Key Science Skills Psych

primary data collection

collected by person who is investigating

secondary data collection

collected by someone else, but used by the researcher

qualitative

relating to, measuring, or measured by the quality of something rather than its quantity.

qualitative: ordinal

ordered with relative value (small, medium, large)

qualitative: nominal

data in labels

Quantitative

capable of being measured or expressed as an amount using numbers

Quantitative: Discrete

countable values, countably infinite values, numeric. 1,2,3

Quantitative: Continuous

values that are continually counted. 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5

IV (independent variable)

Variable that is changed to record changes in the dependent variable.

DV (dependent variable)

A variable that is changed in response to the IV changing.

Controlled Variable

Factor in an experiment that a scientist purposely keeps the same and controls so it doesn't affect the dependent variable.

Confounding variable

In the system. Researcher can't tell if this caused DV change or IV

Case study

A study observing a variable which is not controlled as naturally occurring within case context.

Controlled experiment

Investigating the relationship between the IV and its effect on the DV.

Correlational study

Non controlled investigation to find the connection between multiple variables

Fieldwork

Going somewhere to observe the unique variables in a place.

Literature review

Using secondary sources for research

Modelling

Model simulating something.

Simulation

Use model to investigate, use an app to simulate colour blindness

Random sampling

Every person in a population equal likelihood to be selected.

Experimental group

Group exposed to the IV.

Control group

Group not exposed to the IV.

Random allocation

Sub selection in the sample for an equal chance to be in the control or experimental group.

Within subjects design

All people tested under normal rest vs sleep deprived state in problem solving.

Order effects

Effects in investigation if people do experiment twice, as they are more used to it.

Counterbalancing

Method to overcome order effects by having 1/2 participants do one half of the experiment first, then the other half after, while the other half of participants swap order.

Between Subjects Design

A design where sample is randomly allocated to only 1 condition of the experiment per group, either control or experimental.

Mixed design

Study with both between and within aspects, often when multiple IV affect DV.

Principles: Integrity

Ethical principle of being honest, communicating results and publishing them even if unfavorable.

Justice

Fairness in all aspects of research, recruiting, treatment, ensuring fairness for all participants.

Beneficence

Doing good, maximizing benefits for all and minimizing harms, avoiding causing harm.

Non maleficence

If harm must be caused, do not proceed.

Respect

Respect everyone's beliefs and decisions, which should be protected.

Reproducibility

Repeating research under changed conditions.

Deidentify people

Guidelines for confidentiality, including storing and disposing of data safely.

Voluntary participation

Participants can say no, with no pressure to participate and the freedom to discontinue participation at any time.

Withdrawal rights

The responsibility of the researcher to explain this to the participants beforehand.

Informed consent

Participants must be given information about the study and its nature before agreeing to take part.

Deception in research

Permitted if knowing the truth confounds results, but participants must be debriefed afterward.

Debrief

Participants are told of the deception, aims, results, and conclusions of the study, and informed of a counselor if needed.

Individual participant differences

Unique combination of personal characteristics, abilities, and backgrounds each participant brings to an experiment.

Use of non standard instructions and procedures

When research procedures differ and may affect participants' responses.

Experimenter effects/bias

Researchers can inadvertently or intentionally influence a participant's responses.

Placebo effect

Fake treatment causing the same effect because of belief rather than the actual IV.

Situational variables

Environmental factors influencing participant behavior, such as lights, noise, and temperature.

Demand characteristics

Clues in an experiment that tell the participant what the purpose of the experiment is, potentially altering their behavior.