As Psychology: Research Methods

Front 1

Lab Experiment

Back 1

IV manipulated by experimenter to determine DV.
All other variables are controlled.
Participants have an equal chance of being in either condition.

Front 2

IV (Independent Variable)

Back 2

The variable that is manipulated by the experimenter.

Front 3

DV (Dependent Variable)

Back 3

The variable that is measured by the experimenter.

Front 4

Extraneous Variables

Back 4

A variable that could affect the DV, therefore it needs to be controlled.

Front 5

Confounding Variables

Back 5

An extraneous variable that has not been controlled.

Front 6

Operationalisation

Back 6

Variables must be put in a form which is directly measurable e.g. rating happiness on a scale 1-5.

Front 7

Field Experiment

Back 7

IV is manipulated by experimenter.

Experiment is done in participants' natural environment.

Front 8

Quasi Experiment

Back 8

The experimenter does not have control over the IV as it is a preexisting condition e.g. male and female, young and old.

Front 9

Natural Experiment

Back 9

The experimenter does not have control over the IV as it is a naturally occurring change.

Front 10

Ecological Validity

Back 10

The extent to which the results of a study are able to be applied to real-life settings.

Front 11

Demand Characteristics

Back 11

The participant guesses the aim of the experiment and changes their behaviour to produce the result that the experiment is looking for.

Front 12

Social Desirability Bias

Back 12

The participant acts or answers questions in a way that will be viewed favorably by others e.g. over-reporting 'good behaviour' or under-reporting 'bad behaviour'.

Front 13

Researcher Effect

Back 13

Where a researcher's cognitive bias causes them to influence the behaviour of the participant.

Front 14

Null Hypothesis

Back 14

A hypothesis which predicts there will be no difference/relationships.

The IV has no effect on the DV.

There is no relationship between the two co-variables.

DV, IV, IV

Front 15

Alternative Hypothesis

Back 15

A hypothesis that predicts there will be a difference/relationship; the IV will have an effect on the DV.

Front 16

Directional Hypothesis (1 tailed)

Back 16

A type of alternative hypothesis. Predicts the direction of the effect or difference. IV, DV, IV

Front 17

Non-directional Hypothesis (2 tailed)

Back 17

A type of alternative hypothesis. Predicts that there will be a difference, but doesn't give direction. DV, IV, IV

Front 18

Sample

Back 18

A group of participants that are picked to represent the target population. They should give equal representation.

Front 19

Target Population

Back 19

The entire group of individuals categorized by characteristics or things in common e.g. students, UK citizens, car owners.

Front 20

Biased Sample

Back 20

A sample which doesn't give the target population equal representation e.g. students in a study about global population.

Front 21

Random Sampling

Back 21

Every member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected e.g. putting names in a hat.

Front 22

Opportunity Sampling

Back 22

Selecting participants that are available at the time e.g. a university using students as participants.

Front 23

Volunteer Sampling

Back 23

Volunteers determine their own involvement in the study e.g. responding to an advert.

Front 24

Stratified Sampling

Back 24

The target population is divided in to important subcategories e.g. male and female, the sample is them picked proportionally.

Front 25

Systematic Sampling

Back 25

The sample is obtained by selecting every nth person in the target population.

Front 26

Research Design

Back 26

The strategies that you choose for the collection, measurement and analysis of data.

Front 27

Independent Groups Design

Back 27

Different participants used in each condition. Participants are randomly assigned to either condition.

Front 28

Repeated Groups Design

Back 28

The same participants experience both conditions.

Front 29

Matched Pairs Design

Back 29

Participants are different in both conditions. Participants are assessed and paired with a participant of equal capability who will be placed in the other condition.

Front 30

Order Effects

Back 30

Results may change depending on the order participants experience each condition. Practice effect - results may improve due to practice. Fatigue effect - participants may get bored in the 2nd condition.

Front 31

Counterbalancing

Back 31

Half of participants will do condition A before B, the other half will do condition B before A. This reduces the risk of order effects.

Front 32

Participant Variables

Back 32

Extraneous variables related to the characteristics and abilities of individual participants.

Front 33

Correlation

Back 33

A measure of the strength of the relationship between two co-variables.

Front 34

Co-variables

Back 34

There is no determined independent or dependant variable. Neither variable is set or controlled by the researcher.

Front 35

Positive Correlation

Back 35

Both variables increase and decrease together e.g. as x increases, y increases.

Front 36

Negative Correlation

Back 36

As one variable increases, the other variable decreases.

