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Research methods key terms Flashcards

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1
Q

Aim

A

A broad statement of the purpose of research

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2
Q

Alternative hypothesis

A

A precise and testable statement of the believed difference or relationship between two variables, rejected or supported by a study

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3
Q

Case study

A

An indepth investigation of a phenomenon through an individual, group, or an event. Data comes from a variety of soucres and produces descriptive analysis, longitudinal

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4
Q

Central tendency

A

Form of estimation from a mid-point / average
Mean, median, mode

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5
Q

Confidentiality

A

Data kept securely unless full consent, participants should not be identifiable, data not shared with anybody outside of research

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6
Q

Confounding variable

A

Variables are not measured or manipulated but affect the DV by affecting some ps and not others. Reduce the validity as not sure if due to them or the IV

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7
Q

Content analysis

A

Behaviour is observed indirectly through written or verbal material such as diaries or newspapers. Identify categories, codes or themes. Frequency with which each category in the data occurs is tallied. Turns quantitative data into qualitative

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8
Q

Control

A

The extent to which a variable is held constant or regulated

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9
Q

Correlational study

A

Research assess the extent of a relationship between two continuous variables by comparing them, may be positive (both up), negative (one up, one down) or none

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10
Q

Co-variables

A

Variables in a correlation, must be continuous

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11
Q

Debriefing

A

Method that tries to ensure ps are aware of true nature of the study, overcoming any deception. Should return ps to original state

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12
Q

Deception

A

When a ps is not told the true aim or procedure of a study and thus cannot give valid consent, may deliberately give false information or withhold it

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13
Q

Demand characteristics

A

A clue in the research allows a ps to guess the aim / expectation of the researcher. May change their behaviour to please or ‘screw’ the researcher.
May be confounding if some figure out but not others

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14
Q

Descriptive stats

A

Mean, median, mode, range, standard deviation

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15
Q

Directional hypothesis

A

A precise and testable statement of the believed difference or relationship between two variables says the direction ot the effect of the IV on the DV, rejected or supported by a study (e.g alcohol slows reaction time)D

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16
Q

Dispersion

A

Shows data spread, if it’s clustered or broadly spread, range, dispersion

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17
Q

DV

A

A variable that is measured by the researcher

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18
Q

Ethical issue

A

Questions of right and wrong in the research, arise when the values of the researcher / science conflict with ps valuesE

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19
Q

Ethical guidelines

A

Set of principals to help psychologists behave morally. UK published by BPS, cover inception through to completion and publication of research

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20
Q

Ethics committee

A

Board in place to ensure research is ethical and meets current guidelines and codes of conduct

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21
Q

Event sampling

A

Researcher observes ps and records specific behaviour every time it occurs to create a total score, used a tally chart often

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22
Q

Experiement

A

Research method where a researcher manipulates an IV to measure its effect on a DV to test for a causal relationship. Ps randomly allocated to groups, control groups / conditions

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23
Q

External validity

A

Whether the study paints a true picture of real life behaviours, e.g if the tasks have mundane realism, and if the findings would apply to other people and times (pop validity)

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24
Q

Extraneous variable

A

Variables not measured or manipulated by the researcher but may affect the DV. They affect all ps equally and may become a confounding variable. They can obscure / mask the effect of the IV on the DV

