A Level Psychology terminology, Research methods

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Laboratory study
Conducted under highly controlled conditions using a standardized procedure where the experimenter decides the conditions.
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Field experiment
Conducted in an everyday environment where the experimenter manipulates the independent variable.
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Natural experiment
Conducted in everyday environments but the experimenter had no control over the IV.
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Quasi experiment
Carried out in a natural setting where the researcher measures the effect of something to see whether it affects the DV.
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Observations
Involves watching participant(s) and recording relevant behavior for later analysis.
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Case study
In-depth investigations of a single person, group, event or community where information is collected from a variety of sources.
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Structured interviews
A quantitative research method where the interviewer has a set of closed questions in a scheduled interview.
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Unstructured interviews
The interviewer asks open-ended questions based on a specific topic and bases the questions on the candidate's experiences.
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Questionnaires
Written, self-report technique where participants are given a pre-set number of questions to respond to.
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Correlational study
The association between two variables. There are 3 different types of observation: positive, negative and zero.
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Longitudinal study
A study conducted over a long period of time looking at variables overtime.
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Independent variable
The factor in an experiment that you're investigating.
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Dependent variable
The factor in an experiment that affects the IV.
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Null hypothesis
A general statement that there's no difference between two variables.
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Observer effects
When participants change their behavior when they're aware they're being watched.
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Demand characteristics
The risk that participants change their natural behavior in line with their interpretation of the study's aim.
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Ecological validity
Examines whether the results of a study can be generalized to real-life situations.
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Covert observations
An undisclosed method of observation where the participants don't know they're be observed.
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Overt observation
A disclosed method of observation where the participants have consented to being observed.
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Participant observation
The researcher become an active part of the group or situation they're observing.
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Non-participant observation
Involves the researcher observing participants without actively participating
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Naturalistic observation
When participants react in a genuine way as they're in a natural environment; observer effects can still be displayed.
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Controlled observation
When an experiment is conducted under standardized conditions and environment.
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Content analysis
Systematically summarizing/ describing any content written information and converting it into quantitative data.
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Reliability
Whether the results are consistent and if they're repeatable.
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Test-retest reliability
When the same results are collected if the same participants are retested.
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Inter-observer reliability
Assesses the consistency of observations by the degree that observers give consistent recordings.
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Random sampling
A sampling method where each member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected.
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Opportunity sampling
When members from the target population are selected if they're available and willing to take part.
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Volunteer sampling
Where participants self-select themselves to become part of the study.
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Systematic sampling
Participants are selected according to a random starting point but with a fixed, periodic interval.
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Stratified sampling
When members of a population are divided into sub-groups where the members share characteristics and selected.
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Quota sampling
When researchers create a tailored sample involving individual that represent a characteristics within a population.
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Hypothesis
A prediction of the outcome of the experiment prior to conducting the study.
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One-tailed (directional) hypothesis
Predicts the nature of the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable.
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Two-tailed (non-directional) hypothesis
Predicts that the IV will have an effect on the DV, but the direction of the effects is unspecified.
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Repeated measures design
Where the same participants are used in each condition of the IV.
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Independent groups design
When different participants are used in each condition of the IV.
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Matched pairs design
When one pair, matched on similar variables, must be randomly assigned to the experimental design and the other to the control group.
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Order effects
Refers to how the positioning of tasks influences the outcome.
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Counterbalancing
When the participant sample is divided in half, where one group completes the task in one order and the other group in the reverse order.
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Significance
Indication that the association between 2 or more variables is strong enough to accept the experimental hypothesis.
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Type 1 "false positive" error
You reject the null hypothesis and accept the experimental hypothesis wrongly.
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Type 2 "false negative" error
You keep the null hypothesis and rejected the alternative hypothesis when it should of been accepted.
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Probability
When something occurs due to chance.
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Statistical testing
Works out the probability of whether a particular set of data could have occurred by chance.
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Nominal data
Names something without assigning it to an order in relation to numbers/ data.
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Ordinal data
Data order in some way but difference between each is not the same (scales, ratings, scores).
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Interval data
Quantitative data that's measured along a scale with equal intervals.
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Sign test
A calculation used to determine whether the data set has statistical significance (repeated groups/ nominal data required).
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Correlation
Linear relations between variables.
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Degrees of freedom
The number of values that are free to vary given that the overall totals are known.
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Parametric assumption
Assumption that the data has a normal distribution.
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Inferential statistics
Test used to determine whether raw data is statistically significant.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Conducted in an everyday environment where the experimenter manipulates the independent variable.

Back

Field experiment

Card 3

Front

Conducted in everyday environments but the experimenter had no control over the IV.

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

Carried out in a natural setting where the researcher measures the effect of something to see whether it affects the DV.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Involves watching participant(s) and recording relevant behavior for later analysis.

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

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