Research Methods Yr12 Key Terms Flashcards
Aim
General statement of what researcher intends to investigate
Independent variable (IV)
Researcher manipulates or it changes naturally
Dependent variable
Researcher measures
Operationalised variable
Clearly defining variables in terms of how they are measured
Hypothesis
Precise and testable prediction
Null hypothesis
States no significant difference or correlation between variables (nothing will happen)
Alternative hypothesis
IS a difference between variables
(Directional or non-directional)
Directional hypothesis
States the expected direction of difference or relationship.
WITH previous research.
Non-directional hypothesis
Direction not stated.
NO previous research.
Extraneous variables
Any variable that could affect the DV if not controlled.
E.g differences in environment, times of day.
Confounding variables
Variable varies with the IV.
E.g. differences in participants age/gender.
Demand Characteristics
A cue may be interpreted by participants, revealing the aim. May cause change in behaviour.
Investigator effects
Unintentional influence of researcher on experiment.
Order effects
Order of tasks influences the outcome of
Observation
Non-experimental
Record participants behaviour.
Self report techniques
Non-experimental
Participants give info to researcher- thoughts, behaviour.
Correlation
Movement/ direction of variables
Content analysis
Non-experimental
Indirect observation.
Examines communications that people produce
Case studies
Non-experimental.
In depth investigation.
Lab experiment
Controlled.
Researcher manipulates IV.
Field experiment
Natural setting.
Researcher manipulates IV.
Quasi experiment
Naturally occurring IV - an existence between people (age, gender)
Record effect on DV.
Natural experiment
Naturally occurring IV
DC measured .
Internal validity
Extent to which study is measuring what it’s supposed to.
Ecological validity
Results can be generalised to other settings
Ethical issues
Rights of participants
Repeated measures
All participants experience BOTH conditions
Independent groups
Two groups
Separate conditions
Matched pairs
Participants assessed and matched
Two different conditions
Controlled observation
Watch, record behaviour in structured environment.
Naturalistic observation
Watch, record behaviour that usually happens in the setting
Covert observation
Watch,record behaviour with NO consent.
Overt observation
Observer clearly visible
WITH consent
Participant observation
Researcher participates
Non-participant observation
Researcher outside the experiment
Unstructured observation
Continuous recording of behaviour
Structured observation
Behavioural categories tallied or listed on chart.
Event sampling
Behaviour recorded when seen
Time sampling
Behaviour recorded at set time intervals
Questionnaires
Pre-written list of open / closed questions.
Closed questions
Fixed response choices
Open questions
Participant may choose how to respond
Interview
Self report technique
Structured interview
Scheduled list of questions.
Ticking boxes/ chart .
Unstructured interview
Conversation aimed at a topic, allowed to answer freely.
Positive correlation
Both variables increase/ decrease together
Negative correlation
One increase and one decreases
Zero correlation
There is no relationship between the co- variables.
Correlation coefficients
Strength of the relationship between the two co-variables.
Eg .9,.8,.7 =strong correlations
