Comp2 psychology key terms

• Primary research/data = information that is collected first hand by the researcher
• secondary researcher/data = information that is taken from secondary sources, for example, literature reviews including books, journal articles, the internet etc.
• Quantitative data = numerical data, information that represents how much, how long, how many, etc there are of something
• Qualitative data = non-numerical data, information in words that’s cannot be counted or qualified
• participant variables = differing individual characteristics can impact how a participant responds in an experiment. Can become confounding if not controlled
• extraneous variable = a variable that does not have an impact on the study, but it eventually can become confounding if not controlled considered as a more “nuisance variable”
• confounding variable = any variable that is not the IV but can still effect the DV. These results therefore confound the study.
• Situational variables = factors in the environment that can unintentionally affect the results of the study. Such as, lighting, noise and temperature - these can become confounding variables if not controlled.
• Demand characteristics = if participants know they are taking part in the study they will act accordingly to support the aim of the research, this will make the research invalid.
• Social Desirability bias = Participants who are taking Part in a study that are aware of it will answer questions in ways that will make themselves look good in other peoples eyes, regardless of the accuracy of their answers.
• Internal validity = concerned with what goes on inside the study. Did the research measure what it set out to measure. Findings are only valid if methods used to gather data measures what is set out to measure. The findings are accurate, the effects on the DV are caused by the IV
• Population validity = if the results cannot be generalised to the larger population, the study lacts population validity. This happens when its biased, not representative to the general population.
• Ecological validity = if a study has ecological validity it means you can generalise the findings from the research setting to real-life situations. Research that has low mundane realism will be in low ecological validity.
• historical validity = if the results can be generalised to different time periods.
• internal reliability = the consistency within the method. The extent to wick the method of measure is kept consistent. Should have standardised procedure.
• External reliability = consistency overtime. Must be the same each time the experiment is conducted,
• Standardised procedures = a set of procedures that’s are the same for all participants to tell them how to perform the task, this makes sure that all the participants experience the research in the same way.
• test re-test method = this is used to assess external validity.

  • participants are given questions/ interviewed
  • they are given the same questions at a later date when they have had time to forget
  • the answers should be compared and should be the same
• The split-half method = this tests internal reliability.

  • participants are given questions
  • the answers are split, for example into odd and even Questions
  • the two halves of the quest ions will be compared, and they should similar at the end
• Subjective = something that can be based on opinion and feeling, not necessarily fact
• objective = based on observable fact and something that can only be proved by observation.
• Probability value 


  A numerical value that represents the likelihood that results are due to a real difference/correlation and not due to chance factors
• what may researchers use 0.05 probability over 0.01

  Because unsung 0,05 suggests that findings are likely to be 5% chance, where as 0.01 is even lower at 1% chance, many times making it to strict for researchers.
• sampling frame 


  a group or population that is selected when studying a whole target population is too unrealistic, like conducting a study on the whole population of birmingham
• Difference between reliability and validity, is that reliability is based on consistency and validity is based on how well a test measures what it is supposed to measure
• Pilot study 


  A small scale trail run of the investigation which takes place before the real one is conducted. This is to figure out any issues with the research before they conduct it on a wider scale. allows them to gain the funding for the study (like a pilot episode of a series)
• Hypothesis 


  A testable statement that makes a prediction about the results of a study
• Experiment 


  Has at least one IV manipulated by the experimenter

  at least one DV that is measured

  high levels of control over extraneous variables

  iv effects the dv - also have standardised procedures
• Lab experiments 


  Conducted in a controlled environments

  the IV is manipulated by researcher and the DV is measured

  participants know they are taking part, even if they do not know the true aims
• Field experiment 


  Is conducted in a more natural And realistic environment, like a school or hospital…..

  the IV is manipulated and the DV measured

  participants do not always know they are taking part
• Quasi experiment 


  Can take place in the field or lab

  the IV is not manipulated as it is naturally occurring, and that DV is measured

  the participants may or may not know that they are taking part
• Threats to internal validity 


  Confounding variables, researcher Bias, participant and situational variables, demand characteristics, social desirability bias, mundane realism
• researcher bias 


  the person conducting the study intentionally or unintentionally influences the results based on their own expected outcome
• Mundane realism 


  The degree to witch the research is similar to events that occur in real life
• report writing

  1. abstract
  2. introduction
  3. methodology
  4. procedures
  5. findings
  6. discussion / conclusion
• Abstracts 


  Brief summary of the research should include aims, participants and findings
• introduction 


  should include the reasons as to why this study was conducted in the first place and any relevant previous studies an literature
• methodology 


  where the research design chosen is explained in detail, like the sampling methods used an why
• procedure 


  the steps the researcher took to generate the findings explained
• findings 


  this is where the findings are discussed and explained, any relevant data will be included