Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

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


See full index

Psychology A-Level > Research methods keywords > Flashcards

Research methods keywords Flashcards

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

what is an 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
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

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

Hypothesis

A

A clear, precise, testable statement of the relationship between 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 direction of the difference or relationship

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

non-directional hypothesis

A

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

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

Variables

A

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

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

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

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

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

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

Randomisation

A

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

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

Standardisation

A

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

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

Please-U effect

A

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

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

Screw-U effect

A

deliberately under perform to sabotage results

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

experimental design

A

different ways 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
17
Q

independant groups design

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
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
19
Q

match pairs design

A

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

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

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

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

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

Field experiment

A

experiment takes place in a natural setting. 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
24
Q

Internal validity

A

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

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

Mundane realism

A

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

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

external validity

A

degree to which a research finding can be generalised to.

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

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