Research Methods Flashcards
Notes (48 cards)
Research Hypothesis
A testable prediction that contains 2/more variables and forms of an experiment or research study.
Research hypothesis contains
Independent Variable
Population
Operationalise Variables
Dependent Variable
Experimental hypothesis doesn’t need to..
have the variables operationalised.
Operationalising variables shows that…
an individual has deeper knowledge of how the variables were used in the research study.
Reason why the variables are operationalised is because..
sometimes we can measure one variable in my different ways.
—–Experimental Research Designs—–
- Independent Groups design
- Matched Participants deign
- Repeated Measures design
Independent Groups design
a.k.a. between subjects’ design
Allocates participants randomly so that they are either in the experimental group or the control group.
Advantage:
Can be completed quickly, likelihood of participants dropping out or withdrawing is low.
Disadvantage:
Often requires a large number of participants to ensure that participant variation in the sample will be representative of that of the population.
Matched Participant design
Allows the experimenter to pair participants who have similar characteristics or qualities to what is being investigated w/ the intention of reducing participant differences.
Advantage:
Lower individual differences, as the same person is going through both the experimental and control conditions of the study.
Disadvantage:
Time-consuming and costly, one participant’s results will become futile if their partner drops out.
Repeated Measures design
When one participant is exposed to both the experimental and control group.
Advantage:
Less individual participant differences across conditions, same person is going through both the experimental and control group.
Disadvantages:
Order effects, participant gets bored, tired or improves their performance from practice by going through the tasks in a specific order, can have unwanted effects on the DV.
Extraneous Variable
External factor or influence which can effect the results (DV) of the study. They’re often identified early in the study and controlled/rid off.
Potential Confounding Variable
A factor or influence which has potentially influenced the (DV)/ results of the study, as it hasn’t been controlled for.
Individual Participant differences:
PERSONAL TRAITS, QUALITIES.
An individual participant difference can give a participant an added advantage or disadvantage in a study by either enhancing or lowering their performance, then becomes difficult to determine whether their performance was due to the IV or their own ability.
Order Effects:
Commonly seen in studies that use repeated measures designs.
When participants follow an order of tasks to complete the experiment or research study.
Counterbalancing
Procedure used to combat Order Effects. When order or tasks exposed to participants is changed.
Placebo Effect:
When participants believe they have been given the treatment (IV) and respond/behave differently to match their expectations of what the IV’s effect will be.
Single blind procedure:
When only the participant/s don’t know whether they are in the experimental or control group. Used to eliminate the placebo effect.
Double blind procedure:
Both participants and experimenter don’t know which group received the experimental and control treatment. Used to rid of the experimenter effect.
Experimenter Effect:
When the researcher acts in a way that places expectations on a group in terms of implying how they should respond to the treatment (IV) of the study.
