Research methods key terms

Independent groups design

an experimental design in which different groups of participants are exposed to different conditions, such that each participant experiences only one condition

matched pairs design

Participants are matched on key characteristics. One participant does control condition and the other does the experimental condition.

Repeated measures design

The same participants are used in all the conditions in an experiment.

Measures of central tendency

mean, median, mode

Mean

The average of all the data

Mode

The most common number/value in a set of data

Median

The central number in a set of data

Measures of dispersion

standard deviation and range

Standard deviation

How far on average each value in a set of data is from the mean

Range

How spread out a set of data is
Highest value - lowest value

Ethics

The potential for participants to be harmed during research

Psychological body

Group that encourages researchers to follow guidelines and ensure participants do not get harmed

Protection from harm

Participants protected from physical or psychological harm

Privacy and confidentiality

Personal information should be kept private

Deception

Not telling participants the true aim of the study

Informed consent

Consent from people who fully understand what is about to happen

Questionnaire

Set of standardised questions handed out to participants for them to fill out

Interview

Verbal questioning of participants, usually done face to face

Different types of interviews

Structured and unstructured

Open questions

Questions that allow for a variety of extended responses

Closed questions

questions that ask for specific information and elicit a short, one- or two- word answer, a "yes" or "no," or a forced choice

Meta-analysis

When a variety of studies on a particular topic area are summarised together and their findings collated

Random allocation

Method used to minimise the effect of confounding variables by giving each participant an equal chance of doing different conditions

Standardisation

Ensures that all procedures and instructions are kept the same between conditions to minimise bias

Counterbalancing

Attempts to balance out order effects by splitting the group and doing the conditions in an AB/BA order

Single-blind procedure

Where participants are unaware of the research aims and do not know which condition they are in

Double-blind procedure

Where neither the observer nor the participants know the true aim of the study

Primary data

Data collected by a researcher specifically for the purpose of their study

Secondary data

Data which has already been collected by someone else

Qualitative data

Data that consists of words/longer answers

Quantitative data

Numerical data that can be measured.

Laboratory experiment

The researcher manipulates the IV in a controlled environment

Field experiment

The researcher manipulates the IV in a natural environment

Natural experiment

An experiment in which nature, rather than an experimenter, manipulates an independent variable.

Quasi experiment

A comparison that relies on already-existing groups (i.e., groups the experimenter did not create).

Naturalistic observation

Observations that are carried out in a natural setting

Controlled observation

Observations that are carried out in lab conditions

Covert observation

Observations that are done in secret, the participants are unaware of being observed

Overt observation

Observations done openly where the participants ae aware of being researched

Participant observation

when a researcher immerses themself in a group or social setting in order to make observations from an "insider" perspective

Non-participant observation

The researcher is not involved in what is going on. The researcher is external to what is going on/the people being observed.

Independent variable (IV)

Characteristics that are manipulated in the study that causes the DV to change

Dependent variable (DV)

Variable that is measured that changes throughout the experiment as a result of the DV

Extraneous variable

In an experiment, a variable other than the IV that might cause unwanted changes in the DV.

Confounding variable

a factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment

Operationalisation

Making sure the variable being studies is clearly defined in a form that can be easily measured

Correlation

a mutual relationship or connection between two or more things

correlation coefficient

A statistical that tells us the type and strength of correlation

Demand characteristics

Clues that may help a participant guess the true aim of the study

Investigator effects

Any unwanted influence of the investigator on the research outcome

Pilot study

Trial run of the study on a smaller scale

Behavioural categories

Examples of behaviours that have been predetermined, that well be recorded during an observation

Event sampling

the observer records all instances of a particular behavior during a specified time period

Time sampling

The procedure of observing and recording behavior during intervals or at specific moments

Population

The group of people that a researcher wants to target

Sample

People that represent the larger population

Types of sampling

Opportunity, volunteer, systematic, random, stratified

Opportunity sampling

A sample of whoever happens to be there and agrees to participate

Volunteer sampling

Sampling method where participants self-select into the sample

Systematic sampling

A procedure in which the selected sampling units are spaced regularly throughout the population

that is, every n'th unit is selected.

Random sampling

a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion

Stratified sampling

A type of sampling that ensures that certain groups and the relative size of them in the larger population are represented in the smaller study