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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

Sample

smaller group of research participants selected from a larger group of research interest

Population

the entire group of research interest from which a sample is drawn

Research hypothesis

a testable predicition of the relationship between two or more variables

Theory

a general explanation of a set of observations about behaviour and/or mental processes which seem to be related

Model

a general explanation of a related set of observations or findings often including a representation in a diagrammatic form

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

Variable

something in which individuals, animals or objects differ among themselves and that can change in amount or kind

Independant variable (IV)

variable that is manipulated in order to test its effects on the dependant variable

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)

Operationalising

defining a variable in terms of the procedures or actions that can be oberved and measured

Experimental group

the group in an experiment who is exposed to the independant variable

Control group

the group in an experiment who is not exposed to the indepentant variable; used for comparison with the experimental group

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

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

Individual participent differences

the unique combination of personal characteristics, abilities and backgrounds each participent brings to an experiment

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)

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

Sampling

process of selecting participants from a population of research intrest

Representative sample

a sample that is approximately the same as the population from which it is drawn in every important participant variable/characteristic

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

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

Convience sampling

sampling procedure involving selection of participants who are readily available; also called opportunity sampling

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

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

Single-bind procedure

participants do not know whether they are in an experimental or a control group

Double-blind procedure

neither the participants nor the researcher interacting with the participants knows which participants are in the experimental or control groups

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)

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

Repeated measures

an experimental research design for which each particpant is in both the experimental and control conditions; also called within participants

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

Cross-sectional study

research method involving selection and comparison of groups of participants on one or more variables of intrest

Case study

an intensive, in-depth investigation of an individual, group, organisation or event

Observational study

collection of data by carefully watching and recording behaviour as it occurs

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

Self-report

a participant's written or spoken responses to questions, statements or instructions presented by the researcher

Questionaire

written set of questions designed to collect self-report data

Interview

questions asked by the researcher to obtain self-report data

Rating scale

fixed-response questions or statements for which participants rank each item by selecting from a number of choices

Data

information collected through research

Primary data

Primary data is original research that is obtained through first-hand investigation

Secondary data

information collected by someone other than the original user who did so for their own purpose

Qualitative data

data (information) involving the 'qualities' or characteristics of a participant's experience of what is being studied

Quantitative data

numerical information on the 'quantity' or amount of what is being studied

Descriptitive statistics

used for analysing, organising, summarising and presenting results

Inferential statistics

used for interpreting and giving meaning to results

Table

an orderly arrangment and display of data in columns and rows

Graph

a pictorial representation of data

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

Line graph

uses points connected by lines to show how one variable changes as another variable changes

Percentage

a statistic that expresses a number as a proportion of 100

Measure of central tendancy

score that indicates the central value of a set of scores

Mean

the arithmetical average of all the individual scores in a set of scores

Measure of variation

score that indicates how widely scores are distributed or spread around the central point; also called variablity

Standard deviation

statistic that summarises how far scores within a set of scores spread out, or 'deviate' from the mean of those scores

Conclusion

a decision about what the result obtained from a research study mean

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

Reliability

the extent to which the results obtained from research are consistant

Validity

the extent to which a research study has produced results that accurately measured what is claimed to have measured

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

Ethnics

standards that guide individuals to identify good, desirable or acceptable behaviour

Research merit

research that is worthwhile and conducted appropriately to achieve the aims

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

Beneficence

in relation to research ethnics, the potential benefits of the research to participants or the wider community

Justice

in relation to researtch ethnics, the use of fair procedures and ensuring fair distribution of the costs and benefits of the reasearch

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

Reporting conventions

well-established and widely recognised standards about how a report is written and presented