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Psychology A-Level > Research methods keywords > Flashcards

Research methods keywords Flashcards

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1
Q

what is an aim?

A

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

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2
Q

what is an experimental method?

A

manipulation of IV to measure the effect of a DV. Experiments may be lab, field, natural, quasi

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3
Q

Hypothesis

A

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

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4
Q

Directional hypothesis

A

states direction of the difference or relationship

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5
Q

non-directional hypothesis

A

DOESN’T state the direction of the difference of the relationship

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6
Q

Variables

A

any ‘thing’ that can vary within an investigation.
used in experiments to determine if one thing changes another

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7
Q

Operationalisation

A

Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured.

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8
Q

Extraneous variables

A

any variable, other than IV that may affect the DV if not controlled.
‘Nuisance’ Variables don’t vary systematically with IV.

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9
Q

Confounding variables

A

Type of EV. Varies systematically with IV. Can’t tell if change in DV is due to the IV or CV.

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10
Q

Demand characteristics

A

Cue from researcher/research situation that could be interpreted by participants as revealing the purpose of an investigation. Participant could change their behaviour.

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11
Q

Investigator effects

A

Any effect of the investigators behaviour (conscious or unconscious) on the research outcome (DV)

Including design of study/selection and interaction with participants during research process.

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12
Q

Randomisation

A

use of chance methods to control effects of bias when designing materials and deciding order of experimental conditions.

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13
Q

Standardisation

A

using some formalised procedure and instructions for all participants in a research study

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14
Q

Please-U effect

A

act in a way they think is expected and over perform to please the experiment!!!

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15
Q

Screw-U effect

A

deliberately under perform to sabotage results

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16
Q

experimental design

A

different ways participants can be organised in relation to the experimental conditions

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17
Q

independant groups design

A

participants allocated different groups. each group represents an experimental condition.

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18
Q

repeated measures

A

all participants take part in all conditions of the experiment

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19
Q

match pairs design

A

participants matched into pairs, on variables which may affect DV.
one member- A
other-B

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20
Q

random allocation

A

control attempt for participant variables in an independant groups design. Ensuring each participant has same chance of being in one condition as others.

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21
Q

counterbalancing

A

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

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22
Q

Laboratory experiment

A

experiment takes place in a controlled environment. Researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect of the DV.
Strict control of EV

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23
Q

Field experiment

A

experiment takes place in a natural setting. Researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV.

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24
Q

Internal validity

A

Whether you’re measuring what you set out to measure.

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25
Q

Mundane realism

A

how experiment mirrors real world. Environment is realistic so the experiences encountered could occur in the real world

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26
Q

external validity

A

degree to which a research finding can be generalised to.

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27
Q

Natural experiment

A

change in IV that the researcher didn’t cause. Naturally occurring. Researcher records effort on a DV they have decided on.

28
Q

Quasi experiment

A

A study (almost an experiment) IV undetermined. Variables just exist. Not an experiment.
In a person.

29
Q

self-report tecnique

A

Any method where a person is asked to state/explain their feelings, opinions, behaviours and/or experiences related to a topic.

30
Q

questionnaire

A

set of written questions (items) to assess a persons thoughts/experiences

31
Q

interview

A

a ‘live’ encounter.
a person (interviewer) asks a set of questions to assess an interviewee’s thoughts/experiences.
may be pre-set, or develop.

32
Q

open questions

A

no fixed choice of response, respondents can answer in any way they wish.

33
Q

closed questions

A

fixed choice of responses determined by the question setter.

34
Q

Population

A

Group who are the focus of the researchers interest
from which a smaller group is drawn

35
Q

Sample

A

group who participate in a research investigation.
Drawn from a target population, presumed as representative of that population.

36
Q

Sampling techniques

A

Method used to select people from the population

37
Q

Bias

A

Groups UNDER/OVER represented within the sample. Limits generalisations made to the target population.

38
Q

Generalisation

A

Extent which findings/conclusions from an investigation can be broadly applied to the population.

Sample of participants is representative of the target population.

39
Q

Pilot study

A

Small scale version of an investigation (of a real investigation)
to check everything works
Allow researcher too make changes

40
Q

Opportunity sample

A

select anyone willing and avalible.
researcher asks whoever is around

41
Q

volunteer sample

A

participants self-select (self-selection)

42
Q

Ethical issues

A

arise when a conflict between rights of participants in research and goals of research to produce authentic valid and worthwhile data

43
Q

BPS code of ethics

A

British Psychological society
UK
what behaviour is acceptable when dealing with participants
4 principles: respect, competence, responsibility, and integrity

44
Q

Naturalistic observations

A

Watching and recording behaviour in the setting it would naturally occur

45
Q

Controlled observations

A

watching and recording behaviour in the setting it a structured environment

46
Q

covert observations

A

participants behaviour is watching and recorded WITHOUT their permission

47
Q

Overt observations

A

participants behaviour is watched and recorded WITH their knowledge and consent

48
Q

participant observation

A

researcher becomes a part of the group whose behaviour they are watching and recording

49
Q

Non- participant observations

A

researcher remains out of the group whose behaviour they are watching/recording

50
Q

behaviour categories

A

target behaviour broken into components that are observed and measurable (operationalisation)

51
Q

event sampling

A

target behaviour/event is established. researcher records this event when it occurs.

52
Q

time sampling

A

target individual/group established. researcher records their behaviour in a fixed time frame (say, every 60s)

53
Q

descriptive statistics

A

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

54
Q

measures of central tendency

A

general term for any- measure of the average value in a set of data

55
Q

mean

A

arithmetic average calculated by adding up all the values in a set of data and dividing by the number of values

56
Q

Median

A

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

57
Q

mode

A

most frequently occurring values a set of data

58
Q

correlation

A

association between 2 variables, called co-variables

59
Q

co-varibales

A

variables investigated within a correlation.
Not IV/DV- correlation investigates association between variables, rather than association between variables, rather than showing cause and effect relationship.

60
Q

Positive correlation

A

as 1 co-variable increases, so does the other

61
Q

negative correlation

A

as 1 co-variable increases the other decreases

62
Q

zero correlation

A

no relationship, between co-variables

63
Q

qualitative data

A

data expressed in words and non numerical (can convert to numbers for analysis)

64
Q

quantitive data

A

data that can be counted, numbers

65
Q

primary data

A

info obtained first hand by researcher, for purpose of a research project. Gathered from participants- experiment, self-report, observation

66
Q

Secondary data

A

Info collected by someone else, pre-dates current research project. Work of other psychologists or government statistics.

67
Q

Meta analysis

A

combine findings from studies on a topic. TO produce an overall statistical conclusion, based on a range of studies.
NOT a review

Psychology A-Level (4 decks)

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