Front 37

Correlation Coefficient

Back 37

A number ranging from -1 to 1 that describes the strength of the relationship. -1 is negative, +1 is positive and 0 is no correlation.

Front 38

Naturalistic Observation

Back 38

No variables in the environment are controlled. Involves observing subjects in their natural environment.

Front 39

Controlled Observation

Back 39

Conditions and variables in the environment are controlled by the researcher. This may be done in a Lab.

Front 40

Overt Observation

Back 40

Participants may be aware that they are being observed however, researchers may try to be unobtrusive.

Front 41

Covert Observation

Back 41

Participants may be unaware that they are being observed.

Front 42

Participant Observation

Back 42

The researcher is a member of the group that is being observed. They may have infiltrated the group.

Front 43

Non-participant Observation

Back 43

The researcher is not a part of the group being observed. They are watching their behaviour.

Front 44

Behaviour Checklist

Back 44

The observer should have a list of behaviour to look for. This ensures that observers look for the same thing as different observers may have different interpretations on behaviour.

Front 45

Inter-observer Reliability

Back 45

The degree to which different observers agree.

Front 46

Time Sampling

Back 46

Observer records what behaviour occurs at certain time intervals e.g. facial expression every minute.

Front 47

Event Sampling

Back 47

Recording how many times a certain behaviour occurs within a set amount of time e.g. number of smiles in 1 hour.

Front 48

Observer Effect

Back 48

When subjects change their behaviour because they are aware that an observer is present.

Front 49

Questionnaire Survey

Back 49

A self-report technique.

Asking participants about their attitudes, behaviour or intention.

Front 50

Open Question

Back 50

The researcher does not restrict the range of answers.

Participants can express what they think in their own words.

Front 51

Closed Question

Back 51

The researcher determines the range of answers.

Participants must select their answers from a list of given options.

Front 52

Filler Question

Back 52

Irrelevant questions set to hide the true intention of the study, this is done to attempt to reduce the affects of demand characteristics.

Front 53

Lie Detection Question

Back 53

A question to determine whether social desirability bias may be affecting the results of the questionnaire.

Front 54

Qualitative Data

Back 54

Information about something that can't be measured.

Front 55

Quantitative Data

Back 55

Data that can be measured and put in numerical form.

Front 56

Interview

Back 56

The researcher collects information from the participants directly in an interview. This can be done over the phone or face to face.

Front 57

Structured Interview

Back 57

Pre-determined questions are asked in a set order. Every interview should have an identical 'script'.

Front 58

Interview Schedule

Back 58

A set of prepared questions standardised so that each interviewee gets asked the questions in the same order.

Front 59

Unstructured Interview

Back 59

Only the topic is predetermined, there are no set questions. This is more like a conversation and allows the interviewer to ask for more detail.

Front 60

Semi-structured Interview

Back 60

A pre-determined set of open questions which allow the interviewer to get detailed answers.

Front 61

Interviewer Effect

Back 61

The interviewer's qualities or behaviour could lead to social desirability bias or skewed answers.

Front 62

Interviewer Bias

Back 62

Characteristics of the participants may lead to the interviewer giving subconscious cues resulting in biased responses.

Front 63

Social Desirability Bias

Back 63

When someone acts or responds to a question in a way that will be viewed favourably by others.

Front 64

BPS Ethical Guidelines

Back 64

(The British Psychological Society) Guidelines to make sure there is consideration of what is acceptable or appropriate behaviour in the pursuit of a personal or scientific goal.

Front 65

Informed Consent

Back 65

The participant gives consent after being fully informed of the risks involved in the study

Front 66

Debriefing

Back 66

After the experiment is completed participants are debriefed. They are told about every aspect of the study.

Front 67

Confidentiality

Back 67

Participants must remain anonymous unless they give consent to be named. Normally assigned a number or a code instead of a name.

Front 68

Protection From Harm

Back 68

Participants must not be put at risk of physical or psychological harm. Participants must be given support if they request it.

Front 69

Privacy

Back 69

The participant should have full control over what information is given to the researcher and published in the study.

Front 70

Reliability

Back 70

Results are reliable if they are consistent or replicated in a repeat experiment.

Front 71

Confirmation Bias

Back 71

The tendency to notice information that confirms one's preexisting beliefs whilst ignoring alternative information.

Front 72

Cognitive Bias

Back 72

Individuals form their own perception of reality, which may dictate their behaviour or lead to inaccurate or illogical judgement.