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25
Field location
A location where research can be conducted in a natural setting
26
Independent groups design
An experimental design where ps only take part in one experimental condition
27
Internal validity
The extent to which a test / procedure is measuring what it intends to measure rather than some other behaviour. The accuracy of the findings and if it was the IV that caused the DV.
28
Interval data
MEasurement has equal numerical intervals between scores such as temperature. No true 0 that indicates the absense of the variable
29
IV
The variables that an experimental manipulates and controls to observe it's effect on the DV.
30
Lab envrionment
A location where research is conducted in a controlled setting. Procedures can be standardised and variables controlled. A lab is equipped to scientifically measure variables, the IV can also be precisely manipulated
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Levels of measurement
Nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio
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Matched pairs design
Independent groups where the experimental and control groups are deliberately similar to one another and are 'matched' on certain characteristics
33
Mean
Central tendency, the average that is shown by all scores in the data set when divided by n
34
Median
Central tendency, the mid point in an ordered set of data
35
Mode
Central tendency, most common value
36
Natural experiment
Type of Quasi, the IV is manipulated by natural factors not the researcher, not randomly allocated to groups. Effect of IV on DV is measured
37
Nominal data
Level of measurement with categories of data shown by frequencies. e.g tall, short, medium, no relative numerical value
38
Non - directional hypothesis
A precise and testable statement of the believed difference / correlation between two variables that doesn't state the direction of the IV's effect on the DV, e.g alcohol affects reaction time
39
Null hypothesis
A statement of no difference / correlation between the two variables being studied. e.g alcohol has no effect on reactiont ime
40
Non - participant observation
A researcher observers and records patient behaviour from a distance without interfering. Can be structured (pre-set behaviours recorded) or unstructured, overt or covert
41
Observational sampling techniques
A sampling technique used to collect data about specific behaviours or events within a specific time frame
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Opportunity sampling
Ps are selected at a researchers convenience without knowing details about them, e.g people passing by
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Ordinal data
The level of measurement where the data is placed into ascending or descending order, but the intervals between data is not equal, e.g first, second, and third in a race
44
Online research
Data is collected by the internet, social networks, mobile apps etc
45
Operationalisation
Defining variables precisely so that they're testable
46
Participant observation
An investigation where a researcher observes ps while taking on the role of the ps and taking part in the same activity as them.
47
Pilot study
A small scale trial run of a study to test all aspects of the design and procedures so that improvements can be made before the main study
48
Privacy
The right of a ps to control the flow of information about themselves, they should not be pressured to reveal certain information about themselves that they don't want to. Also shouldn't be identifiable
49
Quantitative data
A type of data that can be measured numerically by the psychologist
50
Qualitative data
A type of data that can be observed, but not measured numerically. Often words describing thoughts or feelings
51
Quasi experiment
Almost an experiment. The IV manipulated by natural factors, so ps not randomly allocated to a group. Includes natural experiments and difference studies
52
Questionnaire
A ps is given a list of written questions which are completed in writing. May have preset awnsers (closed) or ps allowed to write their own awnsers (open).
53
Quota sampling
A sampling technique where the target pop is divided into supgroups (e.g by sex) and the ps are chosen from each sub group using a non random method. The number chosen from each subgroup should be directly proportional to the number of that subgroup in the target pop.
54
Random sampling
A sampling technique where all ps in the sampling frame have an equal chance of being chosen to participate in the research, e.g names drawn from a hat or a computer is used
55
Range
Dispersion. A value that shows the spread of data, representing the difference between the lowest and highest scores.
56
Ratio data
A level of measurement with equal intervals between scores and an absolute or true zero
57
Reliability
Consistency.
58
Repeated measures design
An experiment where the participants take part in both the control and experimental conditions
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Internal reliability
The extent to which a test or measure is consistent within itself. Standardised instructions and procedures for all ps
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External reliability
The extent to which a test is consistent over several occasions
61
Researcher bias
Anything a researcher does that has an effect on an individuals performance / answers.
62
Risk of stress, anxiety, humiliation, or pain
If a research could induce more than minimal pain through repetitve or prolonged testing. Harm must be greater than would experience in daily life to be significant.
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Risk to pt values, beliefs, relationships, status, or privacy
Research procedures that could jeopardise a ps values, beliefs, relationships, status, or privacy
64
Sampling frame
A group / population that is identified when it is unreasonable to study the whole target population
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Secondary data
Data not directly gathered by the researcher
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Self report
A ps described their own thoughts / feelings / behaviours
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Self selected sampling
A sampling technique where ps volunteer for researchS
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Semi - structured interview
A ps is asked questions face to face and answers are recorded. Not all questions are pre determined, and are often based off of patient answers.
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Speicific validity issue
Demand characteristics, social desirabiity, researcher bias
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Social desirability bias
A distortion in a ps behaviour / awnsers as they want to behave in a way that portrays themselves in a positive light
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Status
Somebodies position in society
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Standard deviatoin
A measure of dispersion. A value that represents the amount of variation of results from the mean
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Stratified sampling
Quota sampling, ps chosen from subgroup using a random method
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Structured interview
Asked ps pre determined questions and records the answers, usually face to face
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Snowball sampling
Ps are initally recruited and then they recruit more from people they know, and so on
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Systematic sampling
Every nth person on a list is selected by the researcher
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Target population
The group of individuals that a researcher is interested in studying
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Time sampling
The researcher observes and records behaviour at specific time intervals
79
Validity
Whether or not an observed effect in genuine. The extent to which a researcher has measured what they claim to measure and if these findings apply beyond the research setting.
80
Valid consent
Ps need comprehensive information about the nature and purpose of the research, their role in it, and potential consequences so they can make an informed decision to participate
81
Vulnerable individuals
People who are particularly at risk due to certain characteristics they have (children, mental illnesses, prisoners, people in illegal activity)
82
Variable
Any factor or element in a study that can change
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