Research terms Flashcards
What is meant by ‘aim of the research’
Establish what the researcher is trying to find out; the key information the researcher wants to answer through conducting their research. A good aim is focused, feasible, researchable and specific.
What is an independent variable
Independent Variable (IV) – What is being manipulated by the researcher; the difference between conditions.
what is a dependant variables
What is being measured by the researcher; what stays the same between the conditions.
What is a co-variable
The two variables being measured within correlational research.
What is meant by the operationalisation of variables
Clearly defining the above key variables in an objective, measurable way. (clearly defining an IV and DV in an experiment)
what is a confounding variable
Unwanted variables in research that may affect the outcomes (DV). They are inconsistent and affect only some of the participants.
what is an extraneous variable
Unwanted variables in research that may affect the outcomes (DV).
They are consistent, affect all participants equally and are often linked to a design flaw in the experiment.
What is a ‘pilot study’ and why is it used?
A pilot study in psychology is like a practice run or a small-scale version of a larger research project. It’s done to test out the methods and procedures that will be used in the main study.
Researchers conduct a pilot study to see if their ideas work, to identify any problems or flaws in their methods, and to make adjustments before they start their actual research. It helps them figure out if their study design is feasible and if they need to make any changes before diving into the full study.
Strength and Weakness of pilot studies in psychological research
One strength of pilot studies in psychology is that they allow researchers to identify and address potential issues or challenges before conducting the main study. By conducting a small-scale pilot study, researchers can test and refine their research design, procedures, and measures.
One weakness of pilot studies is that the small sample size used in these studies may limit the generalizability of the findings. Pilot studies typically involve a smaller number of participants compared to the main study. While this sample size is sufficient for the purpose of testing the research procedures, it may not accurately represent the target population of interest. Therefore, any conclusions drawn from the pilot study should be interpreted cautiously and may not be applicable to the larger population.
