Research method key term - Psychology

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  • Created by: samiyahhh
  • Created on: 18-09-19 17:16
Volunteer sample
Involves participant selecting themselves often through replying to an advertisement and volunteering
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Opportunity sample
This involves the researcher selecting anyone who is available at the time and willing to take part in research.
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Random sample
Every person in a given target population stands an equal chance of being selected for inclusion. Collect the names of all the possible participants and using a random number generator select enough participant to make up the sample.
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Stratified sample
Selection of certain groups in a way that will match the variety and proportion in which participants occur amongst the general population eg. if 40% of males are psychology students then a stratified sample should include 40% of males.
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Lab experiment
Research is happening in an artificial environment
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Field experiment
Research is taken in a natural environment
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Independent variable
Variable the researcher manipulates
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Dependent variable
is a variable being tested and measured in a scientific experiment
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Independent groups
Participants only take part in one condition of the experiment. This means tht different participants will take part in each of the experimental condtions.
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Repeated measures
Participant take part in both (or all) conditions of experiment eg. designing an experiment is to compare the performance of people 1 condition with their own performance
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Matched pairs
Matching each participant in one of the experimental conditions as closely as possible to another participant in the second condition according to variables that are considered to be relevant.
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Correlation
A measurement of two or more variables to establish whether there is a relationship between them. The researcher does not manipulate the variable but only measures the relationship between them to see if they co - vary.
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Alternate hypothesis (experimental)
Prediction of what the researcher thinks will happen eg. there will be a significant difference between ... and ...
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Null hypothesis
Prediction that nothing will happen as the variables are not related or will not affect each other
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Alternate hypothesis (correlation)
Predict relationship between variables eg. There will be a significant relationship between ... and ...
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Covert
Participant are not aware of being observed. One way mirrors can be used to prevent participants being aware of observation taking place.
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Overt
Participants know that they re being watched and their behaviour being recorded which may alter their behaviour
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Participants
Observers are in some way part of the activity. This may be with or without the participant's knowledge and are often difficult to carry out, especially when trying to record data.
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Non - participant
Observers are not part of the activity. This type of observation may be overt or covert.
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Structured:
Some variable are controlled by the researcher and are usually carried out in a lab environment. This type of observation can be both overt and covert
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Naturalistic
People are watched in their natural environment with no manipulations by the researcher and behaviour is recorded as it is happening.
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Tallying
Researcher creates a chart so that every time the behaviour is seen, a note can be made (behaviour check list). They code what we observe in terms of how often a type of particular behaviour appears.
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Time sampling
Involves observing and recording specific instances of people's behaviour at set time intervals for a set length of time eg. observing and recording person's smiling every 10 second for a total of 20 min.
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Event sampling
Involves observers recording occurrences of specific behaviour listed on behavioural coding scheme each and every time it occurs throughout the duration of the observation period.
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Confounding variables
This is a variable which has an unintentional effect on the dependent variable.
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Objectivity
Anything that could be bias the research has been minimized or eliminated, so that the outcomes of the research area true reflection of what is affecting the behviour.
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Subjectivity (researcher bias)
Is a person's perspective or opinion, particular feelings, beliefs and desires.
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Credibility
The research account is believable and appropriate with particular reference to the level of agreement between participants and the researcher.
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Participant variables
Aspects of the participants' characteristics or experiences that could affect the outcomes of the research eg. eyesight that could affect how they perform on a reading task.
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Situational variables
Aspects of the research situation that could affect the outcomes. This could range from the weather which could affect concentration levels.
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Extraneous variables
These could be caused by the environmental conditions (light, noise), the characteristics of the participants (emotional state, sex, age) or the characteristics of the task.
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Demand characteristics
Participants will change their natural behaviour in line with their interpretation of the aims of the study, in turn affecting how they respond in any tasks they are set.
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Operationalisation of variables
When carrying research variables need to be operationalised, so are defined in very specific terms the behaviour being tested. To make sure the data is both valid and reliable.
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Counterbalancing
Used to deal with order effects when using repeated measures design. The particpant sample is divided in half, with one half completing the two conditions in one order and the other half completing the conditions in the reverse order.
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Order effects
This is when the order in which the different tasks of the research are carried out interfere with performance of the participant. It could be that the particpant will do better on the second task due to practise.
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Experimenter effects
This is when the researcher has a direct impact on the results of the study. The personality or gender of the researcher may also affect the outcomes of the research.
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Ecological validity
Extent to which research related to real life settings
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Reliability
When measuring of variables and results of research are consistent so the researcher gains approximately the same or similar results over repeated trials.
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Generalisability
The research is representative to the whole population.
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Controls
The research has controls to minimise the effect of all variables except the independent variable.
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Closed questions
These types of questions provide participants with a limited choice of answers and forces them to select from a list of possible answers to help researchers collect quantitative data.
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Internal validity
Whether the outcomes of research are due to the manipulation of the variable and not some other factor.
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Predictive validity
Where the research gains similar results to other research that has been carried out at a different time to look at if the results can be used to back each other up and predict future outcomes
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Questionnaire
A questionnaire given to participants in either a format of a question or statement that the participants need to respond to. They can collect either a quantitative or qualitative
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Structured interview
Uses a list of pre - set questions and participants choose their response from a list of fixed alternate responses, which can be collected and analysed.
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Semi - structured interview
Uses a list of pre set questions but the participants responses are not fixed as they can express their own views.
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Unstructured interview
Will not use pre - set questions, instead asking participants to connent on a particular topic in their own words thereby allowing them ti express their views freely
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Open questions
Invite people to describe what they think or feel about a particular topic. As participants are invited to provide answers in their own words. Open questions enable reserachers to collect qualitative data
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Social desirability
Social desirability bias refers to the tendency to present one's self in a favourable way rather than to give accurate answers
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

This involves the researcher selecting anyone who is available at the time and willing to take part in research.

Back

Opportunity sample

Card 3

Front

Every person in a given target population stands an equal chance of being selected for inclusion. Collect the names of all the possible participants and using a random number generator select enough participant to make up the sample.

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

Selection of certain groups in a way that will match the variety and proportion in which participants occur amongst the general population eg. if 40% of males are psychology students then a stratified sample should include 40% of males.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Research is happening in an artificial environment

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
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