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67 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Research method |
a particular way of conducting a research study or investigation to collect data on a topic of interest |
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Sample |
smaller group of research participants selected from a larger group of research interest |
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Population |
the entire group of research interest from which a sample is drawn |
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Research hypothesis |
a testable predicition of the relationship between two or more variables |
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Theory |
a general explanation of a set of observations about behaviour and/or mental processes which seem to be related |
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Model |
a general explanation of a related set of observations or findings often including a representation in a diagrammatic form |
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Experiment |
a reserch method in which a researcher tests whether one variable(s) influences or causes a change to another variable(s) under strictly controlled conditions |
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Variable |
something in which individuals, animals or objects differ among themselves and that can change in amount or kind |
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Independant variable (IV) |
variable that is manipulated in order to test its effects on the dependant variable |
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Dependant variable (DV) |
the variable in an experiment the researcher chooses to measure in order to asses the effect(s) of the independant vasriable(s) |
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Operationalising |
defining a variable in terms of the procedures or actions that can be oberved and measured |
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Experimental group |
the group in an experiment who is exposed to the independant variable |
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Control group |
the group in an experiment who is not exposed to the indepentant variable; used for comparison with the experimental group |
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Extraneous variable |
any variable other than the independant variable that can cause a change in the independant variable and therefore affect the result in an unwanted way |
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Cofounding variable |
a varaible other than the independant variable that has had an unwanted effect on the dependant variable, making it impossible to determine which of the variables has produced the predicted change in the dependant variable |
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Individual participent differences |
the unique combination of personal characteristics, abilities and backgrounds each participent brings to an experiment |
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Non-standardised |
research procedures (including instructions) that are not the same for all participants (except for exposure to the independant variable by participants in the experimental group) |
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Placebo effect |
any change in a participant's behaviour due to their belief that they are recieving some kind of experimental treatment and they respond tin accordance with that belief, rather than to the effect of the IV |
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Sampling |
process of selecting participants from a population of research intrest |
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Representative sample |
a sample that is approximately the same as the population from which it is drawn in every important participant variable/characteristic |
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Random sampling |
sampling procedure that ensures every member of the population of research intrest has a genuinely equal chance of being selected as a participant |
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Stratified sampling |
a sampling procedure which involves dividing the population to be sampled into different subgroups (strata), then selecting a seperate sample from each subgroup (stratum) in the same proportions as they occur in the population of intrest |
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Convience sampling |
sampling procedure involving selection of participants who are readily available; also called opportunity sampling |
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Random allocation |
procedure used to assign participants to experimental and control groups (or conditions) so that each one has a genuinely equal chance of being placed in any of the groups; ensures uniform distribution of participant characterisics; also called random assignment |
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Counterbalancing |
systematically changing the order of treatments or tasks for participants in a 'balanced' way to 'counter' the unwanted effects on performance of any one order |
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Single-bind procedure |
participants do not know whether they are in an experimental or a control group |
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Double-blind procedure |
neither the participants nor the researcher interacting with the participants knows which participants are in the experimental or control groups |
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Standardised instructions and procedures |
instructions and procedures are the same for all participants (except for variations required for experimental group participants exposed to the IV) |
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Independant groups |
an experimental research design for which each participant is randomly allocated to one or two (or more) entirely separate ('independant') conditions ('groups'); also called between participants |
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Repeated measures |
an experimental research design for which each particpant is in both the experimental and control conditions; also called within participants |
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Matched participants |
an experimental research design for which each participant in one condition 'matches' a participant in the other condition(s) on one or more participant variables of relevance; also called matched groups |
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Cross-sectional study |
research method involving selection and comparison of groups of participants on one or more variables of intrest |
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Case study |
an intensive, in-depth investigation of an individual, group, organisation or event |
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Observational study |
collection of data by carefully watching and recording behaviour as it occurs |
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Naturalistic obervation |
naturally occurring behaviour of intrest is viewed by a researcher in an inconspicuous manner so that the researcher's presence has no influence on the behaviour being observed |
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Self-report |
a participant's written or spoken responses to questions, statements or instructions presented by the researcher |
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Questionaire |
written set of questions designed to collect self-report data |
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Interview |
questions asked by the researcher to obtain self-report data |
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Rating scale |
fixed-response questions or statements for which participants rank each item by selecting from a number of choices |
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Data |
information collected through research |
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Primary data |
Primary data is original research that is obtained through first-hand investigation |
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Secondary data |
information collected by someone other than the original user who did so for their own purpose |
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Qualitative data |
data (information) involving the 'qualities' or characteristics of a participant's experience of what is being studied |
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Quantitative data |
numerical information on the 'quantity' or amount of what is being studied |
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Descriptitive statistics |
used for analysing, organising, summarising and presenting results |
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Inferential statistics |
used for interpreting and giving meaning to results |
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Table |
an orderly arrangment and display of data in columns and rows |
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Graph |
a pictorial representation of data |
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Bar chart |
a graph which uses a series of separate bars or rectangle next to, but not touching one another, so comparisons of different categories of data can be made; also called a bar graph |
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Line graph |
uses points connected by lines to show how one variable changes as another variable changes |
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Percentage |
a statistic that expresses a number as a proportion of 100 |
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Measure of central tendancy |
score that indicates the central value of a set of scores |
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Mean |
the arithmetical average of all the individual scores in a set of scores |
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Measure of variation |
score that indicates how widely scores are distributed or spread around the central point; also called variablity |
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Standard deviation |
statistic that summarises how far scores within a set of scores spread out, or 'deviate' from the mean of those scores |
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Conclusion |
a decision about what the result obtained from a research study mean |
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Generalistaion |
a decision about how widely the findings of a research study can be applied, particulary to other members of the population from which the sample was drawn |
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Reliability |
the extent to which the results obtained from research are consistant |
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Validity |
the extent to which a research study has produced results that accurately measured what is claimed to have measured |
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Internal validity |
the extent to which the results obtained for a study are actually due to the variable(s) that was tested or measured and not some other factor |
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Ethnics |
standards that guide individuals to identify good, desirable or acceptable behaviour |
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Research merit |
research that is worthwhile and conducted appropriately to achieve the aims |
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Integrity |
in Erikson's theory, an individual's sense of satisfaction with their achievements in life and a belief that the experiences and events in one's life have been useful, valuable, meaningful and worthwhile |
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Beneficence |
in relation to research ethnics, the potential benefits of the research to participants or the wider community |
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Justice |
in relation to researtch ethnics, the use of fair procedures and ensuring fair distribution of the costs and benefits of the reasearch |
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Respect for human beings |
in relation to research ethnics, when the researcher takes account of the rights, beliefs, perceptions and cultural backgrounds of all participants |
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Reporting conventions |
well-established and widely recognised standards about how a report is written and presented |