Key Science Skills/ Research Methods Flashcards

1
Q

Accuracy

A

how close a measurement is to the true value
of the quantity being measure

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2
Q

Aim

A

a statement outlining the purpose of the study p. 3

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3
Q

Allocation

A

the process of assigning participants to conditions in the experiment for the research p. 19

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4
Q

Beneficience

A

the commitment to maximising benefits
and minimising the risks and harms involved in taking a
particular position or course of action

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5
Q

Case study

A

an in-depth study of an individual or a group of individuals p. 10

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6
Q

Conclusion

A

a statement regarding the results of an investigation as to whether the hypothesis was supported or not p. 47

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7
Q

Confidentiality

A

the right of the participant for their personal details to remain private p. 31

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8
Q

Confounding variables

A

variables other than the independent variable that have directly and systematically had an effect on the dependent variable p. 23

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9
Q

Control group

A

a group that is used as a basis for comparison; participants are not exposed to the experimental conditions (the IV) p. 12

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10
Q

Controlled variable

A

variables other than the IV that a researcher holds constant (controls) in an investigation, to ensure that changes in the DV are solely due to changes in the IV

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11
Q

Convenience sampling

A

when a sample is selected using the quickest and easiest means possible, selecting people who are readily available from the population p. 18

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12
Q

Correlational study

A

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

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13
Q

Counterbalancing

A

a method used in repeated-measures experimental designs to reduce order effects p. 24

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14
Q

Debriefing

A

occurs at the conclusion of an experiment and involves the researcher outlining the nature of the experiment to participants and includes ensuring that participants do not leave the experiment with lasting harm p. 31

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15
Q

Deception

A

when the participant is unaware of the true nature of the experiment p. 31

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16
Q

Dependent variable (DV)

A

the variable that is being measured in an experiment for changes it experiences due to the independent variable p. 4

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17
Q

Descriptive statistics

A

statistics that are used to organise and summarise data p. 40

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18
Q

Demand characteristics

A

cues in an experiment that may signal to a participant the intention of the study and influence their behaviour

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19
Q

Double-blind procedure

A

a procedure in which both the participants and the person conducting the experiment are unaware of which condition participants have been allocated to, in order to reduce experimenter bias p. 25

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20
Q

Controlled experiment

A

a type of investigation in which the causal relationship between two variables is tested in a controlled environment; more specifically, the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable while aiming to control all other variables

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21
Q

Experimental group

A

the group within an experiment that are exposed to experimental conditions (the IV) p. 12

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22
Q

Experimenter effects

A

occur when an experimenter?s expectations about the study influence the results p. 25

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23
Q

External validity

A

the extent to which the results of an investigation can be applied to other settings, people and time p. 49

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24
Q

Fieldwork

A

any research involving observation and interaction with people and environments in real-world settings, conducted beyond the laboratory

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25
Q

Extraneous variables

A

variables other than the independent variable that may produce unwanted results in an experiment p. 23

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26
Q

Generalisability

A

the extent to which the results of an investigation can be applied to the wider research population p. 48

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27
Q

Hypothesis

A

a testable prediction about the outcome of an experiment; it is written in the form of a statement and includes the variables that will be tested p. 3

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28
Q

Between subjects design

A

(also known as independent design) an experimental design in which participants are split into two or more groups; typically a control group and an experimental groups p. 12

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29
Q

Independent variable (IV)

A

the variable that the experimenter manipulates in order to observe the effect it causes on the dependent variable p. 4

30
Q

Inferential statistics

A

statistics that provide information on the statistical significance of the results and suggest how they might apply to a wider population p. 40

31
Q

Informed consent

A

ensuring participants have a thorough understanding of the procedures involved in the research they are partaking in, including potential harm or risks, and still willingly agree to participate p. 31, 373

32
Q

Internal validity

A

the extent to which the changes in the dependent variable are caused by the independent variable, and not other variables p. 49

33
Q

Mixed Design

A

an experimental design which combines elements of within-subjects and between-subjects designs

34
Q

Non-maleficence

A

(also known as the no-harm principle) the principle of avoiding causing harm

35
Q

Non-standardised testing procedures

A

when instructions and procedures in an experiment are not consistent for all participants, therefore affecting the results obtained p. 26

36
Q

Objective data

A

data that can be observed or measured by multiple people and obtain the same results p. 36

37
Q

Operationalisation

A

the process of defining variables in terms of how they will be either manipulated or measured in the experiment p. 5

38
Q

Order effects

A

(also known as practice effects) a source of error in repeated-measures designs due to the order the participants participate in the experimental and control conditions p. 24

39
Q

Outlier

A

a value that differs from the other values in a data set p. 41

40
Q

Participant-related variables

A

(also known as individual participant differences) individual participant differences that can affect the results p. 24

41
Q

Placebo

A

a procedure or substance with no active treatment p. 25, 374

42
Q

Placebo effect

A

changes to an individual?s mental or physical state as a result of a false belief in the effects of a placebo substance or procedure p. 35, 374

43
Q

Population

A

(also known as research population) the group of people of interest to an experiment p. 3, 17

44
Q

Precision

A

how closely a set of measurement values agree with each other

45
Q

Primary data collection

A

a method of data collection involving data being collected directly by the experimenter p. 35

46
Q

Qualitative data

A

data that describes the characteristics of something; data of concepts that can be measured non-numerically p. 36

47
Q

Quantitative data

A

data concerning numerical amounts; expressed numerically p. 36

48
Q

Questionnaire

A

(also known as surveys) a list of questions that participants can respond to in a variety of formats p. 9

49
Q

Random allocation

A

when every member of the sample has an equal chance of being assigned to each condition in an experiment p. 19

50
Q

Random errors

A

errors in data that are unsystematic and occur due to chance

51
Q

Random sampling

A

when every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected for the sample p. 18

52
Q

Rating scale

A

a form of questionnaire collecting numerical data from participants? responses p. 10

53
Q

Reproducibility

A

the extent to which successive measurements or studies produce the same results when repeated under different conditions (e.g. different participants, time, observer, and/or environmental conditions)

54
Q

Repeatability

A

the extent to which successive measurements or studies produce the same results when carried out under identical conditions within a short period of time (e.g. same procedure, observer, instrument, instructions, and setting)

55
Q

Literature Review

A

the process of collating and analysing secondary data related to other people?s scientific findings and/or viewpoints in order to answer a question or provide background information to help explain observed events, or as preparation for an investigation to generate primary data

56
Q

Within subjects design

A

(also known as repeated measures design) an experimental design in which the same participants are in every condition of the experiment p. 12

57
Q

Sample

A

a subset of the population, commonly referred to as the research participants p. 17

58
Q

Sampling

A

the process through which the participants for a study are selected from the population of interest p. 17

59
Q

Sampling procedures

A

the method of choosing an appropriate sampling procedure to reduce possible extraneous and confounding variables p. 24

60
Q

Self-report

A

a participant?s subjective account of an experience; this type of investigation can be conducted through the use of a questionnaire, interview or rating scale p. 9

61
Q

Single-blind procedure

A

a procedure in which participants are unaware of which condition they have been allocated to, in order to reduce participant expectations p. 25

62
Q

Situational variables

A

any environmental factor that may affect the dependent variable

63
Q

Standard deviation

A

a measure of central tendency that represents the spread of data around the mean p. 40

64
Q

Standardised instructions and procedures

A

the consistent use of instructions and procedures for all participants p. 26

65
Q

Stratified sampling

A

when the population is divided into groups based upon relevant characteristics, and participants are selected from each group in proportion to how they appear in the population p. 18

66
Q

Subjective data

A

data that relies on personal opinion or self-report p. 36

67
Q

Systematic errors

A

errors in data that differ from the true value by a consistent amount

68
Q

True value

A

the value, or range of values, that would be found if the quantity could be measured perfectly

69
Q

Validity

A

the extent to which the investigation measures what it intends to measure p. 49

70
Q

Variable

A

a factor or element of an experiment that may be manipulated or measured p. 3

71
Q

Voluntary participation

A

the right of the participant to freely choose to willingly participate p. 31

72
Q

Withdrawal rights

A

the right of the participant to leave the study at any point, without fear of consequence p. 31