psych definitions

• Aim

  The researcher's area of interest - what they are looking at (e.g. to investigate helping behaviour)
• Alternative hypothesis

  Another name for an experimental hypothesis which predicts the outcome of a study. This term tends to be used for non-experimental research. Can be directional or non-directional
• Bar chart

  • A graph that shows the data in the form of categories (e.g. behaviours observed) that the researcher wishes to compare. There should be spaces between the bars as the data are not continuous
• Behavioural categories

  Key behaviours or, collections of behaviour, that the researcher conducting the observation will pay attention to and record
• Behaviour checklist

  A method of recording behaviours which are observed. Each observer will typically have one checklist to note down behaviours which are seen
• Case study

  In-depth investigation of a single person, group or event, where data are gathered from a variety of sources and by using several different methods (e.g. observations & interviews)
• Central tendency (measure of)

  This is a term used for any statistic which aims to show the middle / centre or average of the data e.g. a mean
• Closed questions

  Questions where there are fixed choices of responses e.g. yes/no. They generate quantitative data
• Co-variables

  The variables investigated in a correlation
• Concurrent validity

  Comparing a new test with another test of the same thing to see if they produce similar results. If they do, then the new test has concurrent validity
• Confederate

  Someone who appears to be a regular participant in a study but is, in fact working for the experimenter. Common in social psychology studies such as Milgram's research
• Confidentiality

  Unless agreed beforehand, participants have the right to expect that all personal data collected during a research study will remain unpublished and anonymous
• Confounding variable

  A variable other than the IV which HAS affected the DV. An extraneous variable which has not been controlled and impacts on the study outcome because it only affects SOME participants
• Content analysis


  Technique used to analyse qualitative data (from artefacts such as books/magazines) which involves coding the written data into categories-converting qualitative data into quantitative
• Content validity

  Involves checking the content of the method to see if it is an appropriate test. It refers to whether the items on your test actually test what you're looking at, and that the test is valid
• Control group

  A group that is treated normally and gives us a measure of how people behave when they are not exposed to the experimental treatment (eg. allowed to sleep normally)
• Controlled observation

  An observation study where the researchers control some variables - often takes place in laboratory setting
• Construct validity

  A test has construct validity if it demonstrates an association between the test scores and the prediction of a theoretical trait. Intelligence tests are one example of measurement instruments that should have construct validity. Construct validity is the extent to which a test/scale adequately assesses the theoretical concept that you say it does
• Correlational analysis

  A mathematical technique where the researcher looks to see whether scores for two co-variables are related
• Correlation coefficient

  A number between -1.00 and +1.00 which shows the strength and direction of a correlation. Numbers closer to 0 represent weaker correlations. Numbers closer to +1 or -1 represent stronger correlations
• Counterbalancing


  A way of trying to control for order effects in a repeated measures design, e.g. half the participants do condition A followed by B and the other half do B followed by A
• Covert observation

  Also known as an undisclosed observation as the participants do not know their behaviour is being observed
• Debriefing

  After completing the research, the true aim is revealed to the participant. Aim of debriefing is to return the person to the state she was in before they took part
• Deception

  Involves misleading participants about the purpose of a study. Participants can also be deceived through omission - by not revealing full details or only giving partial descriptions of the aims of a study
• Demand characteristics

  Occur when participants try to make sense of the research situation they are in and try to guess the purpose of the research or try to present themselves in a good way. Participants may also show deliberately unhelpful behaviour known as the "screw you" effect
• Dependent variable

  The variable that is measured to tell you the outcome
• Descriptive statistics

  Analysis of data that helps describe, show or summarise data in a meaningful way
• Directional hypothesis

  A one-tailed hypothesis that states the direction of the difference or relationship (e.g. boys are more helpful than girls)
• Dispersion measure

  A dispersion measure shows how a set of data is spread out, examples are the range and the standard deviation
• Double blind design

  Participants are not told the true purpose of the research and the experimenter is also blind to at least some aspects of the research design
• Ecological validity

  The extent to which the findings of a research study are able to be generalised to real-life settings. Artificial, lab-based studies have lower ecological validity as they are unlike real life
• Ethical committee

  A group (usually based at an institution such as a hospital or university) who meet to discuss the ethical considerations in proposed research studies. They will weigh up the costs of the research against the benefits to society
• Ethical guidelines

  These are provided by the BPS- they are the 'rules' by which all psychologists should operate, including those carrying out research
• Event sampling

  A target behaviour is identified and the observer records it every time it occurs
• Experimental group

  The group that received the experimental treatment (e.g. sleep deprivation)