Research Methods

• aim

  a general statement that explains the purpose of the study
• hypothesis

  a testable statement that predicts what we expect to find in a study.
• independant variable

  the variable which the research is manipulating (changing)
• dependant variable

  the variable which the researcher is measuring
• Extraneous variable

  Any variables other than the IV that might affect the DV if they are not controlled
• situational variable

  aspects of the environment that may affect the participant's performace.
• participant variable

  things about the participants themselves that influence their performance.
• confounding variable

  when extraneous variables do have an effect on the DV
• demand characteristics

  when participants interpret cues from the experimenter and research situation
• investigator effects

  the unwanted influence of the investigator on the research outcome.
• randomisation

  the use of chance to reduce the effects of the researchers unconscious biases when designing an investigation.
• standardisation

  making sure that all participants are subject to the same instructions and experience
• repeated measures

  the same participants are used in each condition of the experiment
• independant groups

  different participants are used for each condition of the experiment.
• matched pairs

  Participants are tested in terms of variables relevant to the study. Similar participants are then matched and one member of each pair goes in each condition.
• validity

  refers to how accurate something is
• lab experiments

  an experiment where the researcher directly manipulates the IV in a highly controlled environment.
• field experiments

  an experiment where the researcher directly manipulates the IV in an everyday environment.
• natural experiment

  an experiment where the IV is naturally occurring , this can take place in either a highly controlled or everyday environment
• quasi experiment

  an experiment where the IV is an existing difference between people , this can take place in either a highly controlled environment or a everyday environment.
• target population

  the group of people the researcher is interested in studying
• sample

  a small group of people , drawn from the target population , who take part in the research
• random

  every member of the target population has an equal chance of being chosen
• systematic

  every nth member of the target population is selected for the study
• stratified

  participants are selected in proportion to their frequency in the target population
• opportunity

  members of the target population who are available at the time of the research are selected
• volunteer

  participants are self selected from the target population
• pilot study

  a small scale version of the investigation and will usually include a small number of participants
• aim of pilot studies

  to check that procedures , materials , measuring scales , etc. work and to allow the researcher to make changes or modifications.

  researcher can save time and money
• single blind procedures

  participants are not made aware of the full aim of

  the research or what condition they are in to reduce demand characteristics
• double blind procedures

  neither the participants nor the person conducting the study knows the aim of the research to reduce both demand characteristics and investigator effects.
• observations

  involve researcher watching and recording participants behaviour
• naturalistic

  watching and recording behaviour in the setting which it would normally occur in
• controlled

  watching and recording behaviour in a structured environment where some variables are managed
• covert

  participants behaviour is watched and acknowledged without their knowledge and consent
• overt

  participants behaviour is watched and recorded with their knowledge and consent
• participant

  researcher becomes a member of the group whose behaviour they are watching and recording
• non-participant

  the researcher remains outside of the group whose behaviour they are watching and recording.
• event sampling

  the observer counts the number of times a particular behaviour occurs
• time sampling

  the observer records behaviour within a pre-established time frame