Research Methods

Question 1

Correlation coefficient

Answer 1

The extent to which two variables share a relationship

Question 2

Counterbalancing

Answer 2

In repeated measures designs, half the participants do conditions in one particular order and the other half do the conditions in the opposite order to prevent order effects

Question 3

Cover observation

Answer 3

An observation where participants don’t know they’re being observed

Question 4

Demand characteristics

Answer 4

A problem with studies where participants change their behaviour

Question 5

Dependent variable

Answer 5

The variable which you measure

Question 6

Directional hypothesis (one tailed)

Answer 6

A prediction which states the direction of the difference between variables

Question 7

Ecological validly

Answer 7

The extent to which the results of a test can be generalised to the real world

Question 8

Event sampling

Answer 8

Consists of the researcher recording an event every time it happens

Question 9

External validity

Answer 9

The extent to which the results of a test can be generalised either to other people or to real life

Question 10

Extraneous variable

Answer 10

Things you try to control to make the experiment fair

Question 11

Field study

Answer 11

A study which takes place in a natural setting with manipulation of the IV

Question 12

Independent groups design

Answer 12

A design where different participants complete different conditions of the IV

Question 13

Internal validity

Answer 13

The extent to which the test is really measuring what it sets out to measure

Question 14

Inter rarer reliability

Answer 14

Consistency of results between rafters or observers

Question 15

Lab study

Answer 15

A study that has control over the IV in an artificial surrounding

Question 16

Matched pairs design

Answer 16

A design where different participants are matched so they were similar. They complete different independent variables

Question 17

Mean

Answer 17

Measure of central tendency

Add u all scores and divide by how many there are

Question 18

Median

Answer 18

Measure of central tendency

Shows the middle value

Question 19

Meta analysis

Answer 19

A way of drawing all the data from studies in a topic area together to make overall conclusions

Question 20

Mode

Answer 20

Measure of central tendency

Shows the most frequent value

Question 21

Nominal data

Answer 21

Numerical data which can be put into categories

Question 22

Non directional hypothesis (two tailed)

Answer 22

A prediction which states there will be a difference between variable but doesn’t state in which direction

Question 23

Normal distribution

Answer 23

Most scores lie close to the mean with significantly higher and lower scores being less frequent. The spread of the scores is ‘bell shaped’ and symmetrical

Question 24

Null hypothesis

Answer 24

A prediction that states there will be no difference or no relationship between 2 variables

Question 25

Operationalising

Answer 25

Making variables into something which can be manipulated or measured. These variables must be precisely defined.

Question 26

Opportunity sampling

Answer 26

Sampling done by choosing the people you have available | Often leads to biased or unrepresentative sample

Question 27

Order effects

Answer 27

A limitation of repeated measures design where participants either gain practise or become tired by repeated testing

Question 28

Pilot study

Answer 28

Small scale study used to test if there are any methodological or ethical issues with an experiment

Question 29

Population validity

Answer 29

Th extent to which the results of a test can be generalised to other people

Question 30

Qualitative date

Answer 30

Non numerical, rich data | Language

Question 31

Quantitative data

Answer 31

Numerical data

Question 32

Quasi experiment

Answer 32

A study in which the researcher has non manipulated the IV but it has altered naturally Eg Rutter's Romanian study

Question 33

Questionnaires

Answer 33

A self report method of collecting data

Question 34

Primary data

Answer 34

Data collected specifically towards a research aim

Question 35

Random sampling

Answer 35

Sampling where each member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected

Question 36

Range

Answer 36

Measure of dispersion which subtracts the lowest value from the highest

Question 37

Reliability

Answer 37

Consistency of results

Question 38

Repeated measures design

Answer 38

A design where the same participants complete the different conditions of the IV

Question 39

The screw you effect

Answer 39

Where participants guess the aim of the experiment and attempt to act in a way which disrupts the experiment

Question 40

Semi structured interview

Answer 40

An int review which has some set questions but allows for follow up questions to gain rich data

Question 41

Social desirability bias

Answer 41

When participants change their behaviour to appear more desirable

Question 42

Standard deviation

Answer 42

Measure of diversion | Shows the average amount of scores differ from the mean

Question 43

Standardised instructions

Answer 43

All instructions are written the same so the experiment is fair

Question 44

Systematic sampling

Answer 44

A sampling technique where you take a participant in an ordered fashion Eg choosing every 5th customer who enters a shop

Question 45

Time sampling

Answer 45

Occurs when the researcher decides on a time and then records the bahaviour occurring at that time Eg every 30 seconds

Question 46

Unstructured interview

Answer 46

An interview with no pre planned structured questions

Question 47

Validity

Answer 47

The extent to which you are truly testing what you set out to test

Question 48

Case study

Answer 48

A rich, detailed study of one person or group.