Terms Flashcards
Ethics
Moral principles that govern a persons behaviour or the conducting of an activity
Longitudinal study
An observational research method in which data is gathered for the same subjects repeatedly over a period of time
Snapshot study
Carried out over a very short period of time (hours/days)
Reliability
Experiment/ test yields the same results on repeated trials
Demand characteristics
An experimental artefact where participants form an interpretation of the experiments purpose and subconsciously change their behaviour to fit interpretation
Generalisability
The extent to which research findings can be applied to settings other than that in which they were originally tested
Case studies
A process/record of research into development of a particular person/group/situation of a period of time
Subjectivity
How people’s judgements are shaped by personal opinions and feelings instead of outside influences
Quantitative data
Data expressing a certain quantity, amount or range, usually there are measurement units associated with the data
Socially desirable answers
Giving an answer that is swayed to make yourself seem more socially desirable
Validity
Quality of being logical or factually sound
Laboratory experiment
An experiment held in a controlled environment
Usefulness
The quality of fact of being able to be used for a practical purpose or in several ways
Field experiment
An experiment set up in the real world (opposite of lab)
Ethnocentrism
Evaluation of other cultures according to preconceptions originating from standards and customs of ones own culture
Determinism
The theory that everything in your life is predetermined by genetics
Ecological validity
The extent to which findings can reflect real life setting
Data
Facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis
Nature vs nurture
Personality vs upbringing
Observational study
A researcher simply observes behaviour without interfering
Reductionism
A practice of describing a complex phenomenon in its simplest form
Situation/disposition
What your environment/situation is and how your actions change due to it
Participant observation
Investigator studies in the life by sharing its activities
