Trickier Terms and Concepts Flashcards
Overt vs. Covert?
Overt = aware
Covert = unaware
Alternative hypothesis
Will predict the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable.
Null hypothesis
States that the independent variable will not have the predicted effect on the dependent variable.
One-tailed hypothesis (directional)
Specific effect predicted.
Two-tailed hypothesis (non-directional)
Effect predicted but not specified.
Opportunity sampling
Same as convenience sampling, e.g. using students at a university.
Time-point sampling
Records data at fixed intervals.
Time-event sampling
Fixed period of time set for an observation (different to event sampling)
Likert scale
Range of answers to rate between, e.g. strongly agree to strongly disagree
Semantic Differential Scale
Place between 2 descriptive words e.g. strong/weak
Nominal Level Data
When data is split into simple categories of behaviour and how often they occur.
Think ‘NOM’ as name, e.g. named data
Ordinal Level Data
Individuals’s data, can then be ranked and ordered in terms of performance.
Think ranked in ORDer
Interval Level Data
Has equal intervals and shows difference between participants instead of just the order.
Think equal INTERVALs
Type 1 Error
When the alternative hypothesis is accepted and the null hypothesis rejected incorrectly.
Type 2 Error
When the null hypothesis is accepted and the alternative hypothesis rejected incorrectly.
Internal reliability
Consistencies of results of a test across items within the test.
External reliability
Extent of variance of a test score from one time to another.
Inter-rater reliability
Same results obtained from different observers.
Split-half reliability
Tests internal reliability by testing the first half and then the second half and comparing results.
Test-retest method for reliability
Tests external reliability by retesting the same study. Requires a high level of standardisation.
Internal validity
How well researcher is measuring the effect of the IV on the DV.
External validity
How generalisable a study can be considered.
Face validity
How good a study looks to be at testing what is meant to be tested.
Construct validity
Whether the study measures the behaviour it sets out to be measuring.
Concurrent validity
Whether a test gives the same results as another study claiming to measure the same behaviour.
Criterion validity
How much one measure predicts the validity of another measure.
Ethical Consideration Origins
British Psychological Society (BPS) produced the Code of Ethics and Conduct.
Abstract
Comes 2nd in a practical report. Summarises the study.
Appendices
Comes last (8th) in a practical report. Gives materials, raw data and other things a reader may need to understand the research.
Deduction
When you create a hypothesis and then conduct research to prove or disprove this.
Induction
The concept of having results or observing behaviour and then developing a hypothesis off this.
