Psychology science inquiry skills

What is experimental research?

Research where researchers manipulate the independent variable to identify its effect on the dependent variable. Assesses cause and effect relationships.

What is non-experimental research?

Research where variables cannot be manipulated but only measured. Cannot assess causality, only suggest relationships.

What is an independent variable?

The variable purposely manipulated by researchers in an experiment.

What is a dependent variable?

The variable measured to see the effect of the independent variable.

What is an extraneous variable?

Variables not being studied that may still influence results. Need to be controlled where possible.

What are the three types of extraneous variables?

1. Participant variables (mood, background, culture) 2. Environment variables (noise, temperature, time of day) 3. Researcher variables (beliefs, background, biases)

What is the Hawthorne Effect?

When participants change their behavior due to being in a study.

What is the Social Desirability Effect?

When participants change behavior to be seen as desirable.

What is the Placebo Effect?

When results occur due to expectations rather than the actual intervention.

What are Demand Characteristics?

Cues that influence participant behavior by suggesting the research purpose.

What is the Experimenter Effect?

When a researcher's values and beliefs influence the study (e.g., asking leading questions, recording biased data).

What is a controlled variable?

Variable kept the same or accounted for to reduce impact on results.

What are methods for controlling participant variables?

• Random allocation to groups - Matched groups - Repeated measures design - Single/double blind studies

What is a directional hypothesis?

A testable prediction of the relationship between 2+ variables that includes a specific prediction of the direction of results.

What is a non-directional hypothesis?

A testable prediction of the relationship between 2+ variables that does not specify the direction (predicts difference or no difference).

How should a research aim be structured?

"To identify the effect of [independent variable] on [dependent variable]" - includes both variables but no prediction.