Psychology OCR A Level Research Methods Keywords

internal reliability

different parts of the test should give consistent results

inter-rater/inter-observer reliability

the test should give consistent results no matter who administers it

concurrent validity

the extent to which the test produces the same results as another established measure

external reliability

the test should produce consistent results regardless of when it's used

construct validity

whether the measure is measuring what it is supposed to

criterion validity

refers to how well findings predict what happens beyond research

ecological validity

the extent to which results of the test reflect real life

face validity

the extent to which the test looks, to the participants, that it is measuring what it is supposed to be measuring

temporal validity

the extent to which the test provides results that can be generalised across time

population validity

the findings from the sample used are true to the whole target population

Validity

Whether the method is measuring what it is supposed to measure.

Reliability

Refers to the consistency of the results

Variable

Any factor that can differ

Independent variable

the variable that is changed by the researcher and is assumed to affect the dependent variable

dependent variable

the variable that measured

extraneous/confounding variable

variables that must be controlled otherwise they will confound the results

participant variables

any factors that could affect the dependent variable that could be to do with the participants

situational variables

any factor that could affect the dependent variable that is to do with the situation

experimenter bias

when the experimenter has affected the dependent variable by not treating all participants the same

laboratory experiment

an experiment that is conducted in a controlled environment. The independent variable is manipulated to see the effect on the dependent variable. The research can control as many extraneous variables as possible.

field experiment

an experiment that is conducted in the participant's' natural environment. the independent variable is still manipulated by the researcher to see the effect on the dependent variable.

quasi experiment

an experiment where the independent variable is not directly manipulated by the researcher. The independent variable is not naturally occuring

independent measures

different participants take part in each condition of the experiment

repeated measures

the same participants take part in both conditions of the experiment

matched pairs

involves using different participants who are paired based on the characteristic that is most important to the investigation

external validity

whether results can be generalised if conducted in different contexts or using different participants

internal validity

the extent to which results measure what they intend to

what are the 3 types of internal validity

criterion construct and face

external validity

whether results can be generalised if conducted in different contexts or using different participants

internal validity

the extent to which results measure what they intend to

what are the 3 types of internal validity

criterion construct and face

naturalistic observation

involves observing behaviour in "normal" environments

controlled observation

conditions are created by the researcher and as variables are manipulated it is said to be high in control

non-participant observation

researcher observes from afar

participant observation

researcher joins in with the activities of the group

covert observation

where the researcher does not reveal to the group that they are being observed

overt observation

an observation where participants know they are being observed as the researcher has told them

structured recording

researcher has an observation schedule with categories that have been pre-decided

unstructured recording

observer records behaviour they can see without pre-determined categories

observer bias

when the observers know the hypothesis and allow this knowledge to influence their observations during this study

observer effects

influence of observer on participants in a situation where the observer is overt or their role is apparent

event sampling

consists of the researcher recording an event each time it happens

time sampling

occurs when the researcher decides on a time and then the researcher records what behaviour is occurring at the time