RESEARCH METHODS

• lab experiment

  experiments that are in a controlled artificial setting
• field experiment


  experiments that occur in the natural environment of the participants
• Quasi


  where the independent variable is naturally occurring
• naturalistic observation

  observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation
• controlled observation

  Some control over variables takes place to observe how people may interact/behave. They take place inside and outside of a lab.
• participant observation


  where the experimenter is part of the observation as a participant
• non-participant observation


  where the experimenter does not take part of the experiment
• overt observation


  Participants know they are being observed
• covert observation


  participants are unaware they are being observed
• questionnaire


  a written set of questions to be answered by a research participant
• structured


  interviewer asks closed questions in a specific order
• unstructured

  no questions or order already established
• semi structured

  only some questions are planned
• positive correlation


  A correlation where as one variable increases, the other also increases, or as one decreases so does the other. Both variables move in the same direction.
• no correlation

  There is no relationship between data sets.
• negative correlation


  as one variable increases, the other decreases
• research aim

  A general statement of the purpose of the study- should make clear what the study intends to investigate
• null hypothesis

  the hypothesis that there is no significant difference between specified populations, any observed difference being due to sampling or experimental error.
• alternative hypothesis


  The hypothesis that states there is a difference between two or more sets of data.
• one tailed hypothesis


  only one direction of an effect or relationship is predicted in the alternative hypothesis of the test
• two tailed hypothesis

  both directions of an effect or relationship are considered in the alternative hypothesis of the test
• random sampling

  a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion
• normal distribution curve

  
• skewed distribution curve

  
• What is researcher/observer bias?

  observer has inherent or deliberate bias towards certain behaviours, conclusions or people
• What is Social desirability?

  Describes the tendency of survey respondents to answer questions in a manner that will be viewed favourably by others
• What are demand characteristics?

  Demand characteristics refer to cues or clues in a research setting that may influence participants to respond in a certain way, potentially biasing the results of the study.
• What is external validity?


  issues outside of the investigation, particularly whether the results will translate to other populations, concepts etc.
• What is population validity?

  whether the sample can be applied to the general population from where it was taken from.
• What is criterion validity?

  whether a measure in 1 way will relate or predict another variable. may happen at the same time or in the future
• What is ecological validity?

  Ecological validity refers to the extent to which research findings can be generalized to real-world settings and situations.
• What is concurrent validity?

  whether a measure will produce a similar score as another test which claims to test the same thing
• What is construct validity?


  Ability of a measurement tool to actually measure the psychological concept being studied
• What is face validity?

  whether a measure appears at face value to test what it claims
• What is internal validity?

  Internal validity refers to the extent to which a study accurately measures the cause-and-effect relationship between variables, without the influence of confounding factors.
• What is test-retest reliability?

  Test-retest reliability is the consistency of test scores when the same test is administered to the same individuals on two different occasions.
• What is interrater reliability?

  The method of measuring the external consistency of a test. This method is carried out by different “raters” giving consistent estimates/measures of behaviour
• What is external reliability?


  Refers to the extent to which a measure varies from one use to another.
• What is internal reliability?

  Assesses the consistency of results across items within a test
• What is a scatter Graph?

  A type of plot or mathematical diagram using Cartesian coordinates to display values for typically two variables for a set of data.