chap 1 key skills

Question 1

Aim + e.g

Answer 1

`A statement outlining the purpose of an investigation - the purpose of what we’re trying to acheive
e.g - ‘To test/investigate the effect of [IV] on [DV]

Question 2

Variable

Answer 2

A condition or component of an experiment that can be measured or manipulated

Question 3

Independant Variable

Answer 3

The variable for which quantities are manipulated by the researcher, and the variable that is assumed to have a direct effect on the DV
- the manipulated variable that has a direct effect on DV

Question 4

Dependant Variable

Answer 4

The variable the researcher measures in for changed it may experience due to the effect of the IV
- what is being measured/assumed result of the IV

Question 5

Hypothesis + what it identifies

Answer 5

a testable prediction that identifies the population, the strength and direction of a relationship b/w two variables
Identifies:
- population
both condition of IV
-DV
- makes a directional predication

Question 6

Types of Hypothesis and what they are

Answer 6

Research hypothesis - general, e.g looking at performance of memory
operational hypothesis - detailed, looks at how you’re doing it, e.g two energy drinks, slept for 2 hours
null hypothesis - there weren’t any difference b/w the two groups

Question 7

controlled variable

Answer 7

variable other than the IV/DV that is kept constant in order to avoid it affecting the DV

Question 8

controlled experiment

Answer 8

type of investigation in which the causal relationship b/w two variables is tested in a controlled environmnt

Question 9

experiment

Answer 9

when a cause & effect relo b/w two variables is measuered in a controlled environment

Question 10

between-subjects design

Answer 10

an experimental design in which individuals are divided into diff groups and complete only ONE experimental condition
- ppl experience one condition
POS - each score is unique, not influenced by outside factors
NEG - requires a large amount of participants

Question 11

within-subject design

Answer 11

an experimental design in which participants complete every experimental condition
- exposed to all experimental conditions
POS - doesn’t need as much participants
NEG - can be biased/results can be influenced by past experience from the experiment

Question 12

mixed method design

Answer 12

a procedure for collecting and analysing quantitative and qualitative research in a single study
- use within/between subject first half and the other second half

Question 13

types of investigation

Answer 13

correlation studies - look at the relo /w two variables
literature reviews - uses secondary data to answer a question/provides research for comparison b4 conducting primary data investigations
modelling/simulations - small/large scale representation of an object to enable replication, explanation, or investigation
product, process, system development - design n development of smth to meet a human need
classification and identification - means to organise things by putting them into or contructing sets

Question 14

case study

Answer 14

an in depth investigation of an individual, group, or particular phenomenon that contains a real/hypothetical situation and includes the complexities that would be encountered in the real world

Question 15

correlational study

Answer 15

a type of non-experimental study in which researchers observe and measure the relationship b/w two or more varibales without any active control or manipulation of them

Question 16

classification

Answer 16

the arrangement of phenomena, objects, or events into manageable sets

Question 17

identification

Answer 17

a process of recognition of phenomena as belonging to particular sets or possibly being part of a new or unique set

Question 18

fieldwork

Answer 18

any research involving observation and interaction w ppl and environments in real-world settings, conducted beyond the lab

Question 19

population

Answer 19

the group of people who are the focus of the study and from which the sample is drawn

Question 20

sample

Answer 20

a subset of the research population who participate in a study

Question 21

Convenience, random and stratified sampling

Answer 21

convenience: occurs in the easiest way possible
- adv: very quick and easy,
- dis: not representative of the population
- interest based; not publishable
random: every member of the population has equal chance of selection
- adv: free from bias + quick n easy,
- dis: may not be representative of the population
- used for large samples
stratified : population is broken into subgroups. Participants are then selected based on proportionate characteristics
- adv: more representative of population,
- dis: time consuming
- used for important research

Question 22

random allocation

Answer 22

every member of the sample has an equal chance of being in the control/experimental group

Question 23

control group

Answer 23

the group of participants who receive no experimental treatment or intervention to serve as a baseline for comparison

Question 24

experimental group

Answer 24

the group of participants exposed to a manipulated independent variable

Question 25

extraneous variable

Answer 25

that which has an unwanted effect on the results

Question 26

controlled variable

Answer 26

that which remains constant in an experiment

Question 27

counfounding variable

Answer 27

any variable that is not being investigated that can potentially affect the dependent variable of the research study (effects both IV and DV)

Question 28

Quantitative and Qualitative

Answer 28

Quant - Data that are numerical and categorical - doesn't tell the whole story Qual - data that are perspective - hard to compare to scale

Question 29

Subjective Data

Answer 29

data that relies on assumptions or personal experience

Question 30

objective and subjective data

Answer 30

Object - Data that can be directly observed or measured, e.g scores Subject - Data that relies on assumptions or personal experience, e.g mood

Question 31

errors

Answer 31

Personal Systematic Random

Question 32

inferential statistics

Answer 32

Mathmetical calculations used to make inferences, judgements, and conclusions from data

Question 33

validity vs reliability

Answer 33

validity - the extent to which a tool measures what it is supposed to measure reliability - the extent to which a tool measures something consistently each time it is applied.

Question 34

validity

Answer 34

internal - are the instruments or research tools effectively assessing the content/theory we believe they are assessing external - is the study done, and reported, in such a way that findings can be applied to the wider population?

Question 35

repeatability and reproducibility

Question 36

conclusion and generalisation

Answer 36

conclusion - statement that summarises the findings of a study generalisation - a statement that relates the findings of an investigation to the wider populationy