Research Methods

• Experimental method


  Involves the manipulation of the IV to measure the effect on the DV. May be lab, field, natural or quasi
• Aim


  General statement of what the researcher intends to investigate
• Hypothesis


  A clear statement that states the relationship between the variables
• Directional hypothesis (one-tailed)


  States the direction of the difference or relationship
• Non-directional hypothesis (two-tailed)


  Does not state the direction of the difference or relationship
• Variable


  Anything that can change with an investigation
• Independent variable (IV)


  An aspect of an investigation that is manipulated by the researcher so the effect on the DV can be measured
• Dependent variable (DV)


  The variable that is measured by the researcher
• Operationalisation


  Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured
• Extraneous variable


  Any variable that may affect the DV
• Confounding variable


  A variable that varies systematically with the IV
• Demand characteristics


  Any cue from the researcher that may be interpreted by the participants as revealing the purpose of the investigation
• Investigator effects


  Any effect of the investigator's behaviour on the research outcome
• Randomisation


  The use of chance methods to control for effects of bias (when designing materials and designing the order of experimental conditions)
• Standardisation


  Using the same formalised procedures and instructions for all participants
• Experimental design


  The ways in which participants can be organised into experimental coniditons
• Independent groups


  Participants are allocated to different groups
• Repeated measures


  All participants take part in all conditions
• Matched pairs


  Participants are matched on a variable and one goes into condition A and the other condition B
• Random allocation


  People are chosen randomly e.g. names from a hat
• Counterbalancing


  Half take part in A then B, the other half take part in B then A
• Laboratory experiment


  Takes place in a controlled environment where the researcher manipulates the IV to measure the effect on the DV
• Field experiment


  Takes place in a natural setting where the researcher manipulates the IV to measure the effect on the DV
• Natural experiment


  The IV is naturally occurring and the researcher decides the DV
• Quasi experiment


  The IV has not been determined by anyone e.g. gender, age
• Population


  A group of people who are the focus of the researcher's interest
• Sample


  A group of people who are drawn from the target population
• Random sampling


  All members of the target population have an equal chance of being selected
• Systematic sampling


  Every nth member of the target population is selected
• Stratified sampling


  Composition of the sample reflects the proportions of people in certain strata within the target population
• Opportunity sampling


  Researchers select whoever is willing and available
• Volunteer sampling


  Involves participants selecting themselves to be part of the sample
• Generalisation


  The extent to which findings can be applied to the rest of the population
• Ethical issues


  Conflict between the rights of participants in research studies and the goals of the research to produce valid data
• BPS code of ethics


  A legal document that instructs psychologists about what behaviour is and isn't acceptable
• Informed consent


  Participants should know what they're getting into and are made aware the aims of the research
• Deception


  Deliberately withholding information from participants
• Protection from harm


  Participants should not be placed at any more risk than what they would be in their daily lives, and should be protected from physical and psychological harm
• Privacy and confidentiality


  Participants have the right to control information about themselves
• Pilot study


  A small-scale investigation that takes place before the investigation is conducted to check procedures are working