VCE PSYCH Science skills

What is the first step of the scientific method?

The identification of a research question.

What is a research question?

A specific topic or problem that a researcher wants to study.

What is the purpose of conducting a literature review?

To examine existing theories, models, and research related to the topic.

What is an example of a research question?

Does consumption of caffeine impact driving precision?

What should a research aim outline?

The purpose of the investigation.

What is a hypothesis?

A testable prediction of the relationship between two or more variables.

What characteristics should a good hypothesis have?

It should state the existence and expected direction of a relationship between variables.

What is an independent variable (IV)?

The variable that is manipulated to measure its effect on the dependent variable.

What is a dependent variable (DV)?

The variable that is observed and measured to assess the effects of the IV.

What is a controlled variable?

A variable that is kept constant to eliminate its potential effects on the dependent variable.

What does operationalising variables involve?

Defining how the independent and dependent variables will be manipulated or measured.

Why is operationalising variables important?

It ensures variables are testable and helps avoid experimenter bias.

What is a population in research?

The larger group from which a sample is selected for study.

What is a sample?

A subset of the population selected for research purposes.

Why do researchers use samples?

Studying an entire population is often impractical.

What should the aim of an investigation be expressed as?

As clearly and precisely as possible, often in a single sentence.

What is an example of how to express a research aim?

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of on .

What is the significance of the predicted direction in a hypothesis?

It indicates the expected outcome of the relationship between variables.

What types of characteristics can be considered variables in psychological research?

Observable and measurable events or characteristics, including personal traits.

What is an example of an operationalised variable for intelligence?

A score on a standardised intelligence test.

How can the variable of anger be operationalised?

By measuring changes in blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration rate.

What is a common characteristic of a targeted research population?

They typically share one or more characteristics in common.

What is an example of a non-living population in research?

All public hospitals in Victoria providing adolescent mental health services.

What is the relationship between independent and dependent variables?

The independent variable is manipulated to observe its effect on the dependent variable.

What is the role of controlled variables in an experiment?

To ensure that any changes in the dependent variable are due to the manipulation of the independent variable.

What is a practical reason for using a sample instead of a population?

Studying an entire population is often impractical due to size and resource constraints.

What should researchers ensure when they have multiple aims?

That the aims are related to each other.

Why do researchers use samples instead of studying an entire population?

Studying an entire population is often impractical; samples allow generalization of findings to the larger population.

What is sampling?

Sampling is the process of selecting a subset or part of the population for investigation.

What is a target population?

The population of research interest from which a sample is drawn.

What is a representative sample?

A sample that closely resembles the population from which it is drawn in key characteristics.

What is a biased sample?

A sample that does not adequately represent the key characteristics of its population.

What is random sampling?

A procedure ensuring every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected for the sample.

What is stratified sampling?

A method where the population is divided into subgroups, and a sample is taken from each stratum in proportion to their occurrence in the population.

What are extraneous variables?

Variables other than the independent variable that may cause a change in the dependent variable and affect the results.

What are participant variables?

Personal characteristics of participants that could influence their responses in an experiment.

How can participant variables be controlled?

By ensuring participants in different conditions are as similar as possible and using random allocation.

What are situational variables?

External factors associated with the experimental setting that may influence participant responses.

What is an order effect?

When performance on the dependent variable is influenced by the specific order of experimental tasks presented.

What is randomisation in research?

Testing participants in random order to control for situational variables that may change over time.

What is the placebo effect?

A change in a participant's behavior due to their belief that they are receiving treatment, rather than the effect of the independent variable.

What is the role of sampling techniques in research?

Sampling techniques influence the quality and usefulness of the sample selected for study.

What is the impact of sample size on representativeness?

Larger samples are more likely to be representative of the population, but small samples can still yield useful results if interpreted carefully.

What are demand characteristics?

Cues in an experiment that may inform participants of the expected behavior, potentially influencing their responses.

What are experimenter effects?

Influences that the experimenter's behavior may have on the participants' responses.

What is the significance of controlling extraneous variables?

Controlling extraneous variables helps ensure that changes in the dependent variable are due to the independent variable alone.

What is the importance of using standardised instructions?

Standardised instructions help control variations in how the experiment is conducted, reducing situational variables.

What are carryover effects?

Influences that a particular task has on performance in subsequent tasks, often seen in within-subject designs.

What is the difference between random sampling and stratified sampling?

Random sampling gives every member an equal chance of selection, while stratified sampling selects samples from distinct subgroups in proportion to their occurrence.

What are confounding variables?

Variables that may cause systematic errors affecting the dependent variable, complicating the interpretation of results.

How can researchers ensure a sample is unbiased?

By using random sampling methods and ensuring the sample reflects the population's key characteristics.

What is the relationship between sample size and error in representation?

A larger sample size typically reduces the potential for error in representing the population.

What is the effect of fatigue on experimental results?

Fatigue can lead to decreased performance in tasks, influencing the dependent variable negatively.

What is the significance of participant characteristics in research?

