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psychology unit3 ch1
research methods
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Case study | An in-depth investigation of a single participant. |
| Conclusion | In research this refers to a statement or acceptance or rejection of the hypothesis tested. |
| Control group | The group in research which is not presented with the independent variable. The control group is used as a basis for comparison with the experimental group. |
| Counterbalancing | The process in repeated measures design designed to eliminate order effects. Conditions A, B and C would be presented in a different sequence to different groups of participants. |
| Dependent variable | The variable that is measured by the researcher to discover the effects of the independent variable. |
| Double-blind procedure | An experimental design that ensures that neither researcher nor participants are aware of which participants are in the experimental group. This eliminates both experimenter and participant expectations as possible confounding variables. |
| Ethical principles | The code of ethics designed to protect participants from psychological and physiological harm. These include: confidentiality, debriefing, deception in research, informed consent, voluntary participation and withdrawal rights. |
| Confidentiality | Participants in research must not be identified in terms of test results, study involvement or confidential data. |
| Informed consent | The ethical basis for psychological treatment or experimentation, requiring that the subject (or client) is fully aware of all procedures and their likely and possible effects, and participants on a voluntary basis. |
| Voluntary participation | Taking part in research without pressure or by deception. |
| Withdrawal rights | The right of participants to leave a study at any stage, including the right to withdraw their results after the study has been completed, regardless of the possible effects on the results. |
| Experimental design | The system of research being used: independent groups, matched participants, repeated measures. |
| Independent groups | Allocates participants to E-group or C-group at random. Also known as between participants design. |
| Matched participants | A subject selection procedure which attempts to eliminate confounding variables by 'matching' on key characteristics, each individual in the experimental group with an individual in the control group. |
| Repeated measures | A subject selection procedure where each participant is part of both the E-group and the C-group. Also known as within participants design. |
| Experiment | Research that aims to find cause-and-effect relationships among variables. |
| Experimental group | The group of research participants which is exposed to the independent variable. The results are compared with the control group so that the effects of the independent variable can be determined. |
| Experimenter effect | The outcome of an experiment being unintentionally (or even intentionally) influenced by the experimenter. |
| Generalisation | A judgment about the extent to which the research findings can be applied to the population represented by the sample. |
| Independent variable | The variable that is manipulated by the experimenter who then measures resulting changes in the dependent variable. |
| Measures of central tendency | Measures (mean, median and mode) that tell us how the data are clustered near the central point of the dataset. |
| Mean | The average of all the scores, calculated by adding up all the scores and dividing that total by the number of scores. |
| Median | The score that occurs exactly halfway between the lowest and the highest score. |
| Mode | The most commonly occurring score in the dataset. |
| Normal curve | The 'bell curve' of a normal distribution of a characteristic in a population. Mean, median and mode are all the same score and three standard deviations above and below the mean includes 99.74% of the population. |
| Observational studies | Research in which there is no manipulation of the independent variable by the researcher. |
| Operationalisation | Quantification of a variable. |
| Order effects | Changes in results caused by the sequence of performing tasks in a test - often ascribed to practice - or boredom - effects. |
| Participant effect | Characteristics of the participants becoming a confounding variable and influencing the value of the dependent variable |
| Participants' rights | Ethical considerations including the right to informed consent, debriefing and withdrawal rights. |
| Placebo | A variable other than the independent variable that causes a change in the value of the dependent variable due to the participant's belief that it will have an effect. |
| Placebo effect | Refers to the participants' behaviour being influenced by their expectations of how they should behave, caused by the belief that they have received some treatment. |
| Population | The group of people about whom we wish to draw conclusions. |
| Probability (p-value) | The likelihood that a result would be achieved by chance alone. (Considered significant if p < .05.) |
| Qualitative data | Descriptions of the characteristics of what is being studied. |
| Quantitative data | Measurements (numerical information) about the variables being studied. |
| Questionnaire | A form of self-report survey. |
| Random allocation | A subject selection procedure where all participants have been selected for an experiment have an equal chance of being in the E-group or C-group. |
| Sample | The members of the population that have been chosen to take part in the research in order to represent the population. |
| Random sampling | A sampling procedure in which every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected. |
| Stratified sampling | A sampling process by which the effects of a certain variable can be eliminated as a possible confound in an experiment. |
| Scientific method | A logical process of problem-solving applied in all sciences. |
| Self-reports | Statements and answers to questions made by the participants concerning their thoughts and feelings. |
| Single-blind procedure | An experimental design in which either the participants or the researcher does not know which participants are in the experimental group. |
| Single-blind procedure in the experimental process | Allocating participants to groups in such a way that they do not know whether they are in the E-group or C-group. |
| Standardised instructions and procedures | The system of using the same words, actions and materials despite being administered by different researchers. A process of eliminating possible confounds. |
| Statistical significance | A result is called statistically significant when the likelihood of a finding occurring by chance is less than 5 in 100 (probability less than 5%; p < 0.05). |
| Variables | Describable or quantifiable properties measured in research, they may be independent; dependent; confounding; controlled and extraneous. |
| Confounding variable | A variable other than the independent variable that has a systematic effect on the value of the dependent variable (it acts like a second, unwanted, independent variable). |
| Extraneous variable | Any variable other than the IV or DV - these may be confounding, controlled or neutral variables. |
| Convenience sampling | The process of using any person 'conveniently' available as part of the sample. |
| Stratified random sampling | Following the same procedures as stratified sampling, and randomly selecting a sample from each stratum, or smaller group, in the same proportions as exist in the population. |
| Debriefing | This takes place after completion of the study and participants are told the results and conclusions of the study. Any erroneous beliefs about the study are corrected, especially if there was any deception involved. |
| Deception in research | This is only permitted if the results would be confounded if the participants had much information before taking part in the study. The researcher must ensure that participants do not unexpectedly suffer distress - debriefing then is essential. |
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