Key Words Flashcards
(75 cards)
1
Q
Experimental method
A
- Involves the manipulation of the an IV to measure the effect is had on the DV.
- Experiments may be laboratory, field, natural of quasi.
2
Q
Aim
A
- General statement of what the researcher intends to investigate.
- Purpose of the study.
3
Q
Hypothesis
A
-Clear, precise, testable statement that states the relationship between the variables tonne investigated.
4
Q
Non-directional hypothesis
A
-Does not state direction
5
Q
Directional hypothesis
A
-states the direction of the difference or relationship.
6
Q
Variables
A
- Any ‘thing’ that can vary or change within an investigation.
- Generally used in experiments to determine if changes in one thing results in changes to another.
7
Q
Independent variable
A
- Aspect of the experiments situation that is manipulated by the researcher
- Or changes naturally.
- So the effect on the DV can be measured.
8
Q
Dependant variable
A
- The variable that is measured by the researcher.
- Any effect on the DV should be caused by the change in the IV.
9
Q
Operationalisation
A
-Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured.
10
Q
Extraneous variable
A
- Any variable, other that the IV that may have an effect on the DV if it is not controlled.
- Essentially nuisance variables that don’t vary systematically with the IV
11
Q
Confounding variables
A
- Any variable other that the IV that may have an affect of the DV so we can’t be sure what the true source of changes are to the DV.
- Usually vary systematically with the IV.
12
Q
Demand characteristics
A
- Any cue from the researcher or from the research situation that may be interpreted by the participants that give away the true purpose of the investigation.
- May lead to participants changing their behaviour within the research situation.
13
Q
Investigator effects
A
- Any effect of the investigators behaviour on the research outcome.
- This may include everything from the design of the study to the selection of and interaction with participants during the research process.
14
Q
Randomisation
A
-The use of chance in order to control the effects of bias when designing materials and deciding the order of conditions.
15
Q
Standardisation
A
-Using exactly the same formalised procedures and instructions for all participants in a research study.
16
Q
Experimental design
A
-Different ways in which the testing of participants can be organised.
17
Q
Independent groups design
A
-Participants are allocated to different groups where each group represents one experimental condition.
18
Q
Repeated measure
A
-All participants take part in all conditions of the experiment
19
Q
Matched pairs design
A
- pairs of participants are first matched on some variables that may affect the DV.
- One member of the pair is assigned to condition A and the other to condition B.
20
Q
Random allocation
A
- attempt to control for participant variables in and independent groups design.
- ensures each participant has the same chance in being one condition as any other.
21
Q
Counterbalancing
A
- ABBA
- Attempt to control for effects of order in a repeated measures design.
- half do task in one order e.g task A then B
- Other half do task in the opposite order e.g task B then A
22
Q
Lab experiment
A
- Experiment that takes place in a controlled environment.
- researcher manipulates IV
- Records the effect it has on the DV whilst maintaining strict control of the extraneous variables.
23
Q
Field experiment
A
-Takes place in a natural setting within which the researcher manipulates the IV and record the effect on the DV
24
Q
Natural experiment
A
- Experiment where the change in IV is not brought on by the researcher but would have happened even if the researcher wasn’t there.
- Researcher still records effect on DV
25
Quasi-experiment
- Study that is almost an experiment but lacks key ingredients.
- The IV has not be determined by anyone.
- The variable simply exist.
- Strictly speaking, it is not an experiment.
26
Population
-Group of people who are the focus of the researchers interest from which a smaller sample is drawn.
27
Sample
- Group of people who take part in a research investigation.
- Sample is drawn from a target population.
- Presumed tonne representative of that population.
28
Sampling techniques
-Method used to select people from population.
29
Bias
- When certain groups may be over or under-represented within the sample selected
- E.g too many males over females
- This limits to which extent generalisations can be made to the targeted population.
30
Generalisation
- The extent to which findings and conclusions from a particular sample can be broadly applied to the population.
- Made possible if sample is representative of population.
31
Ethical issues
-These arise when a conflict exists between the right of participants in research studies and the goals of the research to produce valid, worthwhile data.
32
BPD code of ethics
A quasi-legal document produced by the British Psychological society (BPS)
Instructs psychologists in the UK about what behaviours if and is not acceptable when dealing with participants.
