Psychological Investigations Revision

This set of flashcards includes important terminology and definitions related to psychological investigations, focusing on research design, reliability, validity, and data types.

Qualitative Data

Data that is descriptive and can be observed but not measured.

Quantitative Data

Data that can be quantified and is typically expressed with numbers.

Independent Variable

The variable that is manipulated or changed in an experiment to observe its effect.

Dependent Variable

The variable that is measured or tested in an experiment.

Extraneous Variables

Variables other than the independent variable that can influence the outcome of an experiment.

Reliability

The consistency of a measure, or the extent to which it produces stable and consistent results.

Validity

The extent to which a test measures what it intends to measure.

Subjective Data

Data based on personal opinions, interpretations, feelings, and beliefs.

Objective Data

Data that is less influenced by personal feelings and opinions, and can be measured or observed.

Normal Distribution

A probability distribution that is symmetric about the mean, showing that data near the mean are more frequent in occurrence than data far from the mean.

Skewed Distribution

A distribution that is not symmetrical and has a long tail on one side.

Focus Group

A qualitative research method where a small group discusses a topic, providing insights through group interaction.

Delphi Technique

A qualitative research method that gathers expert opinions through iterative rounds to reach a consensus.

Experimental Group

The group in an experiment that receives the treatment or manipulation.

Control Group

The group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment and serves as a benchmark.

Random Allocation

The process of assigning participants to different groups randomly to ensure that each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to any group.

Unrepresentative Sample

A sample that does not accurately reflect the characteristics of the population from which it is drawn.

Mean

The average of a set of numbers, calculated by adding them up and dividing by the count.

Median

The middle value in a data set when the numbers are arranged in order.

Descriptive Statistics

Statistics that summarize or describe the characteristics of a data set.

Thematic Analysis

A method of analyzing qualitative data by identifying and interpreting patterns or themes.

Cognitive Tests

Assessments designed to measure intelligence, reasoning, memory, and other cognitive abilities.

Biological Variables

Factors related to biology and physical characteristics that may influence outcomes.

Situational Variables

Environmental factors that can affect the results of an experiment.

Experimenter Effects

Bias that occurs when a researcher's expectations influence the outcome of a study.