research methods

• Laboratory experiment: experiments conducted in highly controlled environments
• Field experiment: The IV is manipulated in a natural setting. The researcher goes to the participants usual environment.
• Natural experiment: The researcher has no control over the IV, something else causes it to change. They just measure the effect on the DV.
• Quasi-experiment: The IV has not been determined and the variables already exist in the real world, it is a study but not an experiment.
• Independent group design: When two separate groups of participants experience two different conditions of the experiment.
• Repeated measure design: All participants experience both conditions of the experiment.
• Matches pair design: Participants are paired together on a variable(s) relevant to experiment. Then one is assigned condition A and the other condition B.
• Experimental method: The manipulation of the IV to measure the effect on the DV.
• Aim: A general statement of what the researcher intent to investigate, the purpose of the study.
• Hypothesis: A clear precise, testable statement that states the relationship between the the variables that are being investigated.
• Directional hypothesis: States the direction of the difference or relationship. The researcher makes clear the difference that is anticipated.
• Non-directional hypothesis: Doesn’t specify the direction of the difference or relationship.
• Variables: Any thing that can vary within an experiment.
• Independent variable (IV): The variable that is changed by the investigator- or changes naturally- so the effect the DV can be measured.
• Dependent variable (DV): The variable that is measured by the

  researcher. Any effect on the DV should be caused by the IV.
• Operationalisation: Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured.
• Order affects: Where participant response is affected by

  the order they were shown the conditions in.
• Confounding variable: An external factor that affects both the IV and the DV.
• Demand characteristics: When the participants figure out the studies purpose and change their behaviour to fit it.
• Random allocation: Participants are randomly

  allocated to conditions, to evenly distribute participants.
• Counter balancing: An attempt to control order affects in repeated measure designs. Half the participants do A then B and half do B then A.
• Random sample: When all members of a population have on equal chance of being chosen.
• Systemic sample: When every nth number of the target population is selected.
• Stratified sample: Where the composition of the sample reflects the proportion of people in certain sub groups within the wider population.
• Opportunity sample: The researcher selects anyone who happens to be willing and available to participate.
• Volunteer sample: Participants select themselves to be apart of the sample.
• Ethical issues: These arise when conflict between the rights of the participants and the goal to produce authentic results.
• BPS Code of Ethics: A document which instructs psychologists what is and isn't acceptable when dealing with human participants.
• Presumptive consent: Ask a similar group of people if they would participate, if they agree you can assume the real participants will agree.
• Prior general consent: Give consent for a number of studies.
• Retrospective consent: Participants are asked for consent after the study has been conducted.