CHAPTER 1; RESEARCH METHODS

Question 1

What is the Scientific Method?

Answer 1

a logical process of problem solving applied in all sciences. It involves eight steps.

Question 2

What is a Hypothesis?

Answer 2

a clear statement predicting how changes in the independent variable(s) will affect the value of the dependent variable(s). A hypothesis should also clearly state the population about which the researcher intends to draw conclusions.

Question 3

What is an Independent variable?

Answer 3

the variable that is manipulated by the experimenter who then measures resulting changes in the DV.

Question 4

What is a Dependent variable?

Answer 4

the variable that is measured by the researcher to discover the effects of the IV.

Question 5

What is an Extraneous variable?

Answer 5

a variable other than the IV that could cause changes in the value of the DV. Extraneous variables are undesirable.

Question 6

What is a confounding variable?

Answer 6

a variable other than the IV that has a systematic effect on the value of the DV (it acts like a second, unwanted, IV).

Question 7

What is ‘Population’?

Answer 7

the group which we wish to draw conclusions from.

Question 8

What is ‘Random Sampling’?

Answer 8

sampling procedure in which every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected.

Question 9

What is the Experimental group?

Answer 9

the group in the experiment which are exposed to the IV, and undergo the ‘treatment’.

Question 10

What is the Control group?

Answer 10

the group in the experiment who are not exposed to the IV, and do not receive the treatment. Its purpose is to form a basis for comparison with the E-group.

Question 11

What is ‘Random allocation’?

Answer 11

means that all participants who have been selected for an experiment must have an equal chance of being in the E-group or C-group.

Question 12

What is ‘Repeated measures design’?

Answer 12

each participant is part of the both E-group and C-group.

Question 13

What is ‘Matched participants design’?

Answer 13

enables a researcher to identify a variable that is likely to confound and to eliminate the effects of this variable from the experiment. Participants can be ranked in accordance with their scores on this variable and then allocated o the respective groups.

Question 14

What is ‘Independent groups design’?

Answer 14

allocates participants to E-group or C-group at random.

Question 15

What is a sample?

Answer 15

the members of the population that have been chosen to take part in the research.

Question 16

What is ‘Convenience sampling’?

Answer 16

Using any person ‘conveniently’ available as part of the sample.

Question 17

What is ‘Stratified sampling’ and ‘Stratified Random sampling’?

Answer 17

processes by which the effects of a certain variable can be eliminated as a possible confound in a experiment.

Question 18

What is ‘Treatment’?

Answer 18

the variable that the experimental group participants receive and members of the control group do not.

Question 19

What is a Controlled variable?

Answer 19

the variable after the potential effects of an extraneous variable have been removed from the experiment (usually by the experimental design).

Question 20

What is ‘Operationalisation’?

Answer 20

means that it is stated in terms that show how it is measured.

Question 21

What is ‘Counterbalancing’?

Answer 21

a procedure where half the participants will first perform the task with the IV present (experimental condition) and then perform the task with the IV absent (control condition). The other half of the participants will experience the conditions in reverse order.

Question 22

What is a Placebo?

Answer 22

an object or procedure that is expected to have no effect on the value of the DV, administrated to the control group to provide a basis for comparison with the effects of the IV, administrated to the experimental group.

Question 23

What is the Placebo effect?

Answer 23

refers to the participants’ behaviours being influenced by their expectations of how they should behave, caused by the belief that they have received some treatment.

Question 24

What is the Single-blind procedure?

Answer 24

allocation of participants to groups in such a way that they do not know whether they are in E-group or C-group.

Question 25

What is the Experimenter effect?

Answer 25

refers to the outcome of an experiment being unintentionally (or even intentionally) influenced by the experimenter.

Question 26

What is the Double-blind procedure?

Answer 26

ensuring that neither the experimenter not the participants are aware of which participants are in the E-group or C-group.

Question 27

What is ‘Qualitative Data’?

Answer 27

refer to descriptions of the characteristics of what is being studied. eg. emotional state; happy/sad/angry, etc.

Question 28

What is ‘Quantitative Data’?

Answer 28

refers to measurements - numerical information about the variables being studied.

Question 29

What is a Case Study?

Answer 29

involves researchers making detailed observations of an individual over a period of time.

Question 30

What are ‘Observational Studies’?

Answer 30

observation of voluntary behaviours within the subjects natural environment.

Question 31

What are ‘Self-reports - Questionnaires’?

Answer 31

Questionnaires are methods of collecting written responses from participants. eg; survey.

Question 32

In terms of ethical considerations, what is the role of the experimenter?

Answer 32

The researcher must always act in a professional manner, making sure that the best interests are of the participants, and of society in general, are met.

Question 33

In terms of ethical considerations, what are participants’ rights (respect for participants)?

Answer 33

Researchers must always maintain respect for the participants. These rights include; Confidentiality, Voluntary participation, Withdrawal rights, Informed consent, Deception in research, and Debriefing.

Question 34

In terms of Participants’ rights, what is Confidentiality?

Answer 34

This means that the participants must not be identified in any ways in terms of results, their involvement in the stody or any other confidential data.

Question 35

In terms of Participants’ rights, what is Voluntary participation?

Answer 35

Participants have the right to refuse to take part in a study. There must not be any pressure to take part in a study, or any tricks.

Question 36

In terms of Participants’ rights, what is Withdrawal rights?

Answer 36

Participants have the right to leave a study at any stage, regardless of the possible effects on the results. They also have the right to withdraw their results after the study has been completed.

Question 37

In terms of Participants’ rights, what is Informed consent?

Answer 37

Participants must be given information about a study before they agree to take part. For participants who are either too young or too intellectually disabled to give their consent, their guardian must be given the information before giving consent on their behalf.

Question 38

In terms of Participants’ rights, what is Deception in research?

Answer 38

The researcher must ensure that participants do not unexpectedly suffer distress; the study must be stopped immediately if this occurs.

Question 39

In terms of Participants’ rights, what is Debriefing?

Answer 39

Debriefing takes place after completion of the study and participants are told the results and conclusions of the study.