Participant characteristics can significantly influence the results and must be controlled to ensure valid conclusions.

How can researchers control the placebo effect?

By using a control group that receives a placebo or by employing a blind procedure.

What is a confounding variable?

A variable other than the IV that affects the dependent variable (DV) and cannot be separated from the IV.

What is the purpose of a control group in an experiment?

To provide a standard or baseline for comparison against the experimental group.

What is random allocation in experimental design?

The process of placing participants into experimental or control groups randomly to ensure even distribution of participant characteristics.

What is a between-subjects design?

An experimental design where each participant is randomly allocated to one of two or more groups, providing one score for data analysis.

What are the strengths of a between-subjects design?

Fast and easy to conduct, lower participant dropout rate, and no order effects.

What is a within-subjects design?

An experimental design where each participant is in both the experimental and control groups.

What is counterbalancing?

A method used in within-subjects designs to systematically change the order of treatments to reduce order effects.

What is a mixed design in experiments?

An experimental design that combines features of both between-subjects and within-subjects designs.

What are the limitations of a between-subjects design?

Least control over individual participant differences and requires more participants.

What are the limitations of a within-subjects design?

Order effects can occur, takes longer to collect data, and has a higher participant dropout rate.

What is beneficence in ethical research?

The commitment to maximizing benefits and minimizing risks and harms to participants.

What does integrity mean in the context of research ethics?

The commitment to honest reporting of all sources of information and results, whether favorable or unfavorable.

What is justice in research ethics?

The moral obligation to ensure fair consideration of competing claims and fair distribution of benefits.

What does non-maleficence entail?

Avoiding the causation of harm, ensuring that any harm is not disproportionate to the benefits.

What does respect mean in research ethics?

Consideration of the welfare, liberty, and autonomy of participants, ensuring their rights are protected.

What is the role of the independent variable (IV) in an experiment?

The variable that is manipulated to observe its effect on the dependent variable (DV).

What is the dependent variable (DV) in an experiment?

The variable that is measured to assess the effect of the independent variable (IV).

What is the significance of participant characteristics in experimental design?

Participant characteristics can influence the DV, and controlling for these is crucial for valid results.

How does random allocation help in experiments?

It helps ensure that participant variables are evenly spread across experimental and control groups.

What is the primary goal of controlled experiments?

To isolate the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable by minimizing confounding variables.

What is an extraneous variable?

A variable that can affect the DV but is not the IV; if uncontrolled, it may become a confounding variable.

What is the difference between experimental and control conditions?

The experimental condition involves exposure to the IV, while the control condition does not.

What is the importance of treating experimental and control groups the same?

To avoid introducing confounding variables that could affect the results.

What is the potential issue with a small number of participants in a between-subjects design?

It may not result in well-matched groups on participant characteristics, affecting the validity of the results.

What is the impact of order effects in within-subjects designs?

Order effects can lead to biases such as boredom or fatigue, affecting participant performance.

Why is a larger sample size beneficial in experimental designs?

It increases the likelihood that participant characteristics are evenly distributed across groups, enhancing result validity.

What does respect in research involve?

Consideration of intrinsic and instrumental value of living things, welfare, liberty, autonomy, and cultural heritage.

What is the principle of confidentiality in research?

Protection and security of a participant's personal information, ensuring anonymity and privacy.

What does voluntary participation ensure in research?

Participants are not coerced and can freely choose to partake without negative consequences.

What are random errors in research?

Errors due to chance factors affecting measurements, impacting precision but not accuracy.

What are systematic errors?

Errors produced by consistent factors that favor one condition, affecting accuracy but not precision.

What are personal errors in research?

Mistakes made by the researcher, including miscalculations and observer errors.

What is a generalization in research?

A judgment about how widely research findings can be applied to a population.

What are the strengths of experiments?

Allow testing cause-and-effect relationships, provide control over variables, and enable replication.

What are the limitations of experiments?

Some questions cannot be studied experimentally; lab settings may alter behavior and limit generalizability.

What is a correlational study?

A study investigating relationships between variables without manipulation or control by the researcher.

What does a positive correlation indicate?

Two variables change in the same direction; as one increases, the other also tends to increase.

What does a negative correlation indicate?

Two variables change in opposite directions; as one increases, the other tends to decrease.

What is the significance of correlation in research?

Correlation indicates the degree of relationship between two variables but does not imply causation.

What are the advantages of correlational studies?

Examine natural relationships, can be conducted outside labs, and identify important variables for further study.

What are the limitations of correlational studies?

Do not allow firm conclusions about cause-and-effect relationships and may be affected by uncontrolled variables.

What is a self-report in research?

Participant's answers to questions, which can be spoken or written, providing data on their experiences.

What is a structured interview?

An interview with predetermined questions asked in a controlled manner to obtain specific information.

What is an unstructured interview?

An interview where questions are generated spontaneously, allowing varied responses from participants.

What is a semi-structured interview?

An interview with an interview guide covering issues to explore, but no set questions to be asked.