Research methods key terms (paper 2)

Question 1

Experimental method?

Answer 1

Involves the manipulation of an independent variable to measure the effect on the dependant variable. Experiments may be laboratory,field, natural or quasi.

Question 2

Aim?

Answer 2

General statement of what the researcher intends to investigate, the purpose of the study.

Question 3

Hypothesis?

Answer 3

Clear and precise statement that states the relationship between the variables to be investigated.

Question 4

Directional hypothesis?

Answer 4

State the direction of the difference or relationship.

Question 5

Non-directional hypothesis?

Answer 5

Does not state the direction of the difference or relationship.

Question 6

Variables?

Answer 6

Any ‘thing’ that can vary or change within an investigation. They are generally used in experiments to determine if changes in one thing results in changes to another.

Question 7

Independent variable?

Answer 7

Some aspect of the experimental situation that is manipulated by the researcher, or changes naturally, so the effect on the dependant variable can be measured.

Question 8

Dependant variable?

Answer 8

The variable that is measured by the researcher.

Question 9

Operationalisation?

Answer 9

Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured.

Question 10

Extraneous variable?

Answer 10

Any variable, other than the independent variable, that may affect the the dependant variable if it is not controlled.

Question 11

Confounding variable?

Answer 11

A kind of extraneous variable but the key feature is that it varies systematically with the independent variable.

Question 12

Demand characteristics?

Answer 12

Any cue from the researcher or the research situation that may be interpreted by participants as revealing the purpose of an investigation. This could lead to participants changing their behaviour.

Question 13

Investigator effects?

Answer 13

Any effect of the investigators behaviour (conscious or unconscious) on the research outcome.

Question 14

Randomisation?

Answer 14

The use of chance methods to control for the effects of bias when designing materials and deciding the order of experimental conditions.

Question 15

Standardisation?

Answer 15

Using exactly the same formalised procedures and instructions for all participants in a research study.

Question 16

Experimental designs?

Answer 16

The different ways in which participants can be organised in relation to the experimental conditions.

Question 17

Independent groups design?

Answer 17

Participants are allocated to different groups where each group represents one experimental condition.

Question 18

Repeated measures?

Answer 18

All participants take part in all conditions of the experiment.

Question 19

Matched pairs design?

Answer 19

Pairs of participants are first matched on some variable that may affect the dependant variable. Then one member of the pair is assigned to condition A, then the other to condition B.

Question 20

Random allocation?

Answer 20

An attempt to control for participant variables in an independent groups design which ensures that each participant has the same chance of being in one condition as any other.

Question 21

Counterbalancing?

Answer 21

An attempt to control for the effects of order in a repeated measures design: half the participants experience the conditions in one order, and the other half in the opposite order.

Question 22

Lab experiment?

Answer 22

An experiment that takes place in an controlled environment within which the researcher manipulates the independent variable and records the effect of the dependant variable, whilst maintaining strict control of extraneous variable?

Question 23

Field experiment?

Answer 23

An experiment that takes place in a natural setting within which the researcher manipulates the independent variable and records the effect on the dependant variable.

Question 24

Natural experiment?

Answer 24

An experiment where the change in the independent variable is brought about by the researcher but would have happened even if the researcher had not been there. The researcher records the effect on a dependant variable they have decided on.

Question 25

Quasi-experiment?

Answer 25

A study that is almost an experiment but lacks key ingredients. The independent variable has not been determined by anyone - the ‘variables’ simply exist, such as being old or young.

Question 26

Population?

Answer 26

A group of people who are the focus of the researchers interest, from which a smaller sample is drawn.

Question 27

Sample?

Answer 27

A group of people who take part in a research investigation. The sample is drawn from a (target) population.

Question 28

Sampling techniques?

Answer 28

The method used to select people from the population.

Question 29

Bias?

Answer 29

In the context of sampling, when certain groups are over- or under- represented within the sample selected.

Question 30

Generalisation?

