Chapter 1

Question 1

Analysis

Answer 1

Investigation of data for patterns or evidence of an effect

Question 2

Conclusions

Answer 2

A summary of what findings in term of overall theory and/or proposed relationships between variables.

Question 3

Data

Answer 3

Relatively uninterpreted information; gathered facts

Question 4

Deduction

Answer 4

Logical arguments using rules to derive a conclusion from premises.

Question 5

Design

Answer 5

Structure and Strategy of a piece of research

Question 6

Effect

Answer 6

A difference or correlation between samples leading to an assumed relationship between variables in the population

Question 7

Empirical Method

Answer 7

Scientific method of gathering information and summarising in the hope of identifying general patterns

Question 8

Falsifiability

Answer 8

Principle that theories must be defined in a way that makes it possible to show how they could be wrong

Question 9

Field experiment/study

Answer 9

Research study where data are gathered from participants outside the research centre

Question 10

Finding

Answer 10

Outcomes of a study (e.g., means, results of statistical tests) before any interpretation is made of them in terms of background theory or expectation.

Question 11

Hypothesis

Answer 11

Precise statement of assumed relationship between variables

Question 12

Hypothesis testing

Answer 12

Research that analyses data for a predicted effect

Question 13

Hypothetico-deductive method

Answer 13

Method of recording observations, developing explanatory theories and testing predictions from those theories.

Question 14

Induction

Answer 14

Process of moving from particular instances to a generalised pattern

Question 15

Participant

Answer 15

Person who takes part in a psychological investigation as a member of sample or individual case

Question 16

Peer Review

Answer 16

Critical review by academics, who are experts in the field, of an article submitted for publication

Question 17

Pilot study/trails; piloting

Answer 17

Preliminary study of trials often carried out to predict snags and assess features of a main study to follow

Question 18

Population

Answer 18

Whole group or category of people from among whom samples are selected

Question 19

Qualitative data

Answer 19

Data left in their original forms of meaning (e.g., speech, text) and not quantified.

Question 20

Quantitative data

Answer 20

Data in numeric form, the results of measurement or counting

Question 21

Raw data

Answer 21

Unprocessed data as gathered in a study, e.g., individual scores

Question 22

Replication

Answer 22

Repeating a completed study

Question 23

Research prediction

Answer 23

Prediction in precise terms about how variables should be related in the analysis of data if a hypothesis is to be supported

Question 24

Research Question

Answer 24

The question a researcher is trying to answer in an investigation

Question 25

Scientific method

Answer 25

General method of investigation using induction and deduction

Question 26

Theory

Answer 26

Researchers beliefs about how the world works, about how or why particular phenomenon occurs

Question 27

Variable

Answer 27

Quantity that can change; usually used to refer to a measure of a phenomenon