Everything Flashcards
(108 cards)
1
Q
What is a laboratory experiment?
A
An experiment conducted in a controlled environment where the researcher manipulates the IV.
2
Q
Strength of a lab experiment?
A
High control over extraneous variables = high internal validity.
3
Q
Weakness of a lab experiment?
A
Low ecological validity – not like real life.
4
Q
What is a field experiment?
A
Conducted in a natural setting but the IV is still manipulated.
5
Q
Strength of a field experiment?
A
Higher ecological validity than lab experiments.
6
Q
Weakness of a field experiment?
A
Less control over variables = harder to replicate.
7
Q
What is a natural experiment?
A
The IV changes naturally, not manipulated by the researcher.
8
Q
What is a quasi-experiment?
A
IV is based on an existing difference (e.g. age, gender); no random allocation.
9
Q
What is an independent measures design?
A
Different participants in each condition.
10
Q
Strength of independent measures?
A
No order effects.
11
Q
Weakness of independent measures?
A
Participant variables may affect results.
12
Q
What is a repeated measures design?
A
Same participants in all conditions.
13
Q
Strength of repeated measures?
A
Fewer participants needed.
14
Q
Weakness of repeated measures?
A
Risk of order effects (boredom, fatigue).
15
Q
What is a matched pairs design?
A
Different participants matched on key variables.
16
Q
What is an independent variable (IV)?
A
The variable manipulated by the researcher.
17
Q
What is a dependent variable (DV)?
A
The outcome measured in the study.
18
Q
What is an extraneous variable?
A
Any variable that could affect the DV but is not the IV.
19
Q
What is a confounding variable?
A
A variable that has affected the DV alongside the IV.
20
Q
What is operationalisation?
A
Defining variables in a measurable way.
21
Q
What is opportunity sampling?
A
Using participants who are readily available.
22
Q
Strength of opportunity sampling?
A
Quick and easy.
23
Q
Weakness of opportunity sampling?
A
Likely to be biased.
24
Q
What is random sampling?
A
Every member of the population has an equal chance.
25
What is stratified sampling?
Participants selected in proportion to population sub-groups.
26
What is volunteer sampling?
Participants self-select to take part.
27
Name 5 key ethical principles.
Informed consent, right to withdraw, protection from harm, confidentiality, deception.
28
Who ensures ethical standards in research?
The British Psychological Society (BPS) and ethics committees.
29
What is a self-report technique?
Participants report their own thoughts/feelings (e.g., questionnaires).
30
What’s the difference between structured and unstructured interviews?
Structured = set questions; unstructured = open conversation.
31
Types of observation?
Naturalistic/controlled, participant/non-participant, overt/covert.
32
What is a case study?
An in-depth study of a single individual or group.
33
What is quantitative data?
Numerical data.
34
What is qualitative data?
Descriptive, non-numerical data.
35
What is primary data?
Collected first-hand by the researcher.
36
What is secondary data?
Data already collected by someone else.
37
Name 3 measures of central tendency.
Mean, median, mode.
38
What is standard deviation?
A measure of how spread out scores are from the mean.
39
When is a bar chart used?
For categorical data.
40
When is a histogram used?
For continuous data.
41
What does a scattergram show?
Correlation between two variables.
42
What is the sign test used for?
To test for a difference in a repeated measures design with nominal data.
43
What is the critical value?
The number the test result must exceed to be significant.
44
What are Type I and Type II errors?
Type I: false positive. Type II: false negative.
45
What is internal validity?
Whether the study measures what it intends to.
46
What is external validity?
Whether results can be generalised.
47
What is ecological validity?
How well findings apply to real life.
48
How can you improve reliability?
Standardise procedures, use test-retest.
49
What is a longitudinal study?
Study conducted over a long period of time.
50
What is a cross-sectional study?
Comparing different groups at one point in time.
51
What is a meta-analysis?
A statistical analysis of multiple studies.
52
What is content analysis?
A method for analysing written, verbal, or visual communication.
53
What is thematic analysis?
Identifying recurring themes in qualitative data.
54
What is a pilot study?
A small-scale trial run of the study.
55
Why do a pilot study?
To test procedures and identify issues.
56
What is a directional hypothesis?
Predicts the direction of the effect (e.g., increase/decrease).
57
What is a non-directional hypothesis?
Predicts a difference but not the direction.
58
What is a null hypothesis?
