psychology research methods

• Experimental method


  The manipulation of an independent variable to ema the effect on the dependent variable
• Aim 


  A general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate the purpose of the study
• Hypothesis 


  A clear precise testable statement that states the relation between variables to be tested
• Directional hypothesis

  Stares the d direction of relationship
• non directional hypothesis

  does not state the direction of the difference or relationship
• variables


  anything that can vary or change within an investigation variables are generally used in experiments to determine if changes in one thing cameras or change to another
• independent variable


  some aspect of the experimental situation that is manipulated by the researcher or changes naturally
• dependent variable


  The variable that is measured by the researcher
• operationalisation


  Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured
• extraneous variable


  any variable other than the independent variable that may affect the dependent variable if it is not controlled
• confounding variables


  A confounding variable various systematically with the independent variable
• demand characteristics


  any cues from a researcher that may indicate the study aims to a participant
• investigator effects


  any effect of the investigators behaviour on the research outcome
• randomisation


  The use of chance methods to control the effects of bias when designing materials and the order of conditions
• standardisation


  using exactly the same formalised procedures and instructions for all participants in a research study
• pilot study


  A small scale study done prior to the investigation to test if it is working
• experimental design


  The different ways in which participants can be organised in relation to experimental conditions
• independent group design


  participants allocated to different groups where each one represents one experimental condition
• repeated measures 


  an experimental design where the same participants participate in each independent variable condition
• matched pairs design


  pairs of participants are first matched on some variables that may affect the dependent variable. One member of the part is designed to condition at the other condition B
• Random allocation


  an attempt to control for participant variables in an independent group design which insures that each participant has the same chance of being on one condition
• counterbalancing


  an attempt to control the effects of order in a repeated measures design half the participants experience the conditions in one order the others the opposite
• Laboratory experiment


  an experiment that takes place in a controlled environment within which the research and manipulates the independent variable and records the changes on the dependent variable
• Field experiment


  an experiment that takes place in a natural setting where the research a manipulates the independent variable and records the effect on the dependent variable
• natural experiment


  An experiment where the change in the independent variable is not brought about by the researcher but would have happened even if the researcher wasn’t there. The research is still records that effect on the dependent variable.
• quasi experiment


  A study that is almost an experiment but lacks key ingredients the independent variable is not determined by anyone and the variable simply exist
• population


  A group of people who are the focus of the research as interest from which a small sample is taken
• sample


  A group of people who take part in a research investigation a sample is drawn from a research population and should be representative of the population
• sampling techniques


  The method used to select people from the population
• Bias


  when certain people are over/under represented in a selected sample
• generalisation


  The extent to which findings and conclusions from a particular investigation can be broadly applied to the population
• ethical issues


  they arise when a conflict exists between the rights of participants and research studies and the goals of research to provide representative data
• British psychological Society code of ethics


  A quasilegal document produced by the British psychological society that instruct psychologists what behaviour is/isn’t acceptable
• naturalistic observation


  watching and recording behaviour in the setting it would normally occur
• controlled observation


  watching a recording behaviour within a structured environment
• covert observation


  participants behaviour is watched and recorded without their knowledge or consent
• overt observation


  participants behaviour is watched and recorded with their cons
• participant observation


  The research becomes a member of the group whose behaviour they are watching
• non-participant observation


  The research of remains outside of the group whose behaviour they are watching and recording
• behavioural categories


  when a target behaviour is broken up into components that are observable and measurable