Methodology Vocab

Question 1

Independent Variable (IV)

Answer 1

The variable whose effect is being studied.

Question 2

Dependent Variable (DV)

Answer 2

The measured outcome of a study; the responses of the subjects in a study.

Question 3

Quasi-experiments

Answer 3

Experiments in which the experimenter foes not manipulate the IV.

Question 4

One-tailed Hypothesis

Answer 4

DIRECTIONAL; predicts that one group or condition will perform better than the other.

Question 5

Two-tailed Hypothesis

Answer 5

NON-DIRECTIONAL; does not make a prediction about which group or condition will perform better.

Question 6

Null Hypothesis

Answer 6

States that there is no relationship between the IV and DV.

Question 7

Independent Samples

Answer 7

Two or more groups are tested.

Question 8

Repeated Measures

Answer 8

All participants take part in all conditions of the experiment.

Question 9

Matched Pairs

Answer 9

Each participant is identical to one other participant in terms of a third variable (twins).

Question 10

Internal Validity

Answer 10

The degree to which the effects observed in an experiment are due to the independent variable and not confounding variables.

Question 11

Confounding Variables

Answer 11

Confounding variables effect the DV, makes it so the experiment is testing something other than the IV.

Question 12

History

Answer 12

Subject characteristics that negatively effect the study.

Question 13

Mortality

Answer 13

Subjects dropping out of the experiment before its completion.

Question 14

Maturation

Answer 14

Subjects changing during the study (usually learning something about the topic).

Question 15

Counterbalancing

Answer 15

A method of controlling for order effects in a repeated measure design (1/2 see photos in one order, 1/2 see in another order).

Question 16

Hawthorne Effect

Answer 16

When subjects change their behavior due to being in an experiment.

Question 17

Filler Activity

Answer 17

An activity that distracts the subjects from the experiment.

Question 18

Experimenter Bias

Answer 18

Behaviors of the experimenter that effect the subject behavior.

Question 19

Demand Characteristics

Answer 19

Where subjects try to find out the true purpose of the study.

Question 20

Standardized Instructions

Answer 20

A set of instructions given the exact same way to every participant of an experiment.

Question 21

Instrumentation

Answer 21

Unanticipated changes in the results because of inconsistencies in data collection.

Question 22

Balancing

Answer 22

Half of the participants test in one room and half in another.

Question 23

Progressive Errors

Answer 23

When subjects practice the experimental skill before the experiment begins.

Question 24

External Validity

Answer 24

The extent to which the results of the study can be generalized outside the study.

Question 25

Population External Validity

Answer 25

Generalizing the results to a larger population.

Question 26

Ecological External Validity

Answer 26

Generalizing based on experimental conditions, such as time of day, temperature, and the setting.

Question 27

Target Population

Answer 27

The whole group you want to study or describe.

Question 28

Simple Random Sampling

Answer 28

Everyone in the population to which researchers wish to generalize has an equal opportunity of being in the sample.

Question 29

Stratified Random Sampling

Answer 29

Researcher identifies particular demographic categories of interest and then randomly selects individuals within each category.

Question 30

Opportunity Sampling

Answer 30

Selecting subjects based on the opportunity to use them.

Question 31

Random Allocation

Answer 31

Everyone in the sample has an equal chance of being in either condition or group.

Question 32

Nominal Data

Answer 32

A type of qualitative data which groups variables into categories

Question 33

Interval Data

Answer 33

Data which comes in the form of a numerical value where the difference between points is standardized and meaningful.

Question 34

Ordinal Data

Answer 34

Data which is placed into some kind of order or scale.

Question 35

Pilot

Answer 35

Testing the materials on a group similar to the participants in the real study before you run the experiment.

Question 36

Type II Error

Answer 36

When the hypothesis is correct but the study is unable to show it.

Question 37

Psychometric Test

Answer 37

Standardized tests that quantify human characteristics.

Question 38

Standardization

Answer 38

The process researchers go though to make instruments reliable and valid.

Question 39

Triangulation

Answer 39

Studying theories from more than one standpoint.