research methods keywords

Aims

A general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate, the purpose of the study.

Hypothesis

A clear and precise and testable statement that states the relationship between the variables to be investigated, this is made at the start of a study.

Directional hypothesis

Makes clear the sort of difference that is anticipated and states the direction of the difference for relationship. For example the words like more or less or higher or lower or faster or slower are used.

Non-directional hypothesis

It only states that there is a difference between conditions but does not state the direction or the difference in the relationship.

Variables

Anything that can vary or change within an investigation this determines if the result is because of the change

Independent variable

Is the variable that is being manipulated by the researcher so that the effect of the dependent variable can be measured.

Dependent variable

The variable that is being measured by the researcher

Controlled variable

When no changes are made to an aspect of the experiment and it has to say the exact same throughout all the trials.

Operationalisation

Clearly the finding variables in terms of how they can be measured for example adding specific details in the dependent variable.

Extraneous variables

This is identified at the start of the study and is any other variable apart from the IV that may affect the dependent variable if it is not controlled or removed.

Demand characteristics

Any queue from the researcher that may be interpreted by the participants as revealing the purpose of an investigation this may lead to a participant changing their behaviour within the research situation. This may be clues to tell them how they behave in the experimental situation therefore the behaviour is no longer natural.

Investigator effects

Any effect of the investigators behaviour on the research outcome. This can include expectancy effects and unconscious cues and this may also be related to the studies design such as the selection of the participants.

Randomisation

The use of chance methods to remove the researchers unconscious biases when designing an investigation, this is an attempt to control investigator effects therefore the order of the list should be randomly generated.

Standardisation

This means all participants should be subject to the same environment information and experienced as well as standardised instructions that is read to each participant, this is to remove extraneous variables.

Experimental design

The different ways in which participants can be organised in relation to the experimental conditions.

Mean

Add up all the scores and divide by the number of scores. The strength is attitude sensitive measure, however it may be unrepresentative.

Median

It is the middle value. It strength is that it is less affect affected by extreme causes however it is less sensitive than the mean.

Mode

The most frequent or common value. And the strength is relevant to the categorical data however an overly simple measure.