key terms

reliability

This is the measured consistency of the results. Every time something is measured, it should be the same results unless the thing itself has changed.

validity

This concerns whether a result is true. Valid research represents something that is real. Researches want the result to be true to real life.

ecological validity

This refers to the extent to which psychologists can apply their findings to everyday life. If it has high ecological validity, then it is similar to real and can be generalised to real life.

internal validity

This refers to if we are certain that the independent variable is the only factor affected by the independent variable. Studies with a high level of control have high internal validity

variable

Any ‘thing’ that can vary or change within an investigation.

independent variable

The variable that is manipulated by the researcher. The independent variable is the two conditions (groups) in the study.

dependent variable

The variable that is measured by the researcher.

hypothesis

A clear, precise, testable statement that is written at the beginning of a study. It predicts what the outcome will be.

alternate hypothesis

States that there will be a difference between the variables.

null hypothesis

States that there won’t be a difference between the variables.

extraneous variables

A variable other than the IV that may affect the results (the DV) of a study if it is not controlled. If EVs are not controlled this means that the researcher cannot know what really caused the effect in the DV.

random allocation

After the participants have been recruited, they should be randomly assigned to each condition.

counter balancing

In counterbalancing, half the participants take part in condition A and then B. The other half do condition B then A,

target population

The group that the researcher is interested in studying, the researcher wishes to generalise (apply) their results to.

sample

A subset of the target population which aims to be representative of that population.

generalisation

Generalisation is the application of the results from a study, to the wider target population. It assumes that the findings from the original sample will be the same for everyone else in the target population.

ethical issues

Ethical issues are concerns about what is morally right or wrong when using participants in research.

categories of behaviour

When a target behaviour is broken down into units that can be observed and recorded.

interobserver reliability

Inter-observer reliability means that the measurement of behaviour is consistent between observers.

categories of behaviour

When a target behaviour is broken down into units that can be observed and recorded

Interobserver reliability

Inter-observer reliability means that the measurement of behaviour is consistent between observers.

correlation

A type of research method which investigates the relationship between two co-variables. This is plotted on a scatter diagram.

quantitative data

Data that is expressed as numbers.

qualitative data

Data that is expressed as words.

primary data

Information that was originally collected by the researcher for the purpose of the study.

secondary data

Information that was originally collected by someone other than research for a different purpose.