Research Methods

Question 1

Experiment

Answer 1

An investigation looking for a casual relationship in which an independent variable is manipulated and is expected to be responsible for changes in the dependent variable.

Question 2

Independent variable

Answer 2

The factor under investigation in an experiment which is manipulated to create two or more conditions and is expected to be responsible for changes in the dependent variable

Question 3

Dependent variable

Answer 3

The factor in an experiment which is measured and is expected to change under the influence of the independent variable

Question 4

Extraneous variable

Answer 4

A variable which either acts randomly, affecting the DV in all levels of the IV or systematically
i.e on one level of the IV so can obscure the effect of the IV, making the results difficult to interpret

Question 5

Experimental condition

Answer 5

One or more of the situations in an experiment which represent different levels of the IV and are compared

Question 6

Control condition

Answer 6

A level of the IV in an experiment from which the IV is absent. It is compared to one or more experimental conditions

Question 7

Laboratory experiment

Answer 7

A research method in which there is an IV, DV and strict controls. It looks for a casual relationship and is conducted in a setting that is not in the usual environment for the participants with regard to the behaviour they are performing

Question 8

Experimental design

Answer 8

The way in which participants are allocated to levels of the IV

Question 9

Independent measures design

Answer 9

An experimental design in which a different group of participants is used for each level of the IV

Question 10

Demand characteristics

Answer 10

Features of the experimental situation which give away the aims. They can cause participants to try change behaviour.
E.g. to match the beliefs about what is supposed to happen, which reduces the validity of the study

Question 11

Random allocation

Answer 11

A way to reduce the effect of confounding variables such as individual differences. Participants are put in each level of the IV such that each person has an equal chance of being in any condition.

Question 12

Repeated measures design

Answer 12

An experimental design in which each participant performs in every level of the IV

Question 13

Participant variables

Answer 13

Individual differences between participants (age, personality, intelligence) that could affect their behaviour in a study. They could hide or exaggerate differences between levels of IV.

Question 14

Order effects

Answer 14

Practise and fatigue effects are the consequences of participating in a study more than once

Question 15

Practise effects

Answer 15

A situation where participants’ performance improves because they experience the experimental task more than once.
Due to familiarity or learning the task

Question 16

Fatigue effect

Answer 16

A situations where participants’ performance declines because they have experienced a task more than once
Due to boredom or tiredness

Question 17

Randomisation

Question 18

Counterbalancing

Answer 18

The participant sample is divided in half, with one half completing the two conditions in order and the other half in reverse
- used to cover come order effects in a repeated measures deign
- (ABBA design)

Question 19

Why is informed consent important in psychological research

Answer 19

So the participants are told enough about the study to decide if they want to do it or not

Question 20

Why is it sometimes necessary to break the guideline of informed consent

Answer 20

• reduce demand characteristics
• less likely to work out aim
• don’t try to do what research wants
• so findings are more realistic
• so changes in behaviour are due to the IV

Question 21

Describe semi-structured interview

Answer 21

• face to face/in real time
• some questions are fixed
• some questions are flexible, interviewer can decide what to ask, question depends on interviewee’s responses

Question 22

Advantages of structured interview

Answer 22

• fixed questions - more consistent
  —> results are more reliable
• every interviewer will ask same questions
  —> high inter-rater reliability
• all ppts produce comparable data
  —> easier to analyse results

Question 23

Identify how one control group in Laney was different from an experimental group

Answer 23

Group not given critical item about loving asparagus

Experiment 1 - “you loved to eat cooked asparagus”
Experiment 2 - “you loved asparagus the first time you ate it”

Question 24

Why are control groups important in psychological research

Answer 24

• ensures comparison
• show IV had an effect
• casual relationship can be identified

Question 25

Why do psychologist operationally define the IV and DV in experiments

Answer 25

• operationalisation helps to make replication possible
• operationalisation of the IV - make way experimental conditions have been set up clear
• operationalisation of DV - clear about how IV is measured
• improved reliability - all researchers measure DV consistently

Question 26

How to obtain a wide range or ppts

Answer 26

• random sampling
  —> e.g. random number generator (be specific to question)
• volunteers from may different places

Question 27

Importance of getting a wide range of ppts

Answer 27

• generalisability —> represent wider population
• apply to others (specific to q)

Question 28

Field experiment

Answer 28

• look for casual relationship
• IV manipulated, expected to be responsible for changes to the DV
• conducted in natural environment for ppts for behaviour being studied

Question 29

Natural experiment

Answer 29

• looks for casual relationship
• IV can’t be directly manipulated by experimenter
• study effect of an existing difference or change
• not a true experiment - researcher can’t manipulated IV

Question 30

Questionnaire

Answer 30

A research method that uses written questions

Question 31

Interview

Answer 31

• use it verbal questions
• asked directly (face to face/phone)

Question 32

Case study

Answer 32

• detailed investigation of a single instance (usually one person - sometimes single family or institution)
• detailed insight into unique behaviour
• use many research methods

Question 33

Observation