Trickier Terms and Concepts

Question 1

Overt vs. Covert?

Answer 1

Overt = aware

Covert = unaware

Question 2

Alternative hypothesis

Answer 2

Will predict the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable.

Question 3

Null hypothesis

Answer 3

States that the independent variable will not have the predicted effect on the dependent variable.

Question 4

One-tailed hypothesis (directional)

Answer 4

Specific effect predicted.

Question 5

Two-tailed hypothesis (non-directional)

Answer 5

Effect predicted but not specified.

Question 6

Opportunity sampling

Answer 6

Same as convenience sampling, e.g. using students at a university.

Question 7

Time-point sampling

Answer 7

Records data at fixed intervals.

Question 8

Time-event sampling

Answer 8

Fixed period of time set for an observation (different to event sampling)

Question 9

Likert scale

Answer 9

Range of answers to rate between, e.g. strongly agree to strongly disagree

Question 10

Semantic Differential Scale

Answer 10

Place between 2 descriptive words e.g. strong/weak

Question 11

Nominal Level Data

Answer 11

When data is split into simple categories of behaviour and how often they occur.

Think ‘NOM’ as name, e.g. named data

Question 12

Ordinal Level Data

Answer 12

Individuals’s data, can then be ranked and ordered in terms of performance.

Think ranked in ORDer

Question 13

Interval Level Data

Answer 13

Has equal intervals and shows difference between participants instead of just the order.

Think equal INTERVALs

Question 14

Type 1 Error

Answer 14

When the alternative hypothesis is accepted and the null hypothesis rejected incorrectly.

Question 15

Type 2 Error

Answer 15

When the null hypothesis is accepted and the alternative hypothesis rejected incorrectly.

Question 16

Internal reliability

Answer 16

Consistencies of results of a test across items within the test.

Question 17

External reliability

Answer 17

Extent of variance of a test score from one time to another.

Question 18

Inter-rater reliability

Answer 18

Same results obtained from different observers.

Question 19

Split-half reliability

Answer 19

Tests internal reliability by testing the first half and then the second half and comparing results.

Question 20

Test-retest method for reliability

Answer 20

Tests external reliability by retesting the same study. Requires a high level of standardisation.

Question 21

Internal validity

Answer 21

How well researcher is measuring the effect of the IV on the DV.

Question 22

External validity

Answer 22

How generalisable a study can be considered.

Question 23

Face validity

Answer 23

How good a study looks to be at testing what is meant to be tested.

Question 24

Construct validity

Answer 24

Whether the study measures the behaviour it sets out to be measuring.

Question 25

Concurrent validity

Answer 25

Whether a test gives the same results as another study claiming to measure the same behaviour.

Question 26

Criterion validity

Answer 26

How much one measure predicts the validity of another measure.

Question 27

Ethical Consideration Origins

Answer 27

British Psychological Society (BPS) produced the Code of Ethics and Conduct.

Question 28

Abstract

Answer 28

Comes 2nd in a practical report. Summarises the study.

Question 29

Appendices

Answer 29

Comes last (8th) in a practical report. Gives materials, raw data and other things a reader may need to understand the research.

Question 30

Deduction

Answer 30

When you create a hypothesis and then conduct research to prove or disprove this.

Question 31

Induction

Answer 31

The concept of having results or observing behaviour and then developing a hypothesis off this.