research methods

• operationalisation = making things clear and unambiguous. a clear way of measuring something and a testable hypothesis
• reliability = consistency of results over time (external). standardised procedures and replicability (internal)
• Validity = is it measuring what it says it is measuring
• Case study

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

  Questions where there are fixed choices of responses e.g. yes/no. They generate quantitative data
• 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.(ABBA)
• 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.
• Double blind control

  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 generalized to real-life settings
• External validity

  Whether it is possible to generalise the results beyond the experimental setting.
• Extraneous variable

  Variables that if not controlled may affect the DV and provide a false impression than an IV has produced changes when it hasn’t.
• Face validity

  Simple way of assessing whether a test measures what it claims to measure which is concerned with face value – e.g. does an IQ test look like it tests intelligence.
• Field experiment

  An experiment that takes place in a natural setting where the experimenter manipulates the IV and measures the DV
• Independent groups design

  An experimental design where each participants only takes part in one condition of the IV
• Internal validity

  In relation to experiments, whether the results were due to the manipulation of the IV rather than other factors such as extraneous variables or demand characteristics.
• Laboratory experiment

  An experiment that takes place in a controlled environment where the experimenter manipulates the IV and measures the DV
• Matched pairs design

  An experimental design where pairs of participants are matched on important characteristics and one member allocated to each condition of the IV
• Measures of central tendency

  A measurement of data that indicates where the middle of the information lies e.g. mean, median or mode
• Median

  Measure of central tendency calculated by arranging scores in a set of data from lowest to highest and finding the middle score
• Mean

  Measure of central tendency calculated by adding all the scores in a set of data together and dividing by the total number of scores
• Mode

  Measure of central tendency which is the most frequently occurring score in a set of data
• Natural experiment

  An experiment where the change in the IV already exists rather than being manipulated by the experimenter
• Observer bias

  Occurs when the observers know the aims of the study study or the hypotheses and allow this knowledge to influence their observations
• Opportunity sample

  A sampling technique where participants are chosen because they are easily available
• Order effects

  Order effects can occur in a repeated measures design and refers to how the positioning of tasks influences the outcome e.g. practice effect or boredom effect on second task
• Operationalising variables

  This means clearly describing the variables (IV and DV) in terms of how they will be manipulated (IV) or measured (DV).
• Open questions

  Questions where there is no fixed response and participants can give any answer they like. They generate qualitative data.
• Pilot study

  A small scale study conducted to ensure the method will work according to plan. If it doesn’t then amendments can be made.
• Qualitative data

  Descriptive information that is expressed in words
• Quantitative data

  Information that can be measured and written down with numbers.
• Quasi experiment

  An experiment often conducted in controlled conditions where the IV simply exists so there can be no random allocation to the conditions
• Questionnaire

  A set of written questions that participants fill in themselves
• Random sampling

  A sampling technique where everyone in the target population has an equal chance of being selected
• Reliability

  Whether something is consistent. In the case of a study, whether it is replicable.
• Repeated measures design

  An experimental design where each participants takes part in both/all conditions of the IV
• Representative sample

  A sample that that closely matched the target population as a whole in terms of key variables and characteristics
• Retrospective consent

  Once the true nature of the research has been revealed, participants should be given the right to withdraw their data if they are not happy.
• Right to withdraw

  Participants should be aware that they can leave the study at any time, even if they have been paid to take part.
• Sample

  A group of people that are drawn from the target population to take part in a research investigation