of a true null hypothesis (a false positive)

134
Q

Type 2 error

A

The failure to reject a false null hypothesis (a false negative)

135
Q

Degree of freedom

A

The number of values in the final calculation of statistic that are free to vary

Psychology (18 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions