Key Terms

Question 1

What is the independent variable

Answer 1

The variable the researcher manipulates.

Question 2

What is the dependent variable?

Answer 2

The variable the researcher measures.

Question 3

What is the extraneous variable?

Answer 3

Variables that are not measured or manipulated however affect the DV of all participants behaviour.

Question 4

What is the confounding variable?

Answer 4

Not measured or manipulated but only effect some participants behaviour, has a negative effect for validity.

Question 5

What is operationalisation?

Answer 5

A precise definition of the behaviour being the IV/DV

Question 6

What is an aim?

Answer 6

A statement of what the researcher wants to find out.

Question 7

Hypothesis

Answer 7

Statement that research is predicted to support.

Question 8

What is a null hypothesis?

Answer 8

A hypothesis which implies there is no difference/ relationship between variables.

Question 9

Lab experiment

Answer 9

Cause and effect are measured through control/manipulation of variables , random allocation.

Question 10

Field experiment

Answer 10

Cause and effect measured in a natural setting through control/ manipulation, random allocation

Question 11

Quasi experiment

Answer 11

IV is not deliberately manipulated, no random allocation areas are natural experiments and difference study’s.

Question 12

Online research

Answer 12

Involves questionnaires but can be experimental.
Internet/social networks/mobile apps.

Question 13

Random allocation

Answer 13

Participants are put into random groups. Prevents issues with bias

Question 14

Standardisation

Answer 14

When only the IV is changed, all participants tested equally

Question 15

Standardisation

Answer 15

When only the IV is changed, all participants tested equally

Question 16

Experimental condition

Answer 16

Group of participants are exposed to the IV

Question 17

Control condition

Answer 17

IV is not treated/ manipulated.

Question 18

Independent measures design

Answer 18

Participants take part it only one experimental condition

Question 19

Repeated measures design

Answer 19

Participants take part in both experimental and control conditions

Question 20

Matched pairs design

Answer 20

Independent groups design where the experimental and control. Participants are deliberately similar e.g. balance between gender

Question 21

Counter balancing

Answer 21

Used to deal with order effect when using a repeated measures design. Participants complete conditions in opposite orders

Question 22

What is opportunity sampling?

Answer 22

Participants are chosen by their convenience to the researcher, they know no details in advance.

Question 23

What is systematic sampling?

Answer 23

Every nth person is selected by the researcher.

Question 24

What is stratified sampling?

Answer 24

Target group is divided into sub groups. Participants are selected randomly from each sub group.

Question 25

What is quota sampling?

Answer 25

Participants decided into sub groups. Participants from each sub group is selected by the convenience to the researcher.

Question 26

What is self selected sampling?

Answer 26

When the participants volunteer them selves by responding the the psychologists advertising

Question 27

What is snowball sampling

Answer 27

Participants are initially recruited by the psychologist and recruit further people they know.

Question 28

Event sampling

Answer 28

Participants are observed by researcher. Specific behaviour is recorded each time it occurs to create a total score.

Question 29

Time sampling

Answer 29

Psychologist records behaviour at specific time intervals and then creates an average score for each participant.

Question 30

Privacy

Answer 30

Refers to a zone of inaccessibility to the mind and body and trust that it will not be invaded

Question 31

Confidentiality

Answer 31

The communication of information from one person the another and trust that it will be protected

Question 32

Deception

Answer 32

Participants aren’t told about the true aims of the study which could lead to a moral dilemma, it puts their valid consent into question

Question 33

Right to withdraw

Answer 33

Letting the participants know they can leave the study at any time and withdraw their data.

Question 34

Informed consent

Answer 34

Should be aware of exactly what they are doing safeguarding is required for u16s and people with impairments. Consent is also needed from parents

Question 35

Protection from harm

Answer 35

Participants should not experience any negative physical or psychological effects beyond what would be normal to experience

Question 36

Ethical guidelines

Answer 36

A set of moral principles to guide the research through its completion and publication of results

Question 37

Ethical committee

Answer 37

Board in place to ensure proposed research meets the standards of current codes of conducts and guidelines.