Scientific Processes

    Cards (45)

    • Independent variable: the variable that is changed directly by the experimenter
    • Dependent variable: the thing is measured and recorded in the experiment
    • cause and effect relationship - is a change in one variable causes a change in another variable
    • Reliability - when the research can be replicated and produces the same results
    • Internal reliability - the consistency to which the procedure measures what it is supposed to measure.
    • Validity - the extent to which a test measures what it is supposed to measure
    • Internal validity - whether the research measures what it is set out in the hypothesis
      • Concurrent
      • Face
      • Content
      • predictive
    • Concurrent validity - does it match with previous studies
    • Face validity - does it appear to measure what it claims to measure.
    • Content validity - does it cover all aspects of the content
    • Predictive validity - is it the same as hypothesised
    • External validity - how applicable are the findings to the real world
      • Population
      • Ecological
      • construct
      • temporal
    • Population validity - does it generalise to the population
    • Ecological validity - does it generalise to real life
    • Temporal validity - does it cover people of different time periods
    • Construct validity - does it really measure as accurately as it was supposed to
    • Aim - the first step when conducting a research
    • Hypothesis - the third step is to conclude a precise, testable statement of the expected outcome of the experiment.
    • Operationalise the variable: defining the variable to the specific dot
    • Types of hypothesis:
      • Null hypothesis
      • Experimental hypothesis
    • Null hypothesis - the IV will have no effect on the DV, and if it does, its due to chance.
    • Experimental hypothesis - IV will have an effect on the DV
      • directional
      • Non directional
      • Directional hypothesis (one tailed) - states that there is a relationship between two variables. eg increasing/decreasing
    • Non directional hypothesis (two tailed) - states that there is a relationship between two variables but doesn't state whether it increases or decreases
    • Extraneous variable - external factors that can impact the results of the experiment.
    • confounding variables - results that have been effected by extraneous variables that are not controlled
    • Types of extraneous variables:
      • situational variables - location, weather
      • Participants - demand characteristics/ social desirability
      • Experimental effect - eg tone of voice
    • social desirability - screw you/please you effect
    • Controlling extraneous variables:
      • blind/double blind experiment
      • deception
      • counter balancing - reversing order to avoid bias
    • standardising procedures: the procedure carried out is consistent for all ppts
    • Randomisation: removing bias from as many decisions as possible - this is different from random sampling
    • Random sampling - randomly selecting people for results
    • Comparison condition - to see if the IV effects the DV you need something to compare it with something
    • Independent Group Designs:
      • randomly divide into two groups
      • each group does a different condition, then compare DV
    • Repeated Measures:
      • Whole group does Condition A
      • Whole group does Condition B, measure DV and compare
    • Matched Pairs:
      • Ask participants to complete a questionnaire, then match into two groups based on personality (usually pre existing)
      • Person A completes Condition A
      • Person B completes Condition B, then compare DV
    • Inter observer reliability - the degree to which how reliable the results are
      • multiple observers observe the same behaviour, then compare DV
    • Pilot study - a small study that is carried out before a larger study to test the design and procedures
    • Implications of research on the economy:
      • Less maternity leaves - Schaffer & Emerson importance of father
      • Gender pay gap - minority influence
      • less costs to society - EWT
    • BPS Ethical Guidelines - I Cant Count Dragons With People Doing Cart
      • Informed Consent
      • Confidentiality
      • Deception
      • Withdraw
      • Protection (harm)
      • Debrief
      • Competence (researcher)