Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Psychology > Unit : Research Methods > Flashcards

Unit : Research Methods Flashcards

(65 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

Independent Variable

A

Manipulated in an experiment to test the effect on DV
Affects the DV

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Dependant Variable

A

Measured and changed variable in the experiment
Affected by IV

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Participant Variables

A

Characteristics of the participants background that may affect results
For example : sex, identity, age, etc.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Extraneous Variables

A

Variables that can affect the outcome of a study but was not manipulated by the researcher
Two main types are participant and situational

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Investagator Effect

A

Researcher unintentionally giving participants clues on how to act

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Situational Variables

A

Factors in the environment or the way the test was conducted that can affect results
There are three situational variable types: order effects, demand characteristics, and investagator effect.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Demand characteristics

A

Participants changing their behaviour to meet expectations for the experiment (not their normal actions)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Order effects

A

Affected by improvement during repeated trials or practice

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Double Bind

A

A way to control situational variables
When participants and researchers don’t know about the study

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Single Bind

A

A way to control situational variables
When participants don’t know about the study

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Counterbalancing

A

A way to control situational variables
When half of the participants do condition A then B and the other half does condition B then A for balance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Randomly Choosing Participants

A

A way to control situational variables
When participants are chosen at random

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Standerdise Conditions

A

A way to control situational variables
When everyone has the exact same conditions/qualities

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Null hypothesis

A

Type of hypothesis
A prediction that the results will not show any difference, no relationship between variables
Once you nullify (disprove) the null hypothesis, you can then confirm the alternative hypothesis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Operationalisation

A

To operationalise variables means to make them specific and detailed (how it is measured, exact measured thing)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Alternative Hypothesis

A

Prediction based on what is expected to happen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Directional Hypothesis

A

States which direction the results will go in

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Research Hypothesis

A

Experimental, Directional, Non-directional

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Experimental Hypothesis

A

Used in lab/field experiments

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Non-Directional Hypothesis

A

States there will be a relationship, but not what the relationship will be

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How to form a hypothesis?

A

Define the research question
Identify the variables
Determine the type of hypothesis
Write the hypothesis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Random sampling technique

A

Type of sampling in studies
To gather a random sample from the target population
Could be by assigning every member a random number than drawing numbers randomly (any method that is completely random, unbiased)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Stratified sampling technique

A

Type of sampling in studies
Ensuring that subgroups of the target pop is being equally represented in a sample by taking a random sample from each subgroup proportionally that is represented in the sample
For example if there are 10% boys in a school, the sample should have around 10% boys to be proportional

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Volunteer sampling

A

Type of sampling in studies
To gather a sample of volunteers that are willing to participate
Could be by advertising the experiment to recruit volunteers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Opportunity sampling
Type of sampling in studies To gather people who are available at the time Could be by asking people to be part of the study who happen to be there and be free
15
Strengths of Random sampling technique
Creates a somewhat-representative sample Helps control participant variables
15
Weaknesses of Random sampling technique
Participants might refuse to take part, leading to a less representative sample (less random)
15
Strengths of Stratified sampling technique
Ensures no groups of the population will be missed in choosing Completely representative to target pop
15
Weaknesses of Stratified sampling technique
Time consuming People may refuse to take part which will lead to a sample error
16
Strengths of Volunteer sampling
Minimal effort for researcher Everyone will be willing to take part
17
Weaknesses of Volunteer sampling
Not everyone will see the adverts Biased sample (people interested that will be similar)
18
Strengths of Opportunity sampling
Quick and simple Easy to arrange experiment
19
Weaknesses of Opportunity sampling
Biased based on who is available at that time of day (maybe certain people based on working hours, weekends, etc.)
20
Target Population
Group of people being investegated for a study (eg. a specific school, 13 year old girls, parents, etc.)
21
Sample
Small group selected from the target pop that should represent the population. The people taking part in the experiment
22
Sample Error
When a sample is different to the target pop in an aspect
22
Biased Sample
When a sample has too many of a similar group compared to the target population
23
Research Design
How the participants are allocated their research condition
24
Experimental design
When a research design is used in a lab/field experiment 3 types of experimental designs : Independant, Repeated, Matched Pairs
24
Independent Measures Design
Type of experimental design When participants are split into groups and each tested in one condition only to compare results
25
Repeated Measures Design
Type of experimental design When all participants used in all of the conditions of the study
26
Matched pairs design
Type of experimental design Different people in each condition that are matched for similarities in characteristics (based on experiment)
27
Strengths of Independent Measures Design
No order effects since participants only take part in one condition
27
Weakness of Independent Measures Design
More participants needed Individual differences between the groups
28
Strengths of Repeated Measures Design
Fewer participants needed No differences between conditions
28
Weaknesses of Repeated Measures Design
Order effects (practice or fatigue)
29
Strengths of Matched pairs design
Fair comparisons
29
Weaknesses of Matched pairs design
Time-consuming May not have all characteristics matched
30
Reliability
The consistency of an outcome or result of an investigation
31
Validity
Whether the test measures what was intended There is internal and external validity
32
Internal validity
Type of validity Whether the measure used in a test genuinely test what it was designed to test
32
External validity
Type of validity Whether the findings are generalisable to the target pop
33
Qualitative methods
Ways of conducting research that find out new information rather than testing a prediction
34
Quantitative methods
Ways of conducting research that test a prediction
35
What does GRAVE mean?
Generalisability - If the participants resemble wider population Reliability - How high the levels of control are on varibles so it can be easily replicated Applicability - If society benefits from the experiment or not Validity - Whether the experiment is done in a natural setting with limited extraneous variables Ethics - Whether the participants are respected based on the guidelines
36
Ethics in research
Researcher needs to follow codes of conduct to protect participants and respect them
37
CARDUD acronym
Used for the ethical guidelines Consent Anonymity Right to withdraw Deception Undue stress or harm Debriefing
38
Consent
One of the ethical guideline Agreement from participant to take part when they fully know about the experiment and aims of the study
39
Right to withdraw
One of the ethical guideline Participants aware they can leave experiment when they want
39
Anonymity
One of the ethical guideline Not disclosing the identity of participants
40
Deception
One of the ethical guideline Misleading/lying to participants
41
Undue stress/harm to participants
One of the ethical guideline Safeguarding participants against mental/physical harm
42
Debriefing
One of the ethical guideline Participant given a full disclosure and info on the study and aim after experiment is taken place
43
Field experiment and factors of it
Procedure set in a naturalistic environment Less control over extraneous variables Participants not aware they are part of a study Useful when studying behaviour in a real life natural situation
44
Lab experiment and factors of it
Procedure staged in an artificial environment High levels of control Cause and effect easily established leading to internal validity Easy to replicate Demand characteristics may be displayed Not a natural setting and behaviour

Psychology (7 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions