These are definitions which helped me get an A* consistently in A Level Pscyhology. These key terms are essential for doing well in research methods which can often be a tricky unit
Aim A general statement of what researchers intend to find out
Hypothesis a precise and testable statement
Directional Hypothesis States the direction of the predicted difference between two
conditions/groups
Non “↑” Predicts that there is a difference, but doesn’t state the direction of
the difference
Dependant Variable Measurable outcome
Independent Variable An element of the study that is changed by the experimenter
- IV affects the DV in some way
Standard Procedures A set of procedures that are the same for all participants that are
- Identical the same for all participants in order to be able to repeat the study
Extraneous Variables Something that may have an effect on the DV, isn’t linked to the IV
- Easier to control - E.g. age, once per person, ethnicity
Confounding Variable A variable within the study that isn’t the IV, but varies alongside it
- Harder to - E.g. personality of a person
control
Content analysis The research tool which looks at specific key terms, themes or
concepts within a given qualitative data
Randomisation The use of chance in order to control for bias when designing
materials + deciding the order of conditions
Mundane Realism Refers to how a study is to provide information about how people
- Tasks; behave in everyday life
conclusions
Realism- generalisation If the set-up is too artificial, participants won’t behave as they
normally would
Generalisability The ability to apply findings from a study to a wider population
Operationalise Ensuring the variables can be easily tested
VALIDITY
External Validity The extent to which the conclusions from your research study can be
generalised to the people outside of your study
- Ecological: being able to generalise findings to other settings
- Population: “….” Other groups
- Temporal: “….” Other time periods
Internal Validity The degree to which an observed affect is due to manipulation (IV)
as opposed to other factors (EV+CV)
Concurrent validity Occurs if a test is similar to an older test that already has well-
established validity
ETHICAL ISSUES
Informed Consent P’s must be given comprehensive info concerning the nature and the aim
of the study, their right to withdraw, their role within the study etc.
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, Key Terms – Year 12 (Research Methods)
- Potential Issues: demand characteristics (know the aim of the
study)
Deception Deliberately misleading or withholding info from p’s at any point in the
study. May be seen as necessary as the true aim of the study might be
revealed
- Potential Issues: p’s may see psychologists as untrustworthy
The Right to Withdraw People can stop participating in a study if they ever feel uncomfortable.
Also have the right to refuse permission of use of final data
- Potential Issues: remaining p’s may be more obedient which
means the sample is more biased (some may do it for Uni Credits)
Protection from Harm P’s shouldn’t experience negative physical/ psychological issues
- Potential Issues: hard to predict outcome of certain procedures –
people are different
Confidentiality Communication of personal info and trust that the info will be protected.
Data Protection Act
- Potential Issue: hard to guarantee in some samples
Privacy A person’s right to control the flow of info about themselves
SAMPLING METHODS
Opportunity Sampling A sample produced by selecting people who are most easily available at
the time and are willing to take part
Stratified Sampling Strata (subgroups) within the population are identified. P’s are obtained
from each strata in proportion to their occurrence in the population.
Selection from the strata is done using a random technique
Random Sampling Getting a sample using random techniques. Every member of the target
population have an equal chance of being selected
Systematic Sampling A sample obtained by selecting every nth person from a list
Volunteer Sampling A sample who are solely volunteers to make up the sample
TYPES OF DATA
Primary Data that is collected directly by the researcher for the purpose of
the investigation
- E.g. questionnaires, interviews and experiments
Secondary Data collected by another researcher ∴ hasn’t been collected by
themselves
- E.g. newspapers, past research, gov stats
Qualitative Data expressed with language, could be words or feelings + opinions
Quantitative Data expressed numerically
EXPERIMENTAL RSEARCH DESIGNS
Repeated Measures All participants will be experiencing both conditions of the experiment
- S: Participant variables are controlled ∴ less people needed;
guarantees comparison
- L: More likely that the p’s will realise the aim ∴ more demand
characteristics; order effects (repeating tasks may get boring/
tiresome ∴ not as valid
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