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Research Methods 1a
Scottish Higher Psychology: Research Methods 1a
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Experiment | A research method that uses the direct manipulation of an independent variable in order to test its effect on a dependent variable. |
| Dependent Variable (DV) | The outcome of the action of the IV in an experiment - it is measurable. |
| Independent Variable (IV) | An event that is manipulated by the expermenter in 2 or more conditions, to test its effect on the dependent variable (DV). |
| Conditions of the IV | There can be 2 or more of these in an experiment, e.g. sound or no sound in the word recall experiment. |
| Hypothesis | A statement that can be tested about the relationship between 2 variables. |
| Null Hypothesis | The starting assumption that there is no relationship between the variables that are being tested by the experimental hypothesis. |
| One-tailed Hypothesis | When the hypothesis states the direction of the relationship between variables. |
| Two-tailed Hypothesis | When it is predicted that there will be a difference between 2 or more conditions of an experiment but it does not state the direction of the difference. |
| Operationalisation | Making sure that variables are in a form that can be tested. |
| Experimental Design | Procedures that are used to make sure that participant variables are controlled within an experiment. |
| Independent Measures / Groups | The participants are allocated into 2 or more groups. Each group is a condition in the experiment. Usually done by random allocation. |
| Repeated Measures | Where each participant takes part in every condition of the experiment. |
| Matched Pairs | Pairs of participants are matched on key variables, e.g. age, gender. One member of a pair is put into the experimental group and the other is put into the control group. |
| Participant Variables | The individual characteristics of participants, e.g. age, IQ, that may influence the outcome of a study. |
| Random Allocation | Allocating participants to a group in such a way as to ensure they are randomly selected. |
| Single Blind Design | An experimental design where the participant is not aware of the research aims OR of which particular condition they are in. |
| Confounding Variable | An extraneous variable that has influenced the DV in an unwanted way and has, therefore, made any findings of the study unreliable. |
| Counterbalancing | A technique to overcome order effects in experiments. It ensures that each condition is tested first or second in equal amounts. |
| Extraneous Variable | Any variable other than the IV, that might possibly have an affect on the DV. |
| Control | The extent to which any variable is held constant by a researcher. |
| Situational Variables | Environmental factors that could affect the DV, e.g. noise, heat, and so should be controlled. |
| Double Blind | A research design where neither the experimenter nor the participants know the details of what is being studied so that the possibility of an experimenter affecting the participant's performance is removed. |
| Demand Characteristics | Cues that unconsciously suggest to participants what is expected of them in a study. This can make them behave in the way that they think is expected and act as a confounding variable. |
| Field Experiment | A controlled study carried out outwith the laboratory. |
| Natural Experiment | Where the IV cannot be manipulated directly, e.g. because of ethics, this is where a variable has been naturally changed. The IV has not been manipulated, e.g. St.Helena Study. |
Created by:
m-g-m
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