Psychology As - Research Methods

Front 1

Extraneous variables

Back 1

Nuisance variables that make it more difficult to detect a significant effect. Have an effect on the DV, but do not vary systematically with the IV and so do not act as an alternative IV.

Hint 1

Nuisance

Front 2

Operationalise

Back 2

Ensuring that variables are in a form that can be easily tested.

Hint 2

E.g. number of hours of sleep per night in a week

Front 3

Standardised procedures

Back 3

A set of procedures that are the same for all participants in order to be able to repeat the study.

Hint 3

Includes standardised instructions

Front 4

Hypothesis

Back 4

Testable statement about the assumed relationship between variables.

Hint 4

IV and DV

Front 5

Confounding variables

Back 5

Vary systematically with the IV and so can become an alternative IV, meaning that the change to the DV may be due to a confounding variable.

Hint 5

E.g. time of day, noise level

Front 6

Situational variables

Back 6

Error that affects all participants consistently, and so affects the DV consistently.

Hint 6

May be due to a failure to counterbalance the order of conditions, for example.

Front 7

Participant variables

Back 7

Error does not affect everyone, is on a personal level.

Hint 7

E.g. gender or state of mind

Front 8

Mundane realism

Back 8

The extent to which the features of a study imitate real life.

Hint 8

Links to generalisability

Front 9

Generalisation

Back 9

When participants know they are being studied or the material/environment lack mundane realism = study cannot be applied to real life.

Hint 9

Links to external validity

Front 10

Internal validity

Back 10

The degree to which an observed effect was due to the experimental manipulation rather than other factors such as extraneous/confounding variables.

Hint 10

Links to relationship between IV and DV

Front 11

External validity

Back 11

The degree to which a research finding can be generalised.

Hint 11

Links to ecological, population and historical validity

Front 12

Ecological validity

Back 12

Generalisation to other settings

Front 13

Population validity

Back 13

Generalisation to other groups of people.

Front 14

Historical validity

Back 14

Generalisation over time.

Front 15

Validity

Back 15

Refers to whether an observed effect is a genuine one.

Front 16

Directional hypothesis

Back 16

States the direction of the predicted difference between 2 conditions or 2 groups of participants.

Hint 16

E.g. As age increases, the person's memory declines

Front 17

Non-directional hypothesis

Back 17

Predicts that there will simply be a difference between 2 conditions, without stating the direction.

Hint 17

Opposite to directional hypothesis

Front 18

Pilot study

Back 18

A small-scale trial run of a study to test any aspects of the design, with a view to making improvements.

Front 19

Confederate

Back 19

An individual in a study who is not a real participant and has been instructed how to behave by the investigator.

Hint 19

In cahoots with the investigator

Front 20

Repeated measures

Back 20

All participants receive all levels of the IV.

Hint 20

Everyone is equal

Front 21

Independent groups

Back 21

Participants are placed in separate groups, each group does one level of the IV.

Hint 21

Different groups

Front 22

Matched pairs

Back 22

Participants matched on key characteristics relevant to the study, put into pairs, one part of the pair experiences 1 condition, the other experiences the other condition.

Hint 22

Pairing on characteristics

Front 23

Counterbalancing

Back 23

Each condition is tested first or second in equal amounts.

Hint 23

E.g. Group 1 = AB, Group 2 = BA

Front 24

Order effects

Back 24

Due to repeated measures, extraneous variable arising from order in which conditions are tested.

Hint 24

E.g. practice, fatigue or boredom effect

Front 25

Random allocation

Back 25

Participants placed in different conditions through random techniques. Combats effects of participant variables not being controlled in independent groups.

Hint 25

E.g. random number generator

Front 26

Lab experiment

Back 26

Carried out in controlled conditions, with an IV and DV, the IV is manipulated by the researcher.

Hint 26

Good internal validity, low ecological validity, causal relationships demonstrated

Front 27

Field experiment

Back 27

Controlled but conducted outside of a laboratory, IV still manipulated by researcher and may be contrived, more natural experiment.

Hint 27

Lower internal validity, higher ecological validity, causal relationships demonstrated

Front 28

Natural experiment

Back 28

IV not manipulated directly and varies naturally, DV recorded and may be measured in a lab. Causal relationships can only be tentatively drawn.

Hint 28

No random allocation or manipulation of IV, sample studied may have unique characteristics

Front 29

Quasi experiment

Back 29

IV is not actually a variable, it is an already existing condition e.g. age, researcher records effect on DV. An 'almost' experiment. Causal relationships can only be tentatively drawn.

Hint 29

No random allocation or manipulation of IV, sample studied may have unique characteristics

Front 30

Demand characteristics

Back 30

A cue that makes the participants unconsciously aware of the aims of the study.

Hint 30

Creates behavioural expectations

Front 31

Investigator effects/bias

Back 31

Anything the investigator does that has an effect on a participant's performance in a study other than what was intended. This includes direct (interaction with participant) and indirect effects (due to design of experiment).

Hint 31

Minimised by single or double blind designs

Front 32

Single blind design

Back 32

The participant is not made aware of the research aims and/or what condition they are in. This prevents participants from seeking cues about aims and reacting to them.

Hint 32

Helps minimise demand characteristics

Front 33

Double blind design

Back 33

Both participant and the person conducting the experiment are 'blind' to the aims and/or hypotheses.

Hint 33

Minimises demand characteristics and investigator effects

Front 34

Opportunity sample

Back 34

Participants selected from those most easily available at the time of the study.

Hint 34

Easy to do, but bias

Front 35

Random sample

Back 35

Participants selected using a random technique, e.g. random number generator, so that every member of the population being tested has an equal chance of being selected.

Hint 35

Unbiased, but time-consuming

Front 36

Stratified sample

Back 36

Participants selected by identifying subgroups according to their frequency within the population. Participants are then selected randomly from the subgroups.

Hint 36

Proportional, unbiased and representative, but time-consuming

Front 37

Systematic sample

Back 37

Participants selected by selecting every nth person. This can be a random sample if the first person selected is random.

Hint 37

Unbiased, but is not truly random

Front 38

Volunteer sample

Back 38

Self-selection sample of participants that volunteer for the study. E.g. response to an advert.

Hint 38

Variety of participants, but volunteer bias (certain type of people volunteer?)

Front 39

Informed consent

Back 39

Participants given comprehensive information about the study. Presumptive consent can be given, but is not the same as a real agreement. May give away the aims of the experiment BUT is a basic human right.

Hint 39

Signed consent form, right to withdraw must be available, but participants still may not understand what is involved

Front 40

Deception

Back 40

Participants are not told the true aims of the study. Acceptable when information is withheld (less so if dishonest) BUT prevents informed consent, may cause distrust of future psychologists.

Hint 40

Debriefing is required and right to withhold data, but harm is already done

Front 41

Right to withdraw

Back 41

Participants can stop participating in the study at any point if they feel uncomfortable. Biases sample BUT compensates for situations involving deception.

Hint 41

Part of informed consent, may not feel like an option in some experiments

Front 42

Protection from psychological and physical harm

Back 42

Participants should not experience negative psychological or physical effects. Difficult to guarantee because of unpredictability and risks should be no greater than everyday life.

Hint 42

Researcher can stop study at any time, risk may only be apparent in hindsight