Research Methods - IB Psychology

Validity

When an experiment measures what it intends to measure, is credible and reliable.

Generalisability

Ability to make statements about the population the sample is drawn from.

Operationalize

Clearly defining a research variable so that it can be measured.

Standardize

Experiment can be easily replicated as every participant practices the same procedure.

Order effects

The order in which the participants do a task in an experiment affects the results of the study.

Counterbalancing

Swapping the order of the way a group does a task to avoid order effects.

Reactivity

Participants change their behaviour because they know they are in an experiment.

Demand characteristics

Participants guess what the study's purpose is and change their behaviour attempting to provide 'correct' data.

Expectancy effect

When participants expect that a particular outcome is expected of them.

Screw you effect

A participant attempts to disprove the hypothesis in attempts to tarnish the credibility of the study.

Social desirability effect

A participant attempts to give socially acceptable information, to appear in a better light in front of others and avoid embarrassment.

Participant variability

Characteristics of sample impact the dependant variable, mostly due to non-random sampling (sampling bias).

Natural experiment

Independent variable is not in control of the researcher and environmental in nature.

Quasi experiment

Participants are not randomly assigned to conditions but are grouped based on a specific trait or behavior.

Field experiment

An experiment set up in the real world.

Laboratory experiment

An experiment that takes place in a controlled environment, while maintaining strict control of extraneous variables.

Researcher bias

The researchers expectations impact the findings of the study, either consciously or sub-consciously.

Participant bias

When participants react in a certain way because they know they are being observed, or they believe they know what the researcher wants

Experimental hypothesis

A hypothesis that predicts a relationship between the independent and dependent variable.

Null hypothesis

A hypothesis that suspects there is no specific connection with the independent and dependent variable.

Opportunity sampling

Participants are sampled based on naturally occurring groups.

Random sampling

Each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected, participants recruited are completely random.

Self-selected sampling

Participants volunteer - usually in response to an advertisement in the local community or over the Internet.

Snowball sampling

Participants recruit other participants for a study.

Stratified sampling

The participants in the study reflect the makeup of the population.

Ethics in research

informed consent, right to withdraw, debriefing, privacy.

Internal validity

How well the experiment is done, and whether it measures what it was intended to.

External validity

The extent to which the results of a study can be generalized to other situations and to other people, especially the general public.

Ecological validity

A type of external validity exploring how the experimental environment influences *behaviour*.

Population validity

How well the findings of a study can be applied to the general public based on the characteristics of a sample.

Positive correlation

A correlation where as one variable increases, the other also increases, or as one decreases so does the other. Both variables move in the same direction.

Negative correlation

A correlation in which one variable increases, the other variable decreases. Moving in opposite directions.

Method triangulation

A type of triangulation in which multiple methods of research are utilized to collect richer data.

Structured interview

A selection interview that consists of a predetermined, strict and organized set of questions for the interviewer to ask.

Semi-structured interview

The interview follows a certain schedule, but is similar to a casual/ informal conversation. Questions are open ended for the participant to answer more freely.

Unstructured interview

The interviewer only specifies the date of the interview and the topic beforehand , this allows for more detailed/ personal answers from the participant but is harder to analyse.

Focus group

A type of interview with a small group of individuals and a guide, the conversation is more casual but the interview is difficult to control.

Naturalistic observations

Observations made in a natural environment.

Researcher triangulation

Involves the use of several observers, interviewers, or researchers to compare and check data collection and interpretation.

Representational generalization

Findings from qualitative research studies can be applied to populations outside the population of the study.

Inferential generalization

Findings of the study can also be applied to settings outside the setting of the study.

Theoretical generalization

Theoretical concepts derived from the study can be used to develop further theory.

What is psychology?

The study of the behavior & mental processes of an individual and how it is affected by their physical state, mental state and external environment.

Self-efficiency

One’s own belief on whether they will succeed based on previous experience.

Anecdotal data

Personal experience that can support a theory.

Empirical evidence

Information attained by observation or experimentation.

High heuristic validity

Theories with lots of applications.

Reductions

Describing a complex phenomenon with simple explanations.

Random allocation

Random assignment of participants to minimize the influence of individual characteristics on results.

Bidirectional ambiguity

When it is unknown whether A is causing B or if B is causing A, or if both of them are influenced by something else.

Picture superiority effect

Remembering images more than words.

what is the relationship between a population and a sample?

A population is the larger group of people that you take the sample from.

a double blind design

neither the participant nor the person gathering the data knows which group the participant is in

single blind experiment

the participant doesn’t know whether they’re in the treatment group or the control group