Research methods vocab

Year 1

Controlled observation

A type of observation where participants are observed in a lab , increasing control and reliability but decreasing ecological validity

Correlation

The extent to which two variables are associated

Covert observation

A type of observation where the observer is hidden and therefore participants do not know they are being observed , while this does reduce demand characteristics , it can raise ethical issues aorund consent

Experiment

A type of investigation where in a hypothesis is tested by manipulation of an independent variable , in order to view its effect on the dependent variable

Field experiemnt

A type of experiment that is conducted in a real life setting

• Reduces amount of control over extraneous variabls

• Ecological validity

Interviews

A self report technique

• Participants are asked questions by interviewer

• Flexibility of information gathered

Laboratory experiment

A type of experiemnt that is conducted in a highly controlled environment

• Allowing control over extraneous variables

• Lacks ecological validty

Natural experiment

A type of experiemnt in which an independent variable that already exists is tested in its natural environment

• Greatly reducing the control of extraneous variable

• Allows for investigation if variables that cannot ethically be created

Naturalistic observation

A type of observation where participants are observed in their natural environment

• Increasing ecological validity

• Decreasing the amount of control over axtraneous variables

Non-participant observation

A type of observation where the observer does not join the group under observation

• Higher objectivity

• Reduces insight that could be achieved with a participation observation

Observation

A type of data collection where in participants’ behaviour is observed

Overt observation

A type of observation where the participants know they are under observation

• Preserves informed consent

• Increase demand characteristics

Participant observation

A type of observation where the observation where the observer joins the group under observation

• Highly valuable qualitative information with insight

• Reduce objectivity of the researcher

Quasi experiiment

A type of experiemnt in which an independent variable that already exists is tested in its natural environment

• Greatly reducing the control of extraneous variable

• Allows for investigation if variables that cannot ethically be created

Questionnaires

A self report technique where in participants answer pre- decided questions , in the form of paper or electronically , allows for anonymity

Structure interviews

A form of interview where questions are pre-set beforehand , with no flexibility. Usually these consist of closed questions , and allows for replicability

Unstructured interviews

A form of interview where questions may be set beforehand , but the interviewer is allowed flexibility in the form of a natural conversation

Aims

The objective or purpose of the experiment

Bias

An inclination to a certain position or thought, for example in hostile attribution bias , hostility or negativity is more likely to be assumed from a neutral face

Behavioural categories

An observatonal technique where participants possible behaviours are separated into more specific components

• Allows operationalisation of the behaviour

• eg spliting aggression into categories of ‘swearing’ and ‘punching’

Closed questions

A type of question that can only be answered with a limited muber of answers - yes or no

Concurrent validity

Occurs if a test is similar to an older test that already has well established validity

Confounding variable

A type of extraneous varaible that is related to the independent variable in the experiement

Control variable

Any variables that are kept constant through the experiemnt to prevent their effects on the dependent variable

Counterbalancing

To make half of the participant sample experience the different conditions of the experiemnt in one order and the otehr half of the participants complete in the opposite order

Demand characteristics

Changes in participants behaviour to comply with the hypothesis

Dependent variable

The variable that changes in response to manipulation of the researcher, that is being measured for the experiment

Directional hypothesis

A hypothesis that specifies the direction of the relationship of the experiment

Event sampling

An observational technique where an observer records every time a particular behaviour or ‘event’ occurs usually in the form of a tally chart

Extraneous variables

Variables other than the independent variable that have an effect of the dependent variable

Generalisation

To attribute information from a samle to the rest of the population

Hypothesis

The prediction of the outcome of the experiement

Independent groups

An experimental design where different participants are involved in different conditions of the experiement

Independent variable

The variable that is manipulated by the researcher to observe its effects on the dependent variable

Investigation effects

Unconcious changes in the investigators behaviour to comply with hte hypothesis of the investigation

Matched pairs

An experimental design where participants in different conditions of the experiement are matched on certain variables to reduce the effect of participant variables

Non- directional hypothesis

A hypothesis that does not specify the direction of the relationship of the experiment

Open questions

A type of question that requires answers longer than yes or no

Operationalisation of variables

To clearly state and objectify a variable

• eg instead of ‘aggression’ it would be developed into observable categories like ‘punching’ ‘kicking’

