Research Methods Key Terms

Question 1

Independent variable

Answer 1

The factor the experimenter manipulates

Question 2

Dependent variable

Answer 2

The factor the experimenter measures

Question 3

Aim

Answer 3

What the researcher intends to find out/investigate

Question 4

Null hypothesis

Answer 4

There will be no effect of one variable on another

Question 5

Hypothesis

Answer 5

Testable statement about what the researcher will find

Question 6

Alternative hypothesis

Answer 6

There will be an effect of one variable on another

Question 7

Experimental method

Answer 7

Where/how the study is conducted

Question 8

Directional hypothesis

Answer 8

Predict whether one variable causes an increase or decrease in another variable

Question 9

Non-directional hypothesis

Answer 9

When a cause is predicted

Question 10

Operationalisation

Answer 10

Turning abstract concepts into measurable observations

Question 11

Extraneous variables

Answer 11

A general term for any variable, other than the IV, that might affect results (DV)

Question 12

Laboratory experiment

Answer 12

An artificial and sterilised controlled environment

Question 13

Field experiment

Answer 13

Any location outside of a laboratory (place where it would naturally occur)

Question 14

Natural experiment

Answer 14

The researcher investigates an existing/naturally occurring IV and its effect in the DV

Question 15

Quasi experiment

Answer 15

Investigate the effects of a naturally occurring IV (amongst people) which already exists e.g. gender

Question 16

Mundane realism (ecological validity)

Answer 16

How much the study environment reflects the real-world environment

Question 17

Internal validity

Answer 17

How controlled the environment is, if we can be certain only the IV has caused changes in the DV

Question 18

Reliability

Answer 18

If the study can be repeated easily to test if others can find similar results

Question 19

Experimental design

Answer 19

How you split participants into the experimental conditions

Question 20

Independent measures

Answer 20

The sample is split into 2 groups , each group does 1 condition each

Question 21

Repeated measures

Answer 21

1 group does both conditions

Question 22

Matched pairs

Answer 22

Participants are matched on a similar trait e.g. IQ,Age They are then split into 2 conditions

Question 23

Sampling method

Answer 23

How you enlist participants to take part in the study

Question 24

Sample

Answer 24

Group of participants in a study

Question 25

Representative

Answer 25

If the sample represents the target population

Question 26

Target population

Answer 26

The group which the researcher wishes to study and that their findings should relate to

Question 27

Overt observation

Answer 27

Participants are aware they are being observed

Question 28

Covert observation

Answer 28

Observing a person without them knowing

Question 29

Participant observation

Answer 29

The observer takes part e.g Supernanny

Question 30

Non-participant observation

Answer 30

The observer does not take part

Question 31

Naturalistic observation

Answer 31

An observation of natural behaviour in a natural environment

Question 32

Controlled observation

Answer 32

In a controlled environment such as an observation room

Question 33

Structured observation

Answer 33

The use of behavioural categories, a pre-agreed list of what they are observing

Question 34

Unstructured observation

Answer 34

Every behaviour being observed and recorded in as much detail as possible

Question 35

Semi-structured interview

Answer 35

Consists mostly of pre-prepared questions but the interview can ask additional questions and deviate from the ‘script’

Question 36

Case study

Answer 36

The in-depth study of an individual or small groups life, it can be done at one point in time or longitudinally where the researcher follows them for many years so they can establish patterns and notice changes

Question 37

Open question

Answer 37

Allows participants to answer however they wish

Question 38

Closed question

Answer 38

Restrict participants to a pre-determined response e.g. yes or no

Question 39

Likert scale

Answer 39

Where participants rate in a scale

Question 40

Ranking scale

Answer 40

When participants rank a list in their preferred order

Question 41

correlation

Answer 41

A mathematical technique in which a researcher investigates an association between two variables, called co-variables

Question 42

Correlation co-efficient

Answer 42

Used to measure the strength and nature (positive or negative) of the relationship between two co-variables

Question 43

Quantitative data

Answer 43

Numerical data that can be statistically analysed and displayed in a graphical format

Question 44

Qualitative data

Answer 44

Non-numerical language based data expressed in words

Question 45

Primary data

Answer 45

Data collected by the researcher themselves for a specific reason

Question 46

Secondary data

Answer 46

Data collected by another researcher (data that already exits) which is used by the researcher

Question 47

Meta-analysis

Answer 47

A research paper that combines all studies on a specific topic to analyse patterns and trends

Question 48

Measures of central tendency

Answer 48

Calculates the central most typical value in a set of data

Question 49

Mean

Answer 49

The average of the data set

Question 50

Median

Answer 50

The middle value within the data set

Question 51

Mode

Answer 51

The value that appears the most frequently

Question 52

Measures of dispersion

Answer 52

Descriptive statistics which define how the data is spread around a central value (mean)

Question 53

Range

Answer 53

The spread of data from the lowest to the highest value

Question 54

Standard deviation

Answer 54

How far scores deviate from the mean

Question 55

Structured interview

Answer 55

Questions are decided in advance and every respondent is asked the same questions each time

Question 56

Unstructured interview

Answer 56

Very little is decided in advance,the interviewer asks questions based on the respondents answers

Question 57

5 ways of presenting quantitative data

Answer 57

Summary table, bar charts, line graphs, histograms, scattergrams

Question 58

Positive skew

Answer 58

Most of the distribution is concentrated to the left of the graph

Question 59

Negative skew

Answer 59

Most of the distribution is concentrated towards the right of the graph

Question 60

Skewed distribution

Answer 60

The distribution of scores is asymmetrical

Question 61

Where is the mode on a skewed graph?

Answer 61

Most frequent so it’s at the highest point

Question 62

Where is the median on a skewed graph?

Answer 62

At the centre,in between the mean and the mode

Question 63

Where is the mean on a skewed graph?

Answer 63

Shifted towards the outlier on the long tail

Question 64

Discrete data

Answer 64

Categories that don’t overlap and data that is countable (distinct)

Question 65

Continuous data

Answer 65

Values that increase over a range