The experimental method

Question 1

What is an experimental method

Answer 1

• Manipulating one variable to determine if change effects another variable
• high levels of control

Question 2

What is the research aim

Answer 2

a general statement about what the research intends to investigate; the purpose of the study

Question 3

What is independent variables

Answer 3

aspect of a situation is manipulated by researcher in order to test its effect on another variable

Question 4

What is dependent variable

Answer 4

variable in an experimental situation that is measured

Question 5

What is operationalise

Answer 5

• Precise and clear about what is being manipulated or measured
• makes it testable and repeatable

Question 6

What are the three hypothesis in psychology

Answer 6

• null hypothesis
• experimental hypothesis
• alternative hypothesis

Question 7

What is a hypothesis

Answer 7

A precise and testable statement about the assumed relationship between variables

Question 8

What is a null hypothesis

Answer 8

No effect or relationship between variables being investigated

Question 9

What is an experimental hypothesis

Answer 9

In context of an experiment

Question 10

What is the alternative hypothesis

Answer 10

Any hypothesis that is not a null hypothesis

Question 11

What can the experiment hypothesis be referred to

Answer 11

Research hypothesis

Question 12

Why is it important to state a null hypothesis

Answer 12

Field (2004) impossible to prove experimental hypothesis but possible to disprove null hypothesis

Question 13

What is a directional hypothesis

Answer 13

State the direction in which results are expected to go

Question 14

What is a non-directional hypothesis

Answer 14

does not give a predicted direction in which the results are expected to go

Question 15

Why would you use directional hypothesis

Answer 15

When the past research suggests that the findings will go in a particular direction

Question 16

Why would you use a non-directional hypothesis

Answer 16

No past research or past research in contradictory

Question 17

What is debriefing

Answer 17

A post research interview designed to inform ppts of the true nature of the study and to restore them to the state they were in at the start of the study.

Question 18

Define ethical issues

Answer 18

create concern questions of right and wrong. They arise in research where there are conflicting sets of values between researchers and ppts concerning the goals, procedures and outcomes

Question 19

What is an extraneous variable

Answer 19

They do not vary systematically with the IV and therefore do not act as an alternative IV but may have an effect on the dependent variable

Question 20

Define an experiment

Answer 20

A research method where casual conclusions can be drawn because an independent variable has been deliberately manipulated to observe the casual effect on the dependent variable

Question 21

Explain what informed consent is

Answer 21

Participants must be given comprehensive information concerning the nature and purpose of the research and their role in it, so they can make an informed decision about whether to participate

Question 22

Explain a standard procedure

Answer 22

A set of procedures that are the same for all participants in order to repeat the study