General statements developed from theories that describe the purpose of an investigation
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Hypotheses
a statement that is made at the start of a study and clearly states the relationship between variables
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Experimental Method
involves the manipulation of an independent variable to measure the effect on the dependent variable. Experiments may be laboratory, field, natural or quasi
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Directional hypothesis
states the direction of the difference or relationship
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Non-directional hypothesis
does not state the direction
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Variables
anything that can vary or change within an investigation. Variables are generally used in experiments to determine if changes in one thing result in changes to another
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Independent variable (IV)
some aspect of the experimental situation that is manipulated by the researcher - or changes naturally - so the effect on the DV can be measured
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Dependent variable (DV)
the variable that is measured by the researcher. Any effect on the DV should be caused by the change in the IV
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Operationalisation
clearly defining the variables in terms of how they can be measured
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Extraneous variable (EV)
any variable, other than the independent variable (IV), that may have an effect on the dependent variable (DV) if it's not controlled. EV's are essentially nuisance variables that do not vary systematically with the IV.
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Confounding variables
any variable, other than the IV, that may have affected the DV so we cannot be sure of the true source of changes to the DV. Confounding variables vary systematically with the IV.
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Demand characteristics
any cue from the researcher or from the research situation that may be interpreted by participants as revealing the purpose of the investigation. This may lead to a participant changing their behaviour within the research situation
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Investigator effects
any effect of the investigator's behaviour (conscious or unconscious) on the research outcome (the DV). This may include everything from the design of the study to the selection of, and interaction with, participants during the research process.
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Randomisation
the use of chance in order to control for the effects of bias when designing materials and deciding the order of conditions
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Standardisation
using exactly the same formalised procedures and instructions for all participants in a research study.
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Experimental design
the different ways in which the testing of participants can be organised in relation to the experimental conditions
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Independent groups design
participants are allocated to different groups where each group represents one experimental condition
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Repeated measures
all participants take part in all conditions of the experiment
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Matched pairs design
pairs of participants are first matched on some variable(s) that may affect the DV. Then one member of the pair is assigned to Condition A and the other to Condition B
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Random allocation
an attempt to control for participant variables in an independent groups design which ensures that each participant has the same chance of being in one condition as any other
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Counterbalancing
an attempt to control for the effects of order in a repeated measures design: half of the participants experience the conditions in one order, and the other half in the opposite order
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Laboratory (lab) experiment
an experiment that takes place in a controlled environment within which the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV, whilst maintaining strict control of extraneous variables
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Field experiment
an experiment that takes place in a natural setting within which the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV
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Natural experiment
an experiment where the change in the IV is not brought about by the researcher but would have happened even if the researcher had not been there. The researcher records the effect on the DV
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Quasi-experiment
a study that is almost an experiment but lacks key ingredients. The IV has not been determined by anyone - the 'variables' simply exist, such as being old or young
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
a statement that is made at the start of a study and clearly states the relationship between variables
Back
Hypotheses
Card 3
Front
involves the manipulation of an independent variable to measure the effect on the dependent variable. Experiments may be laboratory, field, natural or quasi
Back
Card 4
Front
states the direction of the difference or relationship
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