Scientific Method Flashcards
Scientific method
- a systematic approach for planning, conducting and reporting research which involves collecting empirical evidence
Research Method
- a particular way of conducting a research study or investigation to collect data e.g. experimental or correlation
Replication
- conducting a study again to establish the results are reliable and can be generalised
7 Steps
Identify the research question Hypothesis Method Collect Data Analyse Data Interpret Report Findings
The experiment
- is used to test whether on variable causes a change in another variable
Variables:
Independant: cause -> change
Dependant: effect -> measure
Independant Variable
is the variable that the experimenter manipulates/changes e.g. amount of alcohol consumed
Dependant Variable
is the variable used to measure and observe the effects of the IV e.g. aggressive behaviour
Extraneous Variable
-a variable other than the IV that could cause a change in the DV -when present, make accurate conclusions difficult or impossible
Experimenter Variables
culture, age, religion etc
Participant Variable
IQ, height, sex, mood
Environment
temperature, noise
Cofounding Variable
that has an unwanted effect on DV in an experiment
Operational Hypothesis
clearly stated in a way that can be measured
Convenience Sampling
easy way of selecting based on accessibility and availability
