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Reasearch Methods Flashcards

(68 cards)

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1
Q

Social desirability bias

A

During an interview, a respondant may answer a question in a way that is deemed socially acceptable

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2
Q

Inter-rater reliability

A

When more than one observer codes behaviour and their results are compared to check for agreement

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3
Q

Observer bias

A

When an observer interprets the observed behaviour according to their own view

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4
Q

One strength of an observation

A

Allow researchers to gather first-hand information

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5
Q

weakness of an observation

A

Observations can lack validity because of observer bias.
Ethical issues

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6
Q
A
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7
Q

Naturalistic observation

A

An observation conducted in an everyday environment where behaviour being studied is normally seen

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8
Q

A controlled or structured observation

A

An observation carried out in a laboratory or controlled environment

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9
Q

Overt observation

A

Participants know they are being observed as a part of an investigation

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10
Q

Covert observation

A

Participants are unaware that they are being observed

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11
Q

Participant observation

A

When an observer is involved in the group they are observing

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12
Q

Non-participant observation

A

The observer watched and records people without being actively involved

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13
Q
A
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14
Q

Independent variable(IV)

A

The variable directly manipulated by the researcher

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15
Q

Dependant variable(DV)

A

The variable being measured in a study

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16
Q

Extraneous variable

A

A variable that is not controlled which could affect the results of a study

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17
Q

Confounding variable

A

An extraneous variable that affects the results of the study so that the effect of the IV is not truly seen

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18
Q

Situational variable

A

An extraneous variable present in the environment of the study

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19
Q

Order effects

A

When participants improve or worsen in the second condition because they have practised or become fatigued

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20
Q

Demand characteristics

A

When the participant alters their behaviour in response to the perceived aims of the investigation

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21
Q

Investigator effect

A

When a researcher unintentionally gives clues to participants, altering their behaviour

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22
Q

Participant variables

A

Extraneous variable specific to the participants of an investigation, for example, their mood,ability, or personality

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23
Q
A
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24
Q

Standardised procedure

A

Where the procedure of a study is the same across all conditions

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25
Counterbalancing
Where half of the participant group experience condition A then condition B, while the other half experience condition B then condition A
26
Randomisation
When participants are randomly assigned to condition A or B as their first or second test condition
27
Single-blind technique
When information about the study is withheld from participants
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Double-blind technique
When the aims of the study is withheld from both participants and researchers
29
Random allocation
When participants are randomly assigned to a condition of the study
30
Null hypothesis
A prediction that the results will fail to show any difference (or relationdhip) that is consistent or systematic
31
Alternative (experimental) hypothesis
A prediction of the outcome of a study based on what is expected to happen
32
Direct hypothesis
A hypothesis that predicts the direction the results will go in
33
Non-direct hypothesis
A hypothesis that predicts that a difference/relationship will be found but does not specify what the difference/relationship will be
34
Experimental hypothesis
The name given to a hypothesis when used in field and laboratory experiments
35
Target population
The group of people being investigated in a study
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Sample
A selection of the target population that is directly studied in an investigation
37
Generalisability
The extent to which the results of a study represent the whole population, not just the sample used
38
Sampling method
A technique used to gather a representative group of people as a sample from the target population
39
Random sampling technique
A technique used to gather a random sample of participants from the target population
40
Stratified sampling technique
A technique that ensures subgroups of the target population are proportionately represented in a sample
41
Sample error
When a sample differs in qualities from the target population it intends to represent
42
Volunteer sampling technique
A technique that asks for participants by placing an advert for volunteers
43
Biased sample
When the sample recruited is made up of a particular type of person, which may not reflect the target population
44
Opportunity sampling technique
A technique that recruits participants who are readily available at the time
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Research design
How participants are allocated to the conditions of a study
47
Experimental design
The name given to research design when used in an experiment
48
Independent measures design
Participants are split into groups, with each group tested in only one condition of a study
49
Repeated measures design
The same participants are used in all conditions of a study
50
Matched pairs design
Different participants are used in each condition of the study, but are matched for likeness on important characteristics
51
Descriptive statistics
Ways of summarising data to make raw data easier to understand. Descriptive statistics include the mean, mode, range, and graphs
52
Raw data
The results themselves, without analysis
53
Range
The difference between the highest and lowest score in a set of data, to show the spread of scores
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Measure of dispersion
A way of showing the spread of scores and variability
56
Mode
In a set of numbers, the most common one (the one found most often
57
Bi-modal
When there are two modes in a set of numbers
58
Multi-modal
When there are more than two modes in a set of numbers
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Median
The middle score in a set of numbers
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Mean/ arithmetic mean
The average of a set of numbers, found by adding them all up and dividing the result by how many original numbers there were
61
Normal distribution
When mean,median, and mode are very similar or the same
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Skewed distribution
When median and/or mode differ from the mean
63
Frequency scores
The number of times each score is found in a dataset
64
Frequency table
Shows how often each score in a dataset is found using tallying
65
Tally
A way of recording each instance of something using a vertical mark for each instance
66
Frequency diagram/histogram
Illustrates frequency to show the distribution of continuous data
67
Bell curve
The shape of a normal distribution curve
68

Psychology (3 decks)

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