Research Methods Vocab Unit 1

Question 1

Independent Variable

Answer 1

The variable that is manipulated or changed in an experiment to observe its effect on the dependent variable.

Question 2

Dependent Variable

Answer 2

The variable that is measured or observed to see how it changes in response to the independent variable.

Question 3

Participant Variables

Answer 3

Characteristics or traits of participants (e.g., age, gender, health) that may influence the results of the experiment.

Question 4

Debriefing

Answer 4

Providing participants with an explanation of the study after it is completed, including any deception used.

Question 5

Confidentiality

Answer 5

Ensuring that participants’ personal information is kept private and not disclosed without permission.

Question 6

Lack of Deception

Answer 6

The ethical requirement that participants are not misled about the true nature of the study unless absolutely necessary, and even then, they must be debriefed.

Question 7

Right to Withdraw

Answer 7

The right of participants to leave the study at any time without penalty.

Question 8

Informed (Valid) Consent

Answer 8

Ensuring that participants are fully aware of the nature of the study and voluntarily agree to participate.

Question 9

Minimizing Harm

Answer 9

Ensuring that participants are not exposed to unnecessary physical or psychological harm during the research.

Question 10

Questionnaire

Answer 10

A method of collecting data through written questions that participants answer.

Question 11

Semi-structured Interview

Answer 11

An interview with a mix of predetermined and open-ended questions, allowing for flexibility.

Question 12

Unstructured Interview

Answer 12

An interview with open-ended questions that allows for more flexible and spontaneous conversation.

Question 13

Structured Interview

Answer 13

An interview with a set of predetermined questions that are asked in a fixed order.

Question 14

Self-Report

Answer 14

A data collection method where participants report their own behaviors, attitudes, or experiences.

Question 15

Matched-Pairs Design

Answer 15

A research design where participants are paired based on similarities before being assigned to different conditions.

Question 16

Repeated Measures Design

Answer 16

A research design in which the same participants are exposed to all conditions or treatments.

Question 17

Independent Measures Design

Answer 17

A research design in which different participants are assigned to each condition or group.

Question 18

Lab Experiment

Answer 18

An experiment conducted in a controlled environment, typically a laboratory.

Question 19

Field Experiment

Answer 19

An experiment conducted in a natural setting rather than in a laboratory.

Question 20

Experiment

Answer 20

A research method that manipulates one or more variables to observe their effect on another variable.

Question 21

Correlational Study

Answer 21

A research method that examines the relationship between two or more variables but does not imply cause-and-effect.

Question 22

Case Study

Answer 22

An in-depth investigation of a single individual or group, often over a long period of time.

Question 23

Overt Participant

Answer 23

An observation in which the participants know they are being observed.

Question 24

Covert Participant

Answer 24

An observation in which the participants are unaware that they are being studied.

Question 25

Observation

Answer 25

A research method where behavior is observed and recorded without intervention.

Question 26

Cohort Effects

Answer 26

Differences between groups that are caused by the specific time period or group they belong to rather than the experimental manipulation.

Question 27

Cross-Sectional Study

Answer 27

A research design where different groups of participants are studied at a single point in time.

Question 28

Longitudinal Study

Answer 28

A research design that involves studying the same group of participants over a long period of time.

Question 29

Standard Deviation

Answer 29

A measure of how spread out the values in a data set are, showing the variability of the data.

Question 30

Range

Answer 30

The difference between the highest and lowest values in a data set.

Question 31

Mode

Answer 31

The value that appears most frequently in a data set.

Question 32

Median

Answer 32

The middle value of a data set when it is ordered from lowest to highest.

Question 33

Mean

Answer 33

The average of a set of numbers, calculated by adding all values and dividing by the number of values.

Question 34

Quantitative Data

Answer 34

Data that is numerical and can be measured or counted.

Question 35

Qualitative Data

Answer 35

Data that is descriptive and non-numerical, often involving words or observations.

Question 36

Control Groups

Answer 36

A group of participants who are not exposed to the independent variable, used for comparison with the experimental group.

Question 37

Experimental Group

Answer 37

The group of participants exposed to the independent variable in an experiment.

Question 38

Demand Characteristics

Answer 38

Cues or signals in an experiment that might influence participants' behavior or responses, often leading them to guess the study’s purpose.