Oppertunity sampling

A sampling technique that involves obtaining a sample via anyone that is available from the population at the time of collecting the sample

Peer review

The assessment of work by other people with similar levles of expertise in that field to provide an unbiased expert opinion of the quality of said work

Pilot studies

Preliminary / trial studies carried out to ensure the clarity of the study itself, for example using a pilot questionaire on a sample of people that give feedback on the clarity of the questions

Population

The group represented by a sample

Random allocation

To allocate participants to separate conditions using some sort of randomisation technique

Random sampling

A sampling technique which involves randomly generating participants from the population by any randomisation technique

Repeated measures

An experiemntal design where the same participants undergo all the conditions of the experiemnt

Sample

A smaller gorup that aims to be representative of a population

Standardisation

Keeping the experimental methods as identical as possible

Stratified sampling

A sampling technique that involves establishing subgroups (stratas) within the population investigated and picking participants to create a representative samply

Systematic sampling

A sampling technique that involves establishing a method to pick participants evenly distributed through the population

• Nth

Time sampling

An observational technique where an observer only records specific behaviours time intervals

Volunteer sampling

A sampling technique that involves using participants that volunteer to take part in the study , provided they meet the inclusion criteria

Bar charts

A graphical representation of categorical data with numerical values

Correlation

The extent to which two variables are associated

Mean

A measure of the average of a data set that is calculated by adding all values together and dividing by the total number of values, taking in every value including outliers / anomalies

Median

A measure of the average of a data set by determining the middle value in the data set, this means it only takes into account the very middle value , ignoring the value of nay others

Mode

Measure of the average of a data set by determining the most common value , this means it only takes into account the number of values and not the values themselves

Negative correlation

When two sets of variables have a negative relationship - when one increases the other decreases

Normal distribution

A symmetric distribution of values around the mean , sometimes called

‘The Bell Curve’

Positive correlation

When two sets of variables have a positive relationship - when one increases the other increases

Primary data

Data that has been collcted first hand - by yourself

Qualitative data

Non- numerical data - text , video , photographs or audio recordings

Quantitative data

Data that is categorised by numerical values - height , weight , time

Range

A measure of dispersion that is calculated by subtracting the smallest value from the largest value

Scattergrams

A graphical representation of the correllation between two varibales

Secondary data

Data that has been collected by someone else

Skewed distribution

A asymmetric distribution of values around the mean , which can be positively or negatively skewed

Standard deviation

• Measure of dispersion that represents the average distance of values from the mean

• Calaculated by subtracting each value from the mean

• Squaring that difference and finding the sum of all these squares

• Then dividing by the number of values and findsing the square root

Year 2

Case studies

A detailed study of a particular person/persons or event usually holding a large amount of information

Content analysis

A research tool used to determine the presence of certain words , themes , or concepts within some given qualitative data

Abstract

A part of a scientific report that aims to summarise the report

Concurrent validity

Occurs if a test is similar to an older test that already has well established validity

Ecological validity

How well results from a twst can be applied to real life

Face validity

If a test appears to be valid at first appearance in spite of how well it workd in a real world scenario

Falsifiability

The quality of being able to be proven wrong, a statement can be falsified by one observation anomaly

Inter-observer reliability

Multiple investigators gather information separately during an observation and compare their data for similarity after

Objectivity

Empirical something that is not influenced by personal feelings

Paradigm

A basic concept a well accepted core belief

Paradigm shift

When previously accepted core concepts in a science are changed

Reliability

Essentially replicabity ; the extent tho which the test can be repeated and gather similar results

Replicability

How easily a test can be reproduced

Temporal validity

How well results from a test can be applied across time periods

Test-retest reliability

Completeing a test multiple times and comparing the scores for for similarity

Validity

Essentially truthfulness , the extent to which a test measures what it aims to measure

Coding

A type of analysis where in huge texts are simplified to certain key words that are aligned with certain themes

Correlation coefficient

A value between -1 and 1 that indicates the relationship (correlation) between tow data sets

Interval

A level of measurement that refers to variables that exist on a scale with fixed ,standardised intervals

Nominal

A level of measurement that refers to variables that can be counted in whole numbers , to indicate frequency

Ordinal

A level of measurement that refers to variables that can be placed on a scale of relative importance

Thematic analysis

A type of data anaylsis that aims to identify , repot and analyse recurring concepts