research methods

• Qualitative data


  non-numerical
• Quantitative data 


  numerical
• control condition


  extent to which any variable is held constant or regulated by a researcher
• extraneous variable


  any factors that could affect the dv
• confounding variable


  any factors that affect the dv but also systematically change with the iv
• investigator effects


  anything that an investigator does that has an effect on a particpiant's performance in a study
• standardisation


  process in which procedures used in research are kept the same. great attention is taken to keep all elements of procedure identical
• experimental design 


  how participants are used in experiements (what conditions theyre assigned to)
• independent groups design


  participants are placed in separate groups. each group does one level of the iv -> compare performance of the two groups
• repeated measures

  • all participants receive all levels of the iv
  • each participant does the task with tv on then a week later participants do test without tv
  • compare performance of same participants on the two tests
• matched pairs design


  compromise is to use two groups of participants but match participants on key characteristics believed to effect performance on dv.
• random allocation


  ensuring that each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to one group
• counterbalancing


  experimental technique used to overcome order effects when using repeated measures design -> ensures each condition is tested in equal amounts
• order effects


  an extraneous variable arising from the order in which conditions are presented
• participant variables


  features of the participants that may influence their behaviour
• laboratory experiments


  experiment carried out in a controlled setting

  • have high internal validity
  • low ecological validity because tasks tend to be artificial
• field experiment


  controlled experiment conducted outside a lab. iv is manipulated by demonstrator

  • have low internal validity
  • high external validity
• natural experiment


  where researchers measure effect of an iv on a dv - iv is a naturally occurring event or situation
• quasi experiment


  where researchers measure the effects of an iv on a dv - iv is a naturally occurring characteristic of the participant
• reliability


  if measurement is made twice and same results produced then it is described as reliable
• validity


  psychological test, observation produces a result that is legitimate/ accurate
• internal validity


  causal relationship you are testing is not influenced by other factors or variables
• situational variables


  features of research situation that may influence participants behaviour
• randomisation


  reducing researchers influence on design of the investigation by levaing it to chance
• external validity 


  how accurate can findings be generalised to other settings, populations
• ecological validity


  degree to which research finding can be generalised to other settings
• mundane realism


  how a study mirrors real world.
• temporal validity


  type of external validity which refers to generalisability of a study's results across time
• random sample


  sample of participants produced by using a random technique such that every member of target population being tested has an equal chance of being selected
• systematic sample


  use predetermined system to select participants such as selecting every nth person from a phonebook
• startified sample


  participants obtained from each strata in proportion to their occurrence in the population. selection from strata using random technique
• opportunity sample


  recruit people who are most convenient or most available
• volunteer sample


  participants self - select to become part of a study
• naturalistic observation

  • takes place in setting where behaviour would normally occur
  • no manipulation to the environment
• controlled observation

  • takes place in artificial setting
  • variables may be manipulated by researcher
• covert observation


  study carried out 'under cover' participants dont know researchers identity or purpose
• overt observation


  participants know researchers identity and that they are being studied
• participant observation


  observation made by someone who is also participating in activity being observed
• non-participant observation


  observer is separate from people being observed and simply watches
• event sampling


  observation technique where a count is kept of the number of times a certain behaviour occurs