definitions year 1

• labe experiments - conducted under controlled conditions, in which the researcher manipulates the independent variable (IV) to measure the effect on the dependent variable (DV).
• Field experiments - manipulated variables (independent variables) have on measured variables (dependent variables), i.e. causal effects. Take place in a natural setting e.g sports event of public transport
• Natural experiment -Natural experiments are carried out in natural conditions, however the research is unable to manipulate the IV and therefore examines the effect of a naturally occurring variable on the dependent variable (DV).
• Quasi-experiment - Quasi-experiments contain a naturally occurring IV. However, in a quasi-experiment the naturally occurring IV is a difference between people that already exists (i.e. gender, age). The researcher examines the effect of this variable on the dependent variable (DV)
• Naturalistic observation - An observation study conducted in the environment where the behaviour would normally occur.
• controlled observation - An observation study where the researchers control some variables - often takes place in laboratory setting.
• covert observation - the participants do not know their behaviour is being observed.
• Overt observation -  participants given their permission for their behaviour to be observed.
• participant observation - researcher participates in the research setting and observes the behaviour of the participants
• Non-participant observation - the researcher does not take part in the study but observes the behaviour of the participants
• Self report techniques - describe methods of gathering data where participants provide information about themselves without interference from the experimenter.
• questionnaire - a document that is used to gather information from a sample of people, usually by asking them questions
• interview - a conversation between two or more people, usually in a formal setting, in which the interviewer tries to obtain information from the interviewee and can be structured or unstructured
• structured interview - they interviewer has set questions that they ask the interviewee
• unstructured interview - like a conversation and they don't has specific questions they ask so varies between intervewees
• correlation - A correlation checks to see if two sets of numbers are related
• co-variables - The variables investigated in a correlation
• positive correlation - A positive correlation occurs when two variables are related and as one variable increases/decreases the other also increases/decreases
• negative correlation - A negative correlation occurs when two variables are related and as one variable increases the other decreases
• Aim - a statement of a studies purpose
• Hypothesis - states a prediction of what you think the outcome is going to be, either directional or non directional hypothesis
• experimental hypothesis - predicts what change(s) will occur in the dependent variable when the independent variable is manipulated
• Alternative hypothesis - states that there is a relationship between the two variables being studied (one variable has an effect on the other). It states that the results are not due to chance and that they are significant in terms of supporting the theory being investigated
• directional (one tailed) hypothesis - A directional hypothesis is a one-tailed hypothesis that states the direction of the difference or relationship because their has been previous research
• non-directional hypothesis -  is a two-tailed hypothesis that does not predict the direction of the difference or relationship 
• random sample - This method gives every member of the target group an equal chance of being selected for the sample as names are picked out of a hat
• opportunity sample - Participants who are both accessible and willing to take part are targeted
• volunteer sample - ere the sample consists of people who have volunteered to be in the study
• systematic sample - A systematic method is chosen for selecting from a target group, e.g. every fourth person in a list could be used in the sample
• stratified sampling - the sampler divides or 'stratifies' the target group into sections, each showing a key characteristic which should be present in the final sample. Then each of those sections is sampled individually. The sample thus created should contain members from each key characteristic in a proportion representative of the target population.
• bias - to influence, typically in an unfair direction. In the context of sampling, it means that certain groups may be under- or over-represented in the sample.
• generalised - says a group may be affected because it was shown in another group so generalise men to women even if they only have men in sample
• Demand characteristics -  the participants try to make sense of the research and act accordingly to support the aim of the research. 
• representative sample - A sample that that closely matched the target population as a whole in terms of key variables and characteristics
• Naturalistic observation - An observation study conducted in the environment where the behaviour would normally occur.
• controlled observation - An observation study where the researchers control some variables - often takes place in laboratory setting
• Covert observation - Also known as an undisclosed observation as the participants do not know their behaviour is being observed
• participant observation - researcher participates in the research setting and observes the behaviour of the participants
• non participant observation - researcher is not involved in the study, but observes and records the behaviour of participants
• behavioural categories - When conducting structured observations, psychologists have to decide which specific behaviours should be examined. They need to operationalise the behaviour through the use of behavioural categories. This involves breaking the target behaviour (e.g. aggression) into components that can be observed and measured (e.g. hitting, kicking).