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46 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Theory |
A systematic way of organising and exploring observations. |
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Hypothesis |
A belief about the relationship between two or more variables. |
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Measure |
A variable which provides a concrete way of assessing it. |
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Reliable |
Produces consistent results that does not show much random fluctuation. |
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Valid |
If it accurately assesses the construct it is intended to measure. |
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Experimental Method |
Manipulation of variables to assess cause and effect. |
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Independent Variable |
The variable manipulated by researches. |
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Dependent Variable |
The impact on the way participants respond. |
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Experimental Conditions |
To understand cause and effect researchers change different possible variations in which they compare results. |
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Experimental uses and advantages |
Demonstrates casual relationships, replicability (study can be repeated to see if same findings emerge), maximises control over relevant variables. |
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Experimental Limitations |
Generalisability outside the lab, some complex phenomena can be readily tested using pure experimental methods. |
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Steps of an Experiment |
Step 1: Framing a hypothesis |
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Descriptive Method (Case study, Naturalistic observation and survey research) |
Attempts to describe phenomena as the exist rather than to manipulate variables. |
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Case Study Method |
In depths observations of a small number of cases. |
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Case Study Uses and Advantages |
Describes psychological processes as the occur in individual cases, allows study of complex phenomena, provides data that can be useful in framing an hypothesis. |
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Case Study Limitations |
Generalisability to the population, Replicability (study may not be repeatable), research bias, cannot establish caucation. |
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Naturalistic Observation Method |
In depth observation of a phenomenon as it occurs in nature. |
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Naturalistic Observation Uses and Advantages |
Reveals phenomena as they exist outside the lab, allows study of complex phenomena, provides data that can be useful in framing an hypothesis. |
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Naturalistic Observation Limitations |
Generalisability to the population, observer effects: the presence of an observer may alter behaviour of the participants, replicability, researcher bias and can not establish caucation. |
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Survey Research |
Asking people questions about their attitudes and behaviour etc. |
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Survey Research Uses and Advantages |
Reveals attitudes or self reported behaviours of a large sample of individuals and allows quantification of attitudes or behaviours. |
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Survey Research Limitations |
Self report bias: people may not be able to honestly or accurately and cannot establish caucation. |
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Random Sample |
A sample selected from the general population that does not introduce systematic bias. |
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Correlation Method |
Examines the extent to which two or more variables are related and can be used to predict one another. |
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Correlation Uses and Advantages |
Reveals relationships among variables as they exist outside the lab and Allow quantification of relationships among variables. |
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Correlation Limitations |
Cannot establish Caucation |
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Correlation Coefficient |
Measures the extent to which two variables are related. |
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Positive Correlation |
The higher participants on one variable, the higher they are likely to measure on the other side. |
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Negative Correlation |
The higher participants measure on one variable, the lower they will measure on the other. |
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Zero Correlation |
Unrelated variables, thus can not be used to predict one another. |
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Correlation Matrix |
A table presenting the correlations among a number of variables. |
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Descriptive Statistics |
Allows researchers to summarise data in a readily understandable form. |
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Frequent Distribution |
Shows how frequent participants received each of many possible scores. |
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Measure of Central Tendency |
Provides an index of the way a typical participant responded on a measure. |
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Mean |
The average of the scores of all participants |
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Mode |
The most common score |
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Median |
Is the same score that falls in the middle of the distribution. |
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Variability |
The extend to which participants tend to differ from one another. |
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Standard Deviation |
Describes how much the average participant deviates from the mean. |
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Normal Distribution |
The score of most participants fall in the middle of the bell-shaped distribution and progressively fewer participants have scores at either extremes. |
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Percentile Scores |
Indicate the percentage of scores that fall below the. |
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Statistical Significance |
Help determine whether the results of the study are likely to have occurred simply by chance or whether they reflect true properties of the population. |
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Probability Value (p value) |
Represents the probability that any positive findings obtained were accidental or just a matter of chance. Psychologists accept p values that fall below 0.5 (less then 5%). |
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Effect Size |
Indicates the magnitude of the experimental effect or the strength of a relationship. |
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Chi-squared Test |
Compares the observed data with the results that would be expected by chance and test the likelihood that the difference between observed and expected are accidental. |
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T Test |
A statistical procedure called analysis of variance (ANOVA), which compares the means of two or more groups. Assesses the likelihood that mean differences among groups occurred by chance. |