IB Psychology Key terms-RM

Usually for evaluation

Generalisability

How well the data collected from the sample can be applied to the target population.

Validity

How true the research is in terms of what it claims to measure generally. For example, how true are the results to people, environments and activities of the experiment? 

Internal validity

How true the data collected demonstrates a trustworthy cause and effect relationship between variables inside the experiment.

External validity

How true the research is outside of the experiment itself. 

Ecological validity

How true the research is to different environments outside of the experiment.

Reliability

How accurate the results are.

If you did the same research again would you get the same results?

Mundane realism

How well the activity in the experiment reflects something completed or done by participants in everyday life .E.G. eating breakfast? Writing something down? Taking medication?

Bias

Factors that can effect results collected E.G. gender, researcher opinion or personal opinions or past experience. (e.g. will boys respond differently to stimuli based on experiences they have had?)

Construct validity

How well the variables have been measured in the experiment.

Correlation

The relationship between two variables

Extraneous variables

All variables that aren’t the IV but could affect the results of the experiment.

Order effects

When participants complete the same activity multiple times and become bored or change their behaviour as a result.

Demand characteristics

A subtle cue that makes participants aware of what the experimenter expects to find or how the participants are expected to behave. Generates a type of bias.