research methods

• What does hypothesis mean ?

  An idea or explanation that you then test through study and experimentation
• What is an extraneous variable?


  Something that may impact the experiment but is not suppose to
• What is an aim ?

  A general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate; the purpose of the study.
• What is the purpose of an aim ?

  To identify what variables the study is investigating and to explain the outline and purpose of the study
• What is a hypothesis ?


  A clear, precise, testable statement that states the relationship between the variables to be investigated.
• What is a null hypothesis ?

  This ALWAYS predicts that any difference or relationship is down to CHANCE so there is NO significant difference or relationship
• What is operationalisation ?

  Explaining precisely how IV can be manipulated and how DV can be measured.
• What is a directional hypothesis?

  A one tailed hypothesis - it will specifically state the direction of the results.
• What is a non-directional hypothesis?

  A two tailed hypothesis - it wont specify the expected direction of the results.
• What are the four types of experiment ?

  Lab experiment / field experiment / natural experiment / quasi experiment
• What is a lab experiment ?

  Setting - a tightly controlled artificial experiment.

  IV - deliberately manipulated by the experimenters.

  DV - the experimenters measure it. It will produce quantitative data.

  Extraneous variables - attempt to control and minimise them.
• What is a field experiment ?

  Setting - natural real word environment.

  IV - deliberately manipulated

  DV - measured

  Extraneous variables - minimal control
• What is a natural experiment ?

  Setting - any setting

  IV - not manipulated, but naturally occurring (event or experience)

  DV - measured

  Extraneous variables - little to no control
• What is a quasi experiment ?

  Setting - any setting

  IV - pre existing characteristics, so not manipulated

  DV - measured

  Extraneous variables - little to no control
• What is validity ?

  The extent to which an experiment is accurate in measuring what it claims to measure
• What is internal validity?

  - Investigator effects

  - Demand Characteristics

  - Social Desirability
• What is external validity?

  - Population validity

  - Temporal validity

  - Ecological validity
• What are demand characteristics ?

  Any cue from the researcher or the research situation that may be interpreted by participants as revealing the purpose of the investigation. This may lead to a participantchanging their behaviour within the research situation.
• How to control for Demand Characteristics?

  Use a single blind trial, where only the researcher knows the true aim of the experiment. This limits demand characteristics.
• What is mundane realism?


  The extent to which the tasks used in the experiment are representative of tasks completed in every day life.
• What is internal validity ?

  The extent to which an experiment can be repeated to check the consistency of the results.
• What is ecological validity ?


  The extent to which the experimental setting respects real life situations and behaviour.
• What is standardization?


  Keeping everything the same

  
  

  The extent to which there is confidence in the IV causing the effect on the DV.
• What is replication?


  Findings should be able to be repeated on different occasions
• What are some advantages of lab experiments ?

  High internal validity/ high reliability
• What are disadvantages of lab experiments ?

  Low ecological validity and mundane realism/ High demand characteristics
• What are advantages of field experiments ?

  High ecological validity and mundane realism / low demand characteristics
• What are disadvantages of field experiments ?

  Low validity and low reliability
• What are advantages to natural/quasi experiments ?

  High ecological validity and mundane realism
• What are disadvantages of natural/quasi experiments ?

  Low internal validity / low reliability
• What is a confounding variable?

  An extraneous variable, that systematically changes alongside the IV so it can cause the change in DV
• What's a situational variable ?


  Features of the environment or setting that may affect participants behaviour

  
  

  Lighting/weather
• What's a participant variable ?


  Individual differences between participants and the ways in which each participant varies from the other

  
  

  
  

  Eyesight/ IQ /age
• What may occur if demand characteristics have an effect ?

  Participants conform to what they believe the researcher wants and expects to happen

  
  

  They ruin the results by changing their behaviour
• How can demand characteristics be resolved ?

  Deception - not revealing the true aim and hypothesis of the study

  
  

  Double blind - procedures where neither participants or the researcher interacting with them are aware of the conditions they have been assigned to
• What are investigator effects ?

  Any unwanted influence by the researchers
• How can investigator effects be controlled?

  Using the same researcher for all participants

  
  

  Double blind - neither participants or researcher is aware of what the conditions are
• What are the 3 types of experimental designs ?

  Repeated Measures

  Independent Groups

  Matched Pairs
• What is repeated measures ?


  All participants take part in all conditions of the experiment

  The same people in each condition of the IV
• What are some advantages and disadvantages of repeated measures ?

  Advantages = participant variables are controller

  
  

  Disadvantages = demand characteristics are likely to be experienced / order effects may be experienced