Research Methods - Scientific Processes Flashcards
What is the dependent variable?
The variable being measured in a study.
What is the independent variable?
The variable directly controlled and manipulated by the researcher.
What is the controlled variable?
The variable that is not changed and kept the same.
What is an extraneous variable?
A variable that is not controlled, which could affect the results of a study. They do not vary systematically with the independent variable.
What is a confounding variable?
An extraneous variable that varies systematically with the level of the independent variable, so we cannot be sure if any observed change in the dependent variable is due to the independent variable.
What is a situational variable?
An extraneous variable present in the environment of the study.
What is operationalisation?
Making the variables in an investigation detailed and specific (a clear definition of how they will be measured).
What is an aim?
An aim is a clear and precise statement of the purpose of the study. It is a statement of why a research study is taking place. This should include what is being studied and what the study is trying to achieve.
What is the method?
The exact procedure that the investigator follows when carrying out the experiment.
What are the results?
The changes that are observed in the experiment.
What is the conclusion?
The interpretation of the results.
What is a hypothesis?
A hypothesis is a precise, testable statement of what the researcher predicts will be the outcome of the study (also known as alternative hypothesis or research hypothesis).
What is an experimental hypothesis?
The name given to a hypothesis when used in field and laboratory experiments.
What is a null hypothesis?
A prediction that the results will fail to show any difference (or relationships) that is consistent or systematic, and suggests that any difference or effect from the study occurs by chance and not because of the variables that you have manipulated or the sample that you have drawn.
What do we do if the hypothesis is supported or not supported by our results?
If our hypothesis is not supported, we reject the alternate hypothesis and retain the Null. If the results do support our alternate hypothesis, then we reject the Null and retain our alternate hypothesis. The Null is not the opposite of the alternate.
What is a directional hypothesis?
A hypothesis that predicts the direction the results will go in.
What is a non-directional hypothesis?
A hypothesis that predicts that a difference/relationship will be found, but does not specify what the difference/relationship will be.
What are the levels of IV?
The different versions of the independent variable.
What is the BPS?
British Psychological Society
What is the Ethical Conduct?
- respect
- competence
- responsibility
- integrity (honest and genuine)
What are the ethical guidelines?
- informed consent
- right to withdraw
- deception/debriefing
- privacy
- confidentiality
- competence
- protection from harm
What is informed consent?
Participants should be briefed with as much information as possible about a study to enable them to make an informed judgement as to whether to take part or not. However, it’s not always possible to give a lot of information as it may impact the results of the study. Additionally, not everyone is capable of giving informed consent (too young, disability, post-mortem etc) so someone else may have to give it for them.
What is the right to withdraw?
We must make participants aware that they are free to leave a study at any time, even if we’ve paid them. They can also refuse permission for their data to be used.
What is deception?
Deception is being lied to when it’s necessary to get honest results. Sometimes information is kept from participants, but sometimes wrong information is told. Deception should only be used if there is no alternative. We should seek approval from an ethics committee, and it is not justified by debriefing.