Psychology - Research Methodology Terms

IBDP Psychology Research Methodology Terms

Informed consent

When participants agree to participate in a study and are informed about the purpose of study and their rights

Deception

When participants in a study are not told its true aim

Withdrawal

The right of a participant to withdraw their participation or data from a study at any time

Protection from harm

Researchers need to ensure that participants of a study will not be experiencing any psychological or physical damage

Confidentiality

The researcher and everyone involved in the research know the true identity of participants but do not share this information with anyone outside of the research.

Anonymity

The researchers do not collect any identifying information about participants.

Data protection

All data of research is stored in a confidential and responsible manner and is not disclosed to anyone outside of the research. The data will only be used in a way permitted by the participants and will be destroyed after a period of time.

Debriefing

Participants are fully informed about the true nature of a study after it has taken place. Researchers ensure that the participant is in the same state as she was before the research study.

Bias

A limitation in objective thinking

Researcher bias

Researchers may act in a way that influences the participants

Sampling bias

When a sample is not representative of a population

Participant bias

When participants alter their behaviour while being part of a study or being aware of the aims.

Single blind procedure

Participants are unaware of what treatment group they are in

Double blind procedure

Both participants and experimenters are unaware what treatment group participants are in

Measurement

How to observe and measure human behaviour objectively

Reliability

The extent a measurement is reliable and consistent

Validity

The extent a measurement measures what it is supposed to measure

Internal validity

The extent the results of an experiment are due to a trustworthy cause-effect relationship and has not been influenced by biases/external factors

Generalisability/external validity

The extent the findings of a study can be applied to other populations, settings or situations

Ecological validity

The extent research findings can be applied to a real life setting or situation

Construct validity

How well does a test or measurement tool accurately reflect the theoretical concept it is supposed to measure

Face validity

A subjective measure whether a test is measuring the concept it is intended to measure

Content validity

The extent to which all items of a test measure all components of the concept it is intended to measure

Causality

The relationship between the cause and its effect

Reductionism

Complex systems can be understood by breaking them down into simpler, essential components and analyse their cause-effect relationships.

Determinism

All behaviour is caused by preceding events, implying that free will is an illusion

Agency

An individual has the capacity to act and exert control over their own behaviour

Quantitative research methods

Research methods that use numerical data and statistical analysis to establish relationships between variables

True experiment

A research method to investigate causality. There is random assignment to experimental and control conditions

Independent variable

Variable which experimenter manipulates and which is assumed to have a direct effect on the dependent variable.

Dependent variable

The variable that measures the effect of the independent variable

Quasi experiment

A research method that investigates causality. There is no random assignment to experimental and control conditions

Natural experiment

A quasi experiment where researchers study the effect of naturally occurring variables and participants exposed to the independent variable is determined by nature and factors beyond experimenters' control

Independent measures design

Separate groups take the various conditions of the independent variable

Repeated measures design

The same participants take both conditions of the independent variable

Matched pairs design

A design when two individuals are matched as closely as possible on particular traits, such as age, gender or handedness. This is a control of participant differences. Each individual of a pair undergo different treatment.

Research hypothesis

A statement of prediction of an expected relationship between variables based on background research or previous observations

Significance

When research findings indicate a result is unlikely to have occurred due to random chance alone, providing evidence that the observed pattern or effect is real and not just a fluke.

Target population

A group of people that is the target of a research study

Sample

A set of individuals selected from and to make inferences about the target group

Random sampling

Every member in the target population has an equal chance of being selected.

Stratified sampling

Type of random sampling where the population is divided into and sampled from subpopulations. The distribution of subpopulations in the sample is similar to that of the population

Opportunity sample

A sample that uses people from a target population available at the time and willing to take part. It is based on convenience.

Self selected sample/volunteer sample

A sample in which the participants have volunteered to take part in the study

Purposive sampling methods

Participants are chosen because they possess characteristics salient to the research study.

Snowball sampling

A type of purposive sampling method where new participants are located through current participants' social connections.

Survey/questionnaire

A set of questions used to obtain information from a respondent about a topic of interest, such as attitudes, behaviours, personality or values.

Correlational study

A type of research that examines the relationship between two or more variables to determine if a quantitative connection exists and, if so, the strength and direction of that connection

Social desirability bias

A type of response bias that is the tendency of survey respondents to answer questions in a manner that will be viewed favorably by others.

Predictive validity

How well a test or assessment score predicts a future outcome or criterion, establishing a correlation between the test results and subsequent performance.

Qualitative approach

Collecting and analyzing non-numerical data to understand people's experiences, perceptions, and meanings, sometimes in their natural settings

Semi structured interview

Interview with pre-set list of topics but in which "natural" conversation is attempted.

Structured interview

A conversation in which an interviewer asks an interviewee set questions in a standardized order

Focus group

Participants are interviewed in an interactive group setting where they are free to talk with other group members. Interviewer acts as a facilitator

Interview guide

A document that provides structure to interviews by outlining topics, questions, and other guidelines for conducting them effectively and consistently

Pilot study

A small-scale preliminary study conducted to test the methods and procedures that will be used in a larger, more complex research project

Credibility

In qualitative research, the degree to which the research gives a true picture of what is being investigated and the results represent the perceptions and opinions of the research participants.

Case study

An in-depth investigation into a specific, real-world subject—like a person, group, event, or organization—to gain a comprehensive understanding of it in its context

Personal reflexivity

Reflecting on how personal factors may have influenced your research.

Epistemological reflexivity

Reflecting on the ways in which knowledge has been generated in a study.

Triangulation

Use of more sets of data, researchers or methods as a way to increase credibility of research.

Member checking

A qualitative research technique where a researcher shares their data, analyses, or reports with the study participants to ensure accuracy, enhance credibility, and ensure the findings reflect the participants' experiences and perspectives.

Audit/decision trail

A detailed, documented record of a research project's process, capturing key steps, methodologies, and analytical decisions to ensure transparency and reliability.

Thematic analysis

A qualitative research method for systematically identifying, analyzing, and reporting patterns or themes within a dataset, such as interviews or texts.

Transferability

In qualitative research, the extent findings in one setting can be applied in other contexts, situations, times, and populations.

Theoretical generalisation

If the data is rich, the findings may be applied to develop new theories, hypothesis and theoretical concepts for a particular context or particular group of people

Naturalistic observation

People or animals are observed in their natural environment

Controlled observation

Observing participants in a controlled environment, such as a lab

Hawthorne effect

Individuals alter their behavior because they are aware they are being observed or studied

Inter rater reliability

Measures the degree of agreement or consistency between two or more independent observers who are assessing the same phenomenon

Ecological validity

The extent to which the findings of a study can be generalized to real-world situations and natural environments.

Non participant observation

Researcher is not part of the group being observed

Participant observation

Researcher is part of the group being observed

Covert observation

Participants are not aware of that their behaviour is observed

Overt observation

Participants are aware of that their behaviour is observed

Behavioural checklist

A tool to systematically observe and document specific behaviours

Time sampling

Collect behavioural data by recording observations at specific intervals rather than continuously

Event sampling

Focusing on only observing and recording one type of behaviour, e.g. attentiveness

Point sampling

Observing whether a behaviour is present at a specific, predetermined instant in time