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PSYCHOLOGY
Research methods
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Created by
Harsha Joseph
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Cards (100)
Aim
A general expression of what the
researcher
intends to investigate
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Hypothesis
A precise and
operationalised
statement
about the assumed
relationship
between
variables
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Directional Hypothesis
States the direction of the
predicted
difference
between two
conditions
or two groups of participants
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Non-directional
Hypothesis
Predicts simply that there is a
difference
between two conditions or two groups of participants
without
stating the
direction
of the difference
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Independent Variable
Some event that either
naturally
varies
or is directly
manipulated
by an experiment in order to test it's
effect
on another variable
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Dependent Variable
A
measurable
outcome of the action of the
independent variable
in an experiment
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Operationalise
Ensuring that
variables
are in a form that can be easily
measured.
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Experimental method
A researcher causes the
independent variable
to vary and records the effect of the
IV
on the dependent variable. The DV must be
operationalised
.
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Control
(Refers to) The extent to which any
variable
is held
constant
or
regulated
by a researcher
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Extraneous Variables
'Nuisance' variables that do not vary
systematically
with the
IV
. A researcher may control some of these.
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Confounding Variable
Change systematically with the
IV
so we cannot be sure if any observed change in the
DV
is due to the
CV
or the IV. CVs must be
controlled.
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Demand Characteristics
Refers to any
cue
from the
researcher
or research situation that may reveal the
aim
of the study
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Investigator Effect
Any effect of the
investigator's
behaviour on the
outcome
of the
research
(the
DV
)
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Randomisation
The use of
chance
when designing
investigations
to control for the effects of
bias
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Standardisation
Using exactly the same
formalised
procedures
for all
ps
in a research study
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Control groups
Control groups are used for the purpose of setting a
comparison.
They act as a
'baseline'
and help establish
causation.
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Single Blind Design
A
ps
doesn't know the
aims
of the study so that
demand
characteristics
are
reduced.
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Double Blind Design
Both
ps
and
researcher
don't know the
aims
of the study to reduce
demand
characteristics
and
investigator
effects.
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Participant Variables
Individual differences
.
Differences
among participants, overcome by a large
sample size
which dilutes any extremes
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Situational Variables
People act differently in different situations.
Time of day
,
Lab setting
vs
Natural setting
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Validity
(Refers to) Whether an
observed
effect is a
genuine
one
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External Validity
The degree to which a research finding can be
generalised
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Ecological Validity
A type of
External Validity
-
generalising
to other settings
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Population Validity
A type of
External Validity
-
generalising
to other groups of people
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Temporal Validity
A type of
External Validity
-
generalising
to other
times
/over time
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Cultural Validity
A type of
External Validity
-
generalising
to other cultures
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Internal Validity
The degree to which an
observed
effect
was due to the
experimental
manipulation
rather than other factors such as
extraneous
or
confounding
variables
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Mundane Realism
(Refers to) How a study mirrors the
real world
. The research environment is
realistic
to the degree to which experiences encountered in the research environment will occur in the
real
world.
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Independent Groups
One group does one
condition
the other group does the other condition. Each ps experiences
one
condition and they're
randomly allocated
to the groups.
✔️no
order effects
✔️no
demand characteristics
✖️more
ps
✖️ps
variables
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Repeated Measures
Participants
doing both
conditions
. To avoid
order effects
conditions should be
counterbalanced
.
AB-BA
✔️less
ps
✔️no
ps
variables
✖️order
effects
✖️demand characteristics
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Matched Pairs
Individuals matched up by
characteristic
(eg by
IQ
) and separated with one half of the pair in each group to overcome
individual differences
✔️less
ps
variables
✔️no
order effects
✖️more
ps
✖️matching
is not
perfect
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Laboratory Experiment
conducted in a
lab
, a highly
controlled
environment
✔️ highly controlled evs and dvs
✔️ can be easily
replicated
✖️hard to
generalise
✖️demand characteristics
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Field Experiment
A
natural
setting.
The researcher can control the
IV
.
✔️Higher
external validity
✔️No
demand
characteristics
bc ps don't know they are taking part in a study
✖️Difficult
to control
CVs
✖️Ethical
issues
bc ps don't know they are taking part in a study
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Natural Experiment
IV
cannot be
manipulated
because it
naturally
exists
DV
naturally occurring
✔️an
ethical
option
✔️high
external validity
✖️natural
events
occur
rarely
✖️ps
are not
randomly
allocated
so there is a chance of
ps
variables
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Quasi-Experiment
The
IV
is based on
existing
differences
(eg age or gender) so can't be
controlled
DV
naturally occurring
✔️High
control
✔️Comparisons
can be made btwn ppl (eg ppl with and without autism)
✖️Ps
are
not
randomly
allocated
so chance of ps variables
✖️Causal
relationships
not demonstrated
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Population
The large group of ppl that a researcher is interested in studying
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Sample
It is usually not possible to include all members of the
population
in the study, so a
smaller
group
is selected - the
sample.
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Generalisation
The
sample
that is drawn should be
representative
of the
population
so generalisations can be made
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Bias
The
majority
of samples are
biased
in that certain groups may be over or
under-represented
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Opportunity Sample
Recruit people who are most
convenient
or most
available
(eg people walking by you in the street or students at school)
✔️Easiest
method
(use the first suitable participants you find).
✔️Less
time
to locate your samples
✖️Inevitably
biased
(sample drawn from small part of population)
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