Answer 30

The extent to which findings and conclusions from a particular investigation can be broadly applied to the population. This is possible if the sample of participants is representative of the target population.

Question 31

Ethical issues?

Answer 31

These arise when a conflict exists between the rights of participants in research studies and the goals of research to produce authentic, valid and worthwhile data.

Question 32

BPS codes of ethics?

Answer 32

A quasi-legal document produced by the British psychological society (BPS).

Question 33

Pilot study?

Answer 33

A small-scale version of an investigation that takes place before the real investigation is conducted. This is done to see if any changes or modifications are necessary.

Question 34

Naturalistic observation?

Answer 34

Watching and recording behaviour in the setting within in which it would normally occur.

Question 35

Controlled observation?

Answer 35

Watching and recording behaviour within a structured environment.

Question 36

Covert observation?

Answer 36

Participants’ behaviour is watched and recorded without their knowledge or consent.

Question 37

Overt observation?

Answer 37

Participants’ behaviour is watched and recorded with their knowledge and consent.

Question 38

Participant observation?

Answer 38

The researcher becomes a member of the group whose behaviour they are watching and recording.

Question 39

Non-participant observation?

Answer 39

The researcher remains outside of the group whose behaviour they are watching and recording.

Question 40

Behavioural categories?

Answer 40

When a target behaviour is broken up into components that are observable and measurable.

Question 41

Event sampling?

Answer 41

A target behaviour or event is first established then the researcher records this event every time it occurs.

Question 42

Time sampling?

Answer 42

A target individual or group is first established then the researcher records their behaviour in a fixed time frame. e.g. every 60 seconds.

Question 43

Self-report technique?

Answer 43

Any method in which a person is asked to state or explain their feelings, behaviour or experiences on a certain topic.

Question 44

Questionnaire?

Answer 44

A set of written questions used to asses a persons thoughts or experiences.

Question 45

Interview?

Answer 45

A ‘live’ encounter when one person asks a set of questions to assess an interviewees thoughts and experiences.

Question 46

Open questions?

Answer 46

Question where there is no fixed answer.

Question 47

Closed question?

Answer 47

There is a fixed answer.

Question 48

Correlation?

Answer 48

A mathematical technique in which a researcher investigates an association between two variables, called co-variables.

Question 49

Co-variables?

Answer 49

The variable investigated within a correlation, e.g. height and weight.

Question 50

Positive correlation?

Answer 50

As one co-variable increases so does the other. e.g number people in a room and noise tend to positive correlate.

Question 51

Negative correlation?

Answer 51

As one co-variable increases the other decreases. e.g. number people of a room and amount of personal space tend to be negatively correlated.

Question 52

Zero correlation?

Answer 52

When there is no relationship between the co-variables.

Question 53

Qualitative data?

Answer 53

Data expressed in words and non-numerical.

Question 54

Quantitative data?

Answer 54

Data that can be counted, usually given as numbers.

Question 55

Primary data?

Answer 55

Information that has been obtained first-hand by the researcher for the purpose of the research project.

Question 56

Secondary data?

Answer 56

Information that has already been collected by someone else and so pre-dates the current research project.

Question 57

Meta-analysis?

Answer 57

The process of combining the findings from a number of studies from a particular topic. Aim is to produce a statistical conclusion.

Question 58

Descriptive statistics?

Answer 58

The use of graphs, tables and summary statistics to identify trends and analysis sets of data.

Question 59

Measures of central tendency?

Answer 59

The general term for any measure of the average value in a set of data.

Question 60

Statistical testing?

Answer 60

Provides a way of determining whether hypotheses should be accepted or rejected. You can find out whether differences or relationships between variables are significant.

Question 61

Sign test?

Answer 61

A statistical test used to analyse the difference in scores between related items.

Question 62

Peer review?

Answer 62

The assessment of scientific work by others who are specialists in the same field, to ensure that any research intended for publication is of high quality.

Question 63

Economy?

Answer 63

The state of a country or region in terms of production and consumption of goods and services.