paper 2 revision AS level

• Aim of a study


  The purpose of the research such as to investigate a question or solve a problem
• Variables


  Factors that change or can be changed
• Uncontrolled variables


  A variable that either acts randomly affecting the DV in as levels of the IV
• Confounding variables


  An uncontrolled variable that acts systematically on one level of the IV so could hide or exaggerate differences between variables (a type of random error/constant error)
• Control


  Action taken by the researcher to ensure that any changes in the DV is a result of the manipulation of the IV and not any other uncontrolled variable
• Control condition


  A level of the IV in an experiment from which the IV is absent, it is compared to one or more experimental conditions
• Standardisation (standardise instruction)


  Written or verbal information given to the participants at the beginning or during a study that ensures the experience of all participants are kept as similar as possible
• Standardised procedure


  Participants follow the same order of events within a study, the only difference will be the level of the IV
• Independent measures design


  An experimental design in which a different group of participants is used for each level of the IV (condition)
• Repeated measures design


  Some group of people participate in every level of the IV
• Matched pair design


  Participants are matched into pairs who are similar in ways that are important to the experiment such as age, gender, intelligence or personality
• Laboratory experiments


  Participants are not in their usual environment for the behaviour they are performing, there are strict control over the situation
• Field experiment


  Investigation looking for a causal relationship in which the IV is manipulated and is expected to be responsible for changes in the DV
• Self-report


  Participant gives the researcher information about themselves directly
• Closed questions


  Fixed set of possible responses
• Open questions


  Prompt the respondent to give detailed answers which may be quite long
• Structured interviews


  Questions asked are the same for every participant and the order is fixed
• Unstructured interviews


  Questions asked depend on what the participant says, so questions may be different for each participant
• Semi-structured interviews


  Some fixed questions ensure that there is some similar information from every participant
• Case studies


  Detailed investigation of a single instance, usually just one person
• Naturalistic observation


  Conducted in the participant's normal environment without interference from the researcher in either social or physical environment
• Controlled observation


  Conducted in a situation which has been manipulated by the researcher, can be conducted in the participant's normal environment or in an artificial situation e.g. lab
• Unstructured observation


  All behaviour in the episode under study is monitored (we can write as many behaviours that we can see)
• Structured observation

  Specific behaviours to be recorded are clearly defined in a behavioural checklist
• Time sampling


  Observation will take place only during specified time periods
• Event sampling


  The observer decides in advance the type of behaviour that they are interested in
• Overt observation


  Participants are aware of the presence of the observer and they are aware they are being observed
• Covert observation


  Participants are not aware of the presence of the observer and not aware of being observed
• Correlational


  A statistical technique which measures the relationship between two co-variables
• Longitudinal studies

  Follows a single group of participants over time, studying one or more variables at intervals such as weeks, months or years
• Hypothesis


  A testable statement predicting a difference between levels of the independent variable (in an experiment) or a relationship between variables (in a correlation)
• Directional (one-tailed) hypothesis


  A statement predicting a significant difference or correlation and the direction of a relationship between variables
• Non-directional (two-tailed) hypothesis


  Statement predicting only that one variable will be related to another
• Null hypothesis


  A testable statement that any difference or correlation in the result is due to chance
• Target population


  A group of people who share specific characteristics and who the researcher is interested in testing
• Opportunity sampling


  Sample is selected on the basis of who is available at the time of testing and willing to take part
• Volunteer sampling


  People volunteer either directly or indirectly to take part in a study
• Random sampling


  Every member of the population has an equal chance of being included in the sample
• Quantitative data


  Numerical results about the quantity of a psychological measure such as pulse rate or a score on an intelligence test
• Qualitative data


  Descriptive, in-depth results indicating the quality of psychological characteristics such as responses to open questions