States there will be no effect or difference.
59
What is an aim in psychological research?
The general purpose or goal of the study.
60
What is a hypothesis?
A testable prediction about the relationship between variables.
61
What is a null hypothesis?
Predicts no effect or relationship between variables.
62
What is an alternative hypothesis?
Predicts there will be a significant effect or relationship.
63
What is operationalisation?
Defining variables so they can be measured clearly and precisely.
64
What is the independent variable (IV)?
The variable that is changed or manipulated by the researcher.
65
What is the dependent variable (DV)?
The variable that is measured to see the effect of the IV.
66
What is an extraneous variable?
Any variable that could affect the DV if not controlled.
67
What is a confounding variable?
A variable that has affected the DV and confuses the results.
68
What is independent measures design?
Different participants in each condition.
69
What is repeated measures design?
Same participants take part in all conditions.
70
What is matched pairs design?
Participants are matched on key variables before being placed in different groups.
71
What is a lab experiment?
Conducted in a controlled environment with manipulated IV.
72
What is a field experiment?
Conducted in a natural setting, still manipulates the IV.
73
What is a natural experiment?
The IV occurs naturally – the researcher doesn’t manipulate it.
74
What is a quasi experiment?
The IV is based on an existing difference (e.g., gender) – not assigned by the researcher.
75
What is quantitative data?
Numerical data (e.g., scores, reaction times).
76
What is qualitative data?
Descriptive data (e.g., interview transcripts).
77
What is nominal data?
Categories only (e.g., types of fruit).
78
What is ordinal data?
Ranked data with unequal intervals (e.g., rating scales).
79
What is interval data?
Data with equal intervals, no true zero (e.g., temperature in °C).
80
What is ratio data?
Data with equal intervals and a true zero (e.g., height, time).
81
What is descriptive statistics?
Summarising data (mean, median, mode, range).
82
What are inferential statistics?
Tests to determine if results are statistically significant.
83
What is a significance level?
Usually p ≤ 0.05 – how likely results are due to chance.
84
What is a critical value?
The value your test result must meet or exceed to be significant.
85
What is a self-report?
A method where participants report their own feelings/behaviour (e.g., questionnaires, interviews).
86
What is an observation?
Watching and recording participants’ behavior.
87
What is a correlation?
Investigates the relationship between two co-variables.
88
What is content analysis?
Analysing media/texts for patterns and themes.
89
What is a case study?
An in-depth study of an individual or small group.
90
What is internal validity?
Whether the IV really caused the change in DV.
91
What is external validity?
Whether the results can be generalised beyond the study.
92
What is ecological validity?
Whether findings reflect real-life settings.
93
What is temporal validity?
Whether findings still apply over time.
94
What is construct validity?
Whether the test truly measures the intended concept.
95
What is face validity?
Whether the test looks like it measures what it should.
96
What is reliability?
Consistency of results.
97
What is inter-rater reliability?
The agreement between two or more observers.
98
What is test-retest reliability?
Consistency of results over time.
99
What are demand characteristics?
When participants change their behavior because they think they know what the study is about.
100
What is social desirability bias?
Giving answers that make you look good.
101
What is researcher bias?
When the researcher unintentionally influences the study.
102
What is informed consent?
Participants must agree to take part knowing the full details.
103
What is deception in research?
Withholding the full truth – must be justified and explained in debrief.
104
What is the right to withdraw?
Participants can leave at any time or remove their data.
105
What is protection from harm?
Participants shouldn’t be physically or psychologically harmed.
106
What is confidentiality?
Keeping participant data private.
107
Strengths of using secondary Data?
Time and cost efficient
The data already exists
Often large and representative
provide large, diverse samples that
Increase generalisability.
Useful for comparisons and historical trends
Enables longitudinal or cross-cultural analysis by comparing data over time or across groups.
Can support hypothesis generation
Helps identify patterns or gaps that researchers can explore in primary research.
108
Weaknesses of Secondary Data?
May not match the research question exactly
The data was collected for another purpose, so it might not align perfectly with your aims or variables.
Uncertain validity and reliability
You may not know how accurately or consistently the original data was collected (e.g. unclear operational definitions or methods).
Outdated or incomplete
Older datasets may no longer reflect current conditions or may have missing values.
Lack of control over data quality
Researchers can't influence how the data was gathered, and it may include biases or errors.
