Psychology Chapter 2- Research Methods

Front 1

Standard deviation

Back 1

A summary of how far the scores vary from the mean

Front 2

Population

Back 2

The entire group of research interest

Front 3

Experimental group

Back 3

The group in an experiment who are exposed to the independent variable

Front 4

Quantitative data

Back 4

Numerical information of the quantity or amount of what is being studied

Front 5

Conclusion

Back 5

A judgement about what the results of an investigation mean and making a decision as to whether the hypothesis is supported or rejected

Front 6

Self reports

Back 6

Written or spoken responses to questions statements or instructions presented by the researcher e.g questionnaires, interviews, and rating scales

Front 7

Sample

Back 7

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

Front 8

Experiment

Back 8

A controlled condition used to test whether one variable influences or causes a change in another variable

Front 9

Mean

Back 9

Arithmetical average of all individual scores in a set of scores

Front 10

Control group

Back 10

The group in an experiment who is not exposed to the independent variable

Front 11

Hypothesis

Back 11

A testable prediction of the relationship between two or more variables

Front 12

Sampling

Back 12

The process of selecting participants for a research study

Front 13

Reliability

Back 13

The extent to which the results from a research study are consistent

Front 14

Debriefing

Back 14

Clarifying participants' understanding of the research study after it has been conducted

Front 15

Generalization

Back 15

A judgement about how widely the findings of the research study can be applied to the population of interest

Front 16

Single blind procedure

Back 16

When participants are unaware of which condition they have allocated to in an experiment

Front 17

Case study

Back 17

An in depth investigation of a behavior or event in an individual or small group of people

Front 18

Counterbalancing

Back 18

Process of systematically changing the order of the treatments in a repeated measures design to balance the unwanted effects of performance on any one order

Front 19

Placebo

Back 19

A fake treatment given to a control group of an experiment

Front 20

Random allocation

Back 20

Participants selected for the experiment have an equal chance of being selected for either the control or experimental group

Front 21

Informed consent

Back 21

Participants are given information of the nature and purpose of the research study, including procedures, possible risks, how information will be collected and the right to decline or withdraw from the study

Front 22

Standardized procedures

Back 22

When the directions and explanations given to participants are predetermined and identical and the techniques to collect data are the same

Front 23

Validity

Back 23

The extent to which the procedures used in a research study measured what they weresupposed to measure.

Front 24

Double-blind procedure

Back 24

When participants and the experimenter are unaware of which condition participantshave been allocated to in an experiment.

Front 25

Withdrawal rights

Back 25

Participants are able to leave a study at any time, without having to give a reason fordoing so. This includes removal of individual data collected.

Front 26

Qualitative data

Back 26

Information about the characteristics or the ‘qualities’ of what is being studied.

Front 27

Confidentiality

Back 27

The researcher must not disclose private information about participants

Front 28

Independent groupsdesign

Back 28

An experimental design where participants are allocated to one of two (or more)groups.

Front 29

Confounding variable

Back 29

A variable other than the IV which has had an unwanted effect on the DV, making itimpossible to determine which of the variables has produced a change in the DV

Front 30

Convenience sampling

Back 30

Selecting participants who are readily available without any attempt to make thesample representative of the population.

Front 31

Extraneous variable

Back 31

Any variable other than the IV that can cause an unwanted change in the DV.

Front 32

Repeated measuresdesign

Back 32

A research design where each participant is in both the experimental and controlconditions.

Front 33

Stratified sampling

Back 33

Dividing the population into strata (sub-groups) and then selecting a sample of peoplefrom each stratum in the same proportions as they occur in the population of researchinterest.

Front 34

Individual participantdifferences

Back 34

The unique combination of personal characteristics that each participant in anexperiment has.

Front 35

Random sampling

Back 35

Every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected for a sample

Front 36

Order effects

Back 36

When the results (the DV) are influenced by the specific order in which participantscompleted the control and experimental conditions of an experiment. Only occur in arepeated-measures design.

Front 37

Cross-sectional study

Back 37

Comparing groups of participants on more or more variables at one point in time(usually to study age-related differences)

Front 38

Placebo effect

Back 38

A change in a participant’s behaviour due to a belief that they are receiving anexperimental treatment and therefore respond according to that belief.

Front 39

Matched-participantsdesign

Back 39

Each participants in one condition is paired with a participants in the other condition onone or more relevant variables.

Front 40

Primary data

Back 40

Data collected directly by the researcher for their own specific purpose.

Front 41

p-value

Back 41

The statistic used to determine the probability that the results of an experiment weredue to chance.

Front 42

Observational studies

Back 42

Collection of data which occurs by carefully watching and recording behaviours ofresearch interest.

Front 43

Experimenter effect

Back 43

A change in the participant’s response that is due to the actions, biases or expectationsof the researcher, instead of the effects of the IV.

Front 44

Secondary data

Back 44

Data that was collected by someone else other than the original user for their ownpurpose.