33
Pilot study
- Small-scale version of the actual investigation to check that procedures, materials and measuring scales work.
- To allow the researcher to know if any changes need to be made.
34
Naturalistic observation
-Watching and recording behaviour in a setting that would normally occur
35
controlled observation
-Watching and recording behaviour in a structured environment.
36
Covert observation
-Participants behaviours watched and recorded without heir knowledge or consent.
37
Overt observation
-participants behaviour is watched and recorded with their knowledge and consent
38
Participant observation
-The researcher becomes a member of the group whose behaviour he or she is watching and recording
39
Non-participant observation
-The researcher remains outside of the group whose behaviour he or she is watching and recording.
40
Behavioural categories
-When a target behaviour is broken up into components that are observable and measurable
41
Event sampling
-A target behaviour or event is first established then the researcher record this event every time it occurs
42
Time sampling
- A target individual or group is first established then the researcher record their behaviour in a fixed time frame.
- e.g every 30 seconds
43
Self-report technique
Any method in which a person is asked to state or explain their own feelings, opinions, behaviours and or experiences to a given topic.
44
Questionnaire
-A set of written questions used to asses a persons thoughts and/or experiences
45
Interview
A live encounter where one person (interviewer) asks a set of questions to the interviewee to asses their through and or experiences.
-Questions may be pre-set (structured interview) or develop as the interview goes along. (Unstructured)
46
Open questions
-Questions for which there is no fixed choice of response and respondents can answer any way they wish.
47
Closed questions
-Questions for which there is a fixed choice of responses determined by the question setter.
48
Correlation
-A mathematical technique in which a researcher investigates an association between two variables, called co-variables.
49
Co-variables
Variable investigated within a correlation, for example, height and weight.
- not referred to as independent or dependent variables
- investigates the association between two variables rather than show a cause and effect relationship
50
Positive correlation
-as one co-variable increases, so does the other.
51
Negative correlation
As one co-variable increases, the other decreases. E.g number of people in a room and amount of personal space.
52
Zero correlation
-when there is no relationship between the co-variables.
53
Qualitative data
Data that is expressed in words and non-numerical
54
Quantitative data
Data that can be counted usually given as numbers
55
Primary data
Information that has been obtained first hand by the researcher for the purpose of research project.
56
Secondary data
Information that has already been collected by someone else.
57
Meta-analysis
Research about research
Combining results from a number of studies on a particular topic to provide an overall view.
58
Descriptive statistics
Use of graphs tables and summary statistics to identify trends and Analyse sets of data
59
Measures of central tendency
The general term for any measure of the average value in a set of data
60
Mean
Average calculated by adding all the values in a set of data and dividing by the number of values that are
61
Median
The central value in a set of data when values are arranged from lowest to highest
62
Mode
The most frequently occurring value in a set of data.
63
Measures of dispersion
The general term for any measure of the spread or variation in a set of scores
64
Range
worked out by subtracting the lowest score from the highest score on adding one as a mathematical correction
65
Standard deviation
Tells us how much schools deviate from the mean by calculating the difference between the mean and each score
All the differences are added up and divided by the number of scores
The standard deviation is the square root of the variance
66
Scattergram
Type of graph that represents the strength and direction of relationship between covariables in a correlation analysis
67
Bar chart
Time graph in which the frequency of each variable is represented by the height of the bars
68
Behavioural categories
Key behaviours or, collections of behaviour, that the researcher conduction the observation will pay attention to and record.
69
Case study
In-depth investigation of a single person, group or event, where data is gathered from a variety of sources and by using several different methods e.g. Observation and interviews.
70
Concurrent validity
Comparing a new test with another test of the same thing to see if they produce similar results. If they do then the new test has concurrent validity.
71
Correlational analysis
A mathematical technique where the researcher looks to see whether score for two co-variables are related.
72
Normal distribution
Symmetrical spread of frequency data that forms a bell shaped pattern. Mean median and mode are all located at the highest peak.
73
Skewed distribution
Spread of frequency data that is not symmetrical, whether data costs to one end.
74
Positive skew
Type of distribution in which the longtail is on the positive side of the peak and most of the distribution is concentrated on the left
75
Negative skew
Type of distribution which the long tail is on the negative (left) side of the peak and most of the distribution is concentrated on the right.
