New key terms

Question 1

indeprendent variable

Answer 1

1. The variable tht is maniuplated by the researcher (or changes naturally in non-lab experiemnets)
2. The IV is manipulated in order to measure its DV

Question 2

Dependent variable

Answer 2

1. The variable that is measured by the researcher
2. Any effect on the DV should be caused by the changes in the IV ans not due to extraneous vairbales

Question 3

aim

Answer 3

1. A general statemen ton the purpose of the study
2. This is based on a question raised from previous research of theory

Question 4

operationalisation

Answer 4

1. refers to ensuring variables are specific and measurable
2. this is particularly important in psych when testing broad concepts like in memory which can be operationalised to number of items acurattely recalled in 30 seconds

Question 5

hypothesis

Answer 5

1. a precise testable statment that predicts the expected outcome of the study
2. it must refer to a clearly operationalised IV and DV

Question 6

Directional hypothesis

Answer 6

1. States direction of the impact on the DV and predicts the nature of this effect
2. This is made when a theory or the findings of preivous research suggest a pareticualr outcome

Question 7

Non direcitonal hypothesis

Answer 7

1. Does not state the direction of the impact of the IV on the DV, just that there will be a difference between the conditions of the IV
2. This is aporoptoaite whne there is no theory or previous resarch to make prediciton from

Question 8

Extraneous variables

Answer 8

1. Any variables in a study expect the IV that could potentially affect the DV and therfore confound the results
2. They can be split into paritciapnt or situational varibales

Question 9

Sitautaional varibles

Answer 9

1. ANy features of the experimental environment that may affect the results of an experiement
2. Includes the temp of the rooom, the time of day the experiment takes plae at, how noisy it is

Question 10

Participant variables

Answer 10

1. Any individual differences between participant that may affect the results of an experiment
2. Includes personality, age, gender, intelligence, motiviation, etc

Question 11

Confounding variables

Answer 11

1. ANy extraneous variables that has not been controlled for anf therefore has a impact on the results
2. Condounding variables vary systematically with the IV - it will have a different effect depedning on what condition a pp is in

Question 12

Investigator effects

Answer 12

1. Any impact of a researcher’s behaviour (including unconsciously) on the outcome of results
2. They may expect a certain response from PPs depedning on what condition they are in and act differently towards them

Question 13

Demand characteristics

Answer 13

1. Any cue from the researcher or situation that PPs may interpet as revealing the purpose of an investigation
2. This may lead to a pP changing their behaviour, either to delibertaely do what thye think they are being tested on or delibrately act agaisnt it

Question 14

Randomistion

Answer 14

1. The use of chance in setting up an investigation to reduce investigator effects and participant variables
2. Cna be used when selecting participants, when assigning them to condtitons to generate number/word lists

Question 15

standardisaiton

Answer 15

1. Ensuring all procedures,materrials,instructions wihtin an investigation are kept the same for all pps
2. This helps tor educe the impact of any investigator efffects or situational variables

Question 16

Reliability

Answer 16

1. Refers to consistency of mesuaremnts: the tests/observations in a study must be standardisaed so that eveyrone gets the similar results
2. Procedures should be easily replicable in order to establish consistency

Question 17

Validity

Answer 17

1. The extent to whicha study’s findings are accuarte and if it is actually meausirng wht it claims to be measuring
2. Results may not be a true representation of human behavioru as they may have been affected by confounding variables

Question 18

Internal validity

Answer 18

1. The extent to which we are testing what we actually intended to within a study
2. Results may have been a result of demand characteristics, investigator or a confounding variable

Question 19

External validity

Answer 19

1. The extent to which a study’s findings can be generalised/applied to toher situations/contexts
2. This may be reduced if there is sample bias in the study

Question 20

Sample bias

Answer 20

1. When certain groups are over or under represetned in a sample compared to their represnetaion in the wider population
2. E.G a study may only use PPs of one gender ro culture

Question 21

Generalisability

Answer 21

1. Refers to the application of the results from a sudy to the wider target population
2. It is based on the assumption that the findings from the original sample will be the same for everyone else in the target population

Question 22

Mundane realism

Answer 22

1. Refers to whether the materials and procedures in an experiment are similar to events that occur in the real world
2. For example, recalling faces of the people in your primary class has more mundane realism than remembering a random list of words