Key Terms

• Primary data?

  Data that hasn't been published before
• Secondary data?

  Data that has already been published
• Meta-analysis?

  Statistical technique for combining the findings of several studies of a certain area of research
• Qualitative data?

  Data in the form of words
• Quantitative data?

  Data in the form of numbers
• Open questions?

  Questions that require the participant to answer in their own words
• Closed questions?

  Questions where the participants are given a predefined set of responses to choose from
• Independent variable?

  Variable that is manipulated/changed
• Dependent variable?

  Variable that alters as a result of the IV/measured variable
• Extraneous variables?

  Variables that influence the outcome of the experiment, not the variables under investigation- some are random
• Reliability?

  About consistency-how much we depend on any particular measurement. If it's repeatable
• What are the two types of reliability?

  Test-retest reliability and inter-observer reliability
• What is inter-observer reliability?

  The extent to which there's an agreement between two or more observers who have observed the same thing
• What is test-retest reliability?

  Ability to produce the same results every time the test is carried out
• Validity?

  Authentic and accurate picture of reality
• Standardisation?

  Way of limited demand characteristics and investigator effects
• Randomisation?

  Putting a series of things into random orders so each one isn't predictable from the previous sequence
• Demand characteristics?

  Cues or clues in a research setting that may lead participants to behave in a certain way
• Interviewer effect?

  Interviewers appearance can cause changes in the respondents answers
• Pilot study?

  To make any amendments to any problems that may arise from the research
• What is a filler question?

  Questions that is designed to distract participants and reduce demand characteristics
• Lab experiment?


  experiment that is conducted under highly controlled conditions

  IV is manipulated and DV is measured
• Field experiments?


  An experiment tat is conducted in a real world situation
• Natural experiments?


  Occurs when the researcher doesn't have control of the IV because they had taken advantage of a naturally occurring situation
• Quasi experiments?


  Occurs when the participants can't be randomly allocated to experimental conditions because the IV is some naturally occurring pre-existing IV such as age, sex, height
• Naturalistic observation?


  Behaviour that is studied in a natural situation - researcher doesn't interfere in any way
• Controlled observation?


  Some variables in the experiment are controlled by the researcher - reducing the 'naturalness' of the environment
• Covert observation?


  Participants don't know that they are being observed
• Overt observation?


  Participants know that they are being observed and recorded
• Participant observation?


  Observer interacts with the group that is being observed
• Non-participant observation?


  Observer just watch and listen to the group that is being observed - no interactions
• Aims?


  Researcher stating what the investigation is actually trying to discover
• Hypothesis?


  A precise statement or prediction about the relationships between data
• Alternative hypothesis?


  What is trying to be supported

  It will be tested in a research project
• Directional?


  Predicts the expected direction of the outcome - more specific
• Non-directional?


  Doesn't state what direction the results will take - more vague
• Repeated measures?


  One group of participants is used and they experience all the conditions
• Independent groups?


  Different groups of people participate in each condition of the experiment
• Matched pairs?


  A person in one condition of the experiment is matched with a person in another condition of the experiment
• Random allocation?

  Used to select who will do what condition