Research methods alevel

• What method do psychologists use to identify the effect of one variable on others?

  The experimental method
• What does the experimental method aim to establish?

  Cause and effect relationships
• What is a key feature of scientific research?

  Establishing cause and effect
• What is required for a study to be classified as a true experiment?

  Control and experimental conditions with random assignment
• What does the researcher manipulate in an experiment?

  The independent variable (IV)
• What is the purpose of keeping everything else constant in an experiment?

  To ensure valid comparisons
• What can be concluded if there is a significant difference in results between two groups?

  The IV caused a change in the DV
• What are the two main types of variables in an experiment?

  Independent variable (IV) and dependent variable (DV)
• What are the types of experiments in psychology?

  • Laboratory experiments
  • Field experiments
  • Natural experiments
  • Quasi experiments
• What characterizes laboratory experiments?

  Conducted in controlled environments
• What is a strength of laboratory experiments?

  High control over extraneous variables
• What is a weakness of laboratory experiments?

  Possible demand characteristics
• What do field experiments involve?

  Manipulating IV in real-life settings
• What is a strength of field experiments?

  High ecological validity
• What is a weakness of field experiments?

  Less control over extraneous variables
• What defines a natural experiment?

  IV varies naturally without manipulation
• What is a strength of natural experiments?

  High external validity
• What is a weakness of natural experiments?

  Lack of control over extraneous variables
• What characterizes quasi-experiments?

  IV is a difference between existing groups
• What is a strength of quasi-experiments?

  Can study differences in people
• What is a weakness of quasi-experiments?

  Participants cannot be randomly allocated
• What is the independent variable (IV)?

  A variable manipulated by the researcher
• What is the dependent variable (DV)?

  The variable measured by the researcher
• What is the purpose of the control condition?

  Provides a baseline measure of behavior
• What is the experimental condition?

  The condition with researcher manipulation
• What is a non-directional hypothesis?

  States there will be a difference without direction
• What is the purpose of writing a hypothesis?

  To predict the outcome of the study
• What factors should be clear before writing a hypothesis?

  1. Identify the IV and DV
  2. Determine how the IV is manipulated
  3. Specify how the DV is measured
  4. Decide if the hypothesis is one-tailed or two-tailed
  5. Write the hypothesis
• What is operationalization in research?

  Clearly defining variables for measurement
• What is the aim of a study?

  A general statement of the research purpose
• What is the difference between an aim and a hypothesis?

  Aim states purpose; hypothesis predicts outcome
• What does the alternative/experimental hypothesis state?

  There will be a difference between conditions
• What does the null hypothesis predict?

  No significant difference due to chance
• What is the key to an experiment?

  Manipulating the independent variable (IV)
• What are extraneous variables?

  Variables that may affect the dependent variable
• What are confounding variables?

  Uncontrolled variables that affect the dependent variable
• What are demand characteristics?

  Participants change behavior due to cues
• What are investigator effects?

  Researcher's behavior influences the outcome
• How can extraneous/confounding variables be minimized?

  • Randomisation: Use chance to control bias
  • Standardisation: Same procedures for all participants
• What are the three experimental designs?

  1. Independent groups
  2. Repeated measures
  3. Matched pairs