Research Methods Year 1

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Cause and Effect Relationship
A cause-effect relationship in which one event (cause) makes the other event happen (effect)
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Independent Variable
An aspect of the experimental situation that is manipulated by the researcher - or changes naturally
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Dependant Variable
The variable that is measured by the researcher. Any effect on the DV should be caused by changes in the IV
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Operationalisation
Operationalisation is clearly defining variables so they can be measured
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Aim
A general statement of what the researcher tends to investigate. Aims developed from theories
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Hypothesis
A testable statement to set out the relationship between the variables to be investigated.
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Directional Hypothesis
Clear what sort of difference or relationship that may be seen between the 2 conditions. 'less' 'more' 'higher' 'lower'
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Non Directional Hypothesis (Two tailed)
Used when there is no previous research to suggest what direction the research will go. 'will be a difference' 'will be a relationship'
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Lab experiment
Conducted in a highly controlled environments. The researcher manipulates the IV and records the effects of the DV.
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Field Experiments
The IV is manipulated in an everyday setting and looks at the effects on the DV
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Natural Experiments
When the researcher takes advantage of a pre-existing independent variables. Variable would changed even if the experimenter wasn't interested.
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Quasi-Experiment
IV is based on an existing difference between people (age,gender ect...) No one has manipulated this variable, it simply exists.
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Extraneous Variables
Any variable, other than the IV that may have an effect on the DV if it is not controlled.
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Cofounding Variables
Ny 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.
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Demand Characteristics
Participants are not clueless of the experiment and work out what is going on then change their behaviour.
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Investigator Effects
Any effects on the investigators behaviour on the research outcome (DV) This may include, design of the study or selection/interaction with the participants during the research process.
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Randomisation
Use of 'chance' in order to control for the effects of bias (words in a memory test randomised instead of decided by researcher)
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Standardisation
Using exactly the same procedures for all participants.
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Independant Groups
When two separate groups of participants experience two different conditions of the experiment.
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Repeated Groups
A repeated measures design is where all participants take part in both conditions.
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Counterbalancing
Had of the participants take part in condition A then B, while the other half take part in B then A.
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Matched Pairs
A matched pairs design is where pairs of participants are first matched on a variable (i.e.. IQ) then one is assigned to condition A and the other assigned to condition B. (Bandura et al)
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Structured Interview
Made up of pre-determined questions asked in a fixed order. (like a questionnaire but face-to-face)
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Semi-Structured Interview
List of questions in advance but interviewers can ask follow up questions.
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Unstructured Interview
A lot like a conversation, no set questions but a aim that a certain topic will be discussed. Free-flowing and interviewers encouraged to expand on their answers.
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Questionnaires
Pre-set list of questions used to asses a persons thoughts/experiences. May be used as part of an experiment to measure the DV, open and closed questions can be used.
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Open Questions
Do not have a fixed range of answers, free to answer in any way they wish. Tend to produce Qualitative Data.
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Closed Questions
They have a fixed number of responses, produce numerical data by reducing the amount of answers available. This produces Quantitative Data.
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Overt Observations
Participants are aware that they are being observed.
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Covert Observation
Participants are unaware that they are being observed.
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Participant Observations
Necessary for the observer to become apart of the group they are observing.
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Non-Participant
The observer is merely watching the behaviour of the participants.
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Event Sampling
Counting the times a particular behaviour occurs in an individual group.
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Time Sampling
Records behaviour within a particular time frame.
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Unstructured Observations
Researcher records all relevant behaviour but has no system.
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Structured Observations
Researcher uses a list of pre-determined behavioural categories and sampling methods
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Positive Correlation
Where one co-variable increases and so does the other. (ex.. the no of people in a room & the noise level)
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Negative Correlation
Where one co-variable increases and the other decreases (ex...the temp and no of gloves sold)
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No Correlation
The variables have no relationship (persons IQ & their house no)
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Correlation Coefficient
Always between +1 (Perfect positive correlation) & -1 (Perfect negative correlation) It is the strength of the correlation. 0 is No correlation
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Content Analysis
Type of observational research technique in which people are studied indirectly via the communications they have produced.
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Coding
This is the initial stage in content analysis. Involves categorising of information into meaningful units.
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Opportunity Sampling
The researcher selects anyone who is available and willing to participate.
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Random Sampling
All members of the target population have an equal chance of being selected.
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Systematic Sampling
Every nth member of the target population is selected.
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Stratified Sampling
A sub-group is created (strata) (based on age, social class) Then the population is randomly sampled within each strata.
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Volunteer Sampling
Participants select themselves to be a part of the study. (through and advert eat...)
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Deception
Deliberately misleading or withholding information from participants.
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Informed Consent
Making participants aware of the aim of the research, the procedures and their rights. They can make an informed decision on whether they want to take part.
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Protection from Harm
Patients should not be placed in any physical or psychological risk.
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Privacy
Participants data should not be disclosed to anyone unless agreed in advance. Numbers should be used instead of names.
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Right to Withdraw
Participants should be aware they can leave a study at any time and even withdraw their data after the study is finished.
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Presumptive Consent
A similar group of people are asked if the study is acceptable. If this group agreed then the consent of the original participant is 'presumed'
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Prior General Consent
Participants give their permission to take part in a number of different studies- including the one that will involve deception.
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Retrospective Consent
This involves asking participants for consent after they have participated in the study (debriefing) (they may not consent and have already taken part)
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Qualitative Data
Expressed in words. feelings, opinions, thoughts ect...
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Quantitative Data
Data expressed numerically. individual figures, data is open to being analysed statistically and can be expressed using graphs, charts eat...
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Primary Data
Data has been gained directly from the participants, it would be specifically related to the ai
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Secondary Data
Data that has been collected by someone other than the person carrying out the study.
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Meta-analysis
A type of research method that uses secondary data. Researcher uses the data from a large number of studies which have involved the same research methods and questions. The results of all those studies are analysed to give an overview and conclusion.
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Mean
Adding all the scores in a data set together and dividing by the number of scores.
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Median
This is calculated by putting all the scores in the data set in order and identifying the score in the middle.
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Mode
Most commonly occurring score.
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The Range
The difference between the highest and the lowest score, - the lowest from the highest.
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The Standard Deviation
Tells us how far all the scores deviate away from the mean.
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Validity
The degree to which something measures what it claims to
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Internal Validity
Concerns whether the results are due to the manipulation of the IV and not affected by cofounding variables
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External Validity
Refers to the extent to which the results can be generalised to other settings
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Population Validity
Refers to whether the experimental results can be generalised to other groups
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Ecological Validity
Refers to whether the experimental results can be generalised to other settings
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Reliability
Is about the consistency of results. Can be improved by developing consistent forms of measurement.
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Internal Reliability
Concerns the extent to which something is consistent within itself (e.g ,if an observation is measuring aggression; do all the behavioural categories really measure aggression?)
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External Reliability
Concerns the degree to which a test measures consistently over time. (e.g if someone achieved 120 on an IQ test we would expect them to have that same result in 8 months time- this shows external reliability)
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Inter-Observer Reliability
The extent to which two or more observers are in agreement on the behaviours they observe.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Independent Variable

Back

An aspect of the experimental situation that is manipulated by the researcher - or changes naturally

Card 3

Front

Dependant Variable

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Operationalisation

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Aim

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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