Research methods year 1

What is the aim of a research study?

A general statement of the area of investigation.

What is a hypothesis?

A clear, precise, testable statement that states the relationship between the variables to be investigated.

What type of hypothesis is chosen when previous research informs expectations?

A directional hypothesis.

What is an independent variable (IV)?

The variable that the researcher changes or manipulates in an experiment.

What is a dependent variable (DV)?

The variable that is measured or recorded to assess the effect of the independent variable.

What is a non-directional hypothesis?

A hypothesis that does not predict the specific direction of the relationship between variables.

What is an extraneous variable?

Unwanted factors that can affect the relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

What is the purpose of controlling extraneous variables?

To prevent them from distorting the results of the experiment.

What is a lab experiment?

An experiment conducted in a controlled environment where the researcher manipulates the independent variable.

What is a field experiment?

An experiment conducted in a natural setting where the researcher manipulates the independent variable.

What is a natural experiment?

An experiment where the change in the independent variable occurs naturally, and the researcher records its effect on the dependent variable.

What is a quasi-experiment?

An experiment where the independent variable simply exists, such as age or gender, and is not manipulated by the researcher.

What is randomisation in research?

A method used to ensure that every participant has an equal chance of being selected for the study.

What is standardisation in research?

The process of keeping all variables except the independent variable constant to ensure consistency.

What is informed consent?

The ability of participants to give consent to participate in research, ensuring they understand the study.

What ethical issue arises when participants are not fully informed about the study?

Deception.

What does the right to withdraw mean in research ethics?

Participants have the right to leave the study at any time without penalty.

What are observational techniques in research?

Methods used to observe and record behavior, which can be naturalistic or controlled, covert or overt, and participant or non-participant.

What is operationalisation in research?

The process of breaking down behavior into observable and measurable components.

What is event sampling in structured observation?

A method where specific events or behaviors are recorded when they occur.

What is the difference between a controlled and naturalistic observation?

Controlled observations take place in a structured environment, while naturalistic observations occur in real-world settings.

What is a potential limitation of convenience sampling?

It can lead to biased samples as it often involves participants who are readily available.

What is a strength of using large samples in research?

It provides a better chance of obtaining an unbiased representative sample.

What is volunteer bias in research?

The tendency for participants who volunteer for a study to be more motivated or different from the general population.

What is a confounding variable?

A variable that is not controlled and can affect the outcome of the study, potentially leading to incorrect conclusions.

What is unstructured observation?

A method where the observer simply watches and records behavior without a predefined framework.

What is structured observation?

A method where specific behaviors are recorded based on predetermined categories.

What is time sampling in structured observation?

Recording behaviors at specific time intervals, such as every 30 seconds.

What does operationalization mean in research?

Breaking down the behavior being studied into observable and measurable components.

What is the purpose of self-report techniques in research?

To gather data directly from participants through methods like questionnaires and interviews.

What are open questions in questionnaires?

Questions that allow respondents to answer freely, generating qualitative data.

What are closed questions in questionnaires?

Questions that restrict responses to a predetermined set of options, generating quantitative data.

What is the difference between primary and secondary data?

Primary data is collected firsthand by the researcher, while secondary data has already been gathered by others.

What is descriptive statistics?

Statistical methods that summarize and describe the characteristics of a data set.

What are measures of central tendency?

Statistics that describe the center of a data set, including mean, median, and mode.

What does standard deviation indicate?

It measures how much individual scores deviate from the mean in a data set.

What is a correlation in research?

A technique used to assess the strength of the association between two variables.

What does a correlation coefficient of +1 indicate?

A perfect positive correlation between two variables.

What is a bar chart used for?

To compare discrete categories of data, with spaces between bars indicating non-continuous data.

What is a histogram used for?

To present continuous data, with no spaces between bars indicating equal-sized intervals.

What is normal distribution?

A symmetrical distribution where most values cluster around the mean, forming a bell-shaped curve.

What is statistical testing used for?

To determine whether hypotheses should be accepted or rejected based on statistical significance.

What is the accepted probability level in psychology for significance?

Less than 0.05 or 5% (p ≤ 0.05).

What is the Sign Test used for?

To assess differences between two conditions in a repeated measures design using nominal data.

What is peer review in research?

A process where experts assess research work to ensure quality before publication.

What are the three main purposes of peer review?

To allocate research funding, validate research quality, and suggest improvements.

What is qualitative data?

Data expressed in words and descriptions, not numerical.

What is quantitative data?

Data that can be counted and expressed numerically.

What is the role of a scattergram in correlation analysis?

To visually represent the relationship between two variables.

What is the significance of a coefficient of 0 in correlation?

It indicates no correlation between the two variables.

What does skewed distribution refer to?

A distribution that is not symmetrical, with values concentrated on one side of the mean.