Question 39

Order Effects

Answer 39

The effects that the sequence of conditions or tasks can have on participants' responses (e.g., practice or fatigue effects).

Question 40

Randomization

Answer 40

The process of randomly assigning participants to different conditions or groups to ensure that each participant has an equal chance of being in any group.

Question 41

Split-Half Reliability

Answer 41

A method of testing reliability by dividing a test into two parts and checking for consistency between the two halves.

Question 42

Test-retest Reliability

Answer 42

The consistency of results when the same test is administered to the same participants at different times.

Question 43

Inter-rater Reliability

Answer 43

The degree to which different observers or raters agree on the measurements or observations.

Question 44

Generalizability

Answer 44

The extent to which the findings of a study can be applied to other populations or settings.

Question 45

Internal Validity

Answer 45

The extent to which a study accurately measures the relationship between the independent and dependent variables, free from confounding variables.

Question 46

Ecological Validity

Answer 46

The extent to which findings can be generalized to real-world settings.

Question 47

Validity

Answer 47

The extent to which an experiment or test measures what it claims to measure.

Question 48

Reliability

Answer 48

The consistency or stability of the measurements or results over time.

Question 49

Volunteer Sampling

Answer 49

Sampling individuals who self-select to participate in the study.

Question 50

Random Sampling

Answer 50

Sampling where every individual in the population has an equal chance of being selected.

Question 51

Opportunity Sampling

Answer 51

Sampling individuals who are easily accessible or available to the researcher.

Question 52

Population

Answer 52

The entire group of individuals that the research is concerned with, from which the sample is drawn.

Question 53

Sample

Answer 53

A subset of individuals selected from a larger population to participate in the study.

Question 54

Non-Directional Hypothesis

Answer 54

A hypothesis that predicts an effect or relationship, but not the direction (e.g., there is a relationship, but not specifying whether positive or negative).

Question 55

Directional Hypothesis

Answer 55

A hypothesis that predicts the direction of the effect or relationship (e.g., one variable will increase as the other increases).

Question 56

Alternative Hypothesis

Answer 56

A hypothesis stating that there is a significant effect or relationship between variables.

Question 57

Null Hypothesis

Answer 57

A hypothesis stating that there is no significant effect or relationship between variables.

Question 58

Aim

Answer 58

The objective or purpose of the research or experiment.

Question 59

Standardization

Answer 59

Ensuring that procedures and conditions are the same for all participants in a study to reduce variability.

Question 60

Operationalization

Answer 60

Defining variables in such a way that they can be measured or tested in a practical, consistent manner.

Question 61

Confounding Variable

Answer 61

A variable that interferes with the relationship between the independent and dependent variables, making it unclear if the independent variable caused the effect.

Question 62

Extraneous Variable

Answer 62

A variable that is not of primary interest but could still affect the dependent variable and introduce unwanted variability in the results

Question 63

Minimizing Harm

Answer 63

Ensuring that any harm (physical or psychological) to participants (human or animal) is reduced to the absolute minimum during research.

Question 64

Replacement

Answer 64

The ethical principle that researchers should avoid using animals in experiments when a non-animal alternative (such as computer models or simulations) can be used instead.

Question 65

Species

Answer 65

Refers to the type of animals used in research. Ethical considerations include ensuring that the chosen species is appropriate for the specific research question.

Question 66

Numbers

Answer 66

The principle of using the fewest possible animals necessary to obtain valid results, minimizing the number of subjects in the experiment to reduce harm and suffering.

Question 67

Pain/Suffering (procedures)

Answer 67

Ethical guidelines require that research procedures should cause as little pain or suffering as possible to animals, and in some cases, procedures that cause pain should be avoided or minimized.

Question 68

Housing (procedures)

Answer 68

Refers to the conditions in which animals are housed during an experiment. Ethical standards ensure that animals are kept in appropriate, comfortable conditions that meet their physical and psychological needs.

Question 69

Rewards, Deprivation, and Aversive Stimuli (procedures)

Answer 69

Ethical guidelines require careful consideration of how animals are exposed to rewards, deprivation, or aversive stimuli (such as discomfort or punishment) in experiments, ensuring that these procedures are not excessively harsh or harmful.