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Research methods terms Flashcards

1
Q

What is an aim

A

An aim is driven by a theory to explain a given observation, it states the intentions of the study in general terms

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2
Q

What is a hypothesis

A

A specific prediction of what will be found expressed in terms of changes in variables

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3
Q

What is a non-directional / two-tailed hypothesis

A

A hypothesis that simply predicts a change but does not specify in which direction

Used when there is no previous research on the topic

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4
Q

What is a directional / one-tailed hypothesis

A

It predicts the direction in which change is expected

Used when there is previous research on the topic

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5
Q

What happens when the study does not reach its results?

A

A nulk hypothesis is formed (I.e. there’s no correlation between the variables

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6
Q

What is an independent variable / IV

A

The variable which is manipulated

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7
Q

What is the dependent variable

A

The variable and is never changed, but measured

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8
Q

What is operationalisation

A

The process of making sure the variables in a study are as concrete and measurable as possible

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9
Q

What are the 4 types of experiment

A

Lab
Field
Natural
Quasi

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10
Q

Lab experiments.
To what extent are the IV controlled and manipulated?
Is it in a controlled or natural setting?
Does it allow random allocation?
Does it have control over extraneous variables?

A

● high control of the manipulation of the IV

● Controlled setting

● Allows random allocation

● Has control over extraneous variables

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11
Q

Field experiments
To what extent are the IV controlled and manipulated?
Is it in a controlled or natural setting?
Does it have control over extraneous variables?

A

● Controlled manipulation of the IV

● In a natural setting

● Certain control over extraneous variables (not 100%)

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12
Q

Natural experiments
To what extent are the IV controlled and manipulated?
Is it in a controlled or natural setting?
Does it allow random allocation?
Give an example?

A

● IV is not manipulated by researcher

● Not a natural observation (can occur in a lab)

● Can’t randomly allocate participants

Eg. IQ level differences between students who grew up in an orphanage vs a nuclear family

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13
Q

Quasi experiments
To what extent are the IV controlled and manipulated?
Is it in a controlled or natural setting?
Does it allow random allocation?
Does it have control over extraneous variables?

A

● No manipulation over the IV

● IV is a naturally occurring condition

● Simply a difference between people that exist

● In a natural setting

● Can’t randomly allocate participants

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14
Q

What is external validity

A

Whether it can be generalised to the public

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15
Q

What is internal validity

A

Whether or not the controlled variables affect the results

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16
Q

What is ecological validity

A

Whether it can be generalised to everyone (more general than external)

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17
Q

What us mundane realism

A

Whether it happens often in day-to-day life

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18
Q

What is a confounding variable ?

A

A variable caused by the participants (eg. Different intelligence level)

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19
Q

What are the internal and external validity of lab experiments? And what is another advantage of them?

A

High internal validity ✅️
Low external validity ❌️
They are easily replicable ✅️

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20
Q

What are the degrees of internal + external validity and mundane realism in field experiments?

A

Low internal validity ❌️
High external validity ✅️
High mundane realism ✅️

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21
Q

What are the two other advantages and the disadvantage of field experiments ?

A

Good to see natural behaviour ✅️
Less demand characteristics (more authentic) ✅️

Less control over confounding variables ❌️

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22
Q

What is an extraneous variablea and what effect do the have on the results

A

Variables, apart from the IV that can affect the DV unless they are controlled. They have a bad effect on the results

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23
Q

What is an investigator effect

A

When a researcher unintentionally or unconsciously influences the outcome of any research they are conduction (eg. leading questions- questions that are worded to suggest a particular answer)

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24
Q

What are confounding variables

A

A type of extraneous variables
confounding variables change systematically within the IV (for eg. different characteristics within a group (in our class experiment, if group B was a group of maths students and Group A a group of humanities students))

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25
What are demand characteristics
when participants figure out the aim of the study and change their behaviour accordingly
26
In what 2 ways can you control research issues
Random allocation and standardisation
27
Explain random allocation, its effects and give an example
Using chance methods to decide experimental groups to avoid investigator effects Reduces participants' confounding variables i.e. putting names in a generator
28
Explain standardisation, its effects and give an example
Using the exact same procedures (excluding the IV) for all participants avoids investigator effects i.e same instructions, same people reading instructions and same environment
29
What is the difference between the experimental and controlled group
The experimental group is the group that undergoes change. They are created to see what happens when you manipulate the IV The control group does not undergo any change or manipulation of the independent variable. They are used for comparison to see what happens without the manipulation or change of the IV
30
What are the two types of extraneous variables
Situational variables (such as weather) and Participant variables (such as IQ)
31
What is a pilot study
A small-scale trial run of a study to test any aspects of the design, with a view of making improvements. eg. In the pilot study- Participants get confused and don’t understand the instructions completely In the real study- Write clearer and easier-to-follow instructions
32
What is a naturalistic observation
Observing and studying and the behaviour of participants in a natural environment
33
What is a controlled observation
When researchers conduct observations of participants in a controlled environment
34
What is a covert observation
Where the researcher is undercover and participants are not aware that they are being observed
35
What is an overt observation
Researchers make participants aware that they are being observed
36
What is a participant observation
A research methodology where the researcher is a part of the activities
37
What is a non-participant observation
Observing participants without participating
38
What are behavioural categories
Clearly defined specific actions that can be recorded as examples of target behaviours
39
What is event sampling
It involves observation of targeted behaviours or specific events
40
What is time sampling
Data collection method in which a researcher records behaviours that occur at a times interval
41
What is a questionnare
A set of questions (in a survey form) used to obtain information from a respondent about a topic of interest
42
What is an interview
A set of asked questions to get information from a respondent about a topic of interest
43
What is an open question
These do not have fixed responses like "yes/no" and get qualitative data
44
What is a closed question
These have fixed answers like "yes/no" and get quantitative data
45
What is a correlation
A relationship between two or more variables
46
What is the difference between a positive and negative correlation
Positive: both increase/decrease Negative: one increases and the other decreases
47
What is zero correlation
When there is no relationship between the two variables
48
What is qualitative data vs quantitative data
Qualitative: information and concepts that are not represented by numbers Quantitative: numerical data that can be statistically analysed
49
What is primary data vs secondary data
Primary: data generated by the researcher himself (interviews, surveys and experiments) Secondary: data that has been collected by other psychologists (government statistics or work published in journals by other psychologists)
50
What is a meta-analysis
When researchers combine the findings from multiple studies to draw an overall conclusion (a form of secondary data)
51
What are measures of central tendency (and list them)
Mean, Median and Mode which all identify a single value as representative of an entire distribution of data
52
What is peer review
When another professional checks the work of a researcher
53
What is a case study
An in-depth examination of a person or group of people, focusing on their mental, emotional and behavioural experiences within a specific context
54
What is content analysis
A method used to analyse qualitative data by transforming it into quantitative data
55
What is reliability
A measure of whether something stays the same (consistency)
56
What is test-retest reliability
The degree to which test scores remain the same when measuring a stable individual characteristic on different occasions
57
What is inter-observer reliability
Used to assess the degree to which different observers give consistent estimates of the same phenomenon
58
What is validity
The assumption that the test measures precisely what it aims to measure and the data collected is accurate
59
What is face validity
The degree to which an assessment or test subjectively appears to measure the variable or construct that it is supposed to measure
60
What is concurrent validity
The extent to which the results of a particular test or measurement correspond to those of a previously established measurement
61
What is ecological validity
A measure of of the results of a test predicts behaviour in real world settings
62
What is temporal validity
A type of external validity that refers to the validity of the findings in relation to the progression of time

A level Psychology (5 decks)

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