Psychology Research Methods notes
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1. Aims They are developed from theories, and a general state-
ment that describes the purpose of the investigation. This
is made at the start from the initial idea.
2. Hypothesis It is made at the start of the experiment, is testable and
clearly states the relationship between the variables .
3. What is a di- States the nature of the difference between two different
rectional hypoth- conditions or groups
esis
It is one-tailed
4. What is a non-di- Does not state the nature of the difference between the
rectional hypoth- different conditions or groups (it has no direction)
esis
It is two-tailed
5. How to choose Directional- when findings from previous research studies
which hypothe- suggest a particular outcome
sis to use
Non directional- when there is no previous research, or
findings from studies are contradictory
6. Independent An aspect of the experimental situation that is manipulat-
variable ed by the researcher -or changes naturally- so the effect
on DV can be measured
7. Dependent vari- The variable that is measured. Any effect on the DV
able should be caused by the change of the IV
8. Why do we use - we need it to test the effect of the IV - by having different
the Levels of the experimental conditions
IV and what is it
- the control condition
- the experimental condition
9. What is opera- Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be
tionalisation measured
10.
, Psychology Research Methods notes
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What makes up a - clear IV and DV
good hypothesis - operationalisation of the variables
This makes it CLEAR and TESTABLE
11. what is an extra- - Any variable other than the IV that has an effect on the
neous variable DV- if it is not controlled or removed. These don't vary
systematically with the IV
- They do not confound the findings but can make it harder
to detect a result
12. nuisance vari- - an extraneous variable that is easy to control e.g. light-
able ing, age of participants etc
- so they don't vary systematically with the IV, don't con-
found the findings of the study but can make it harder to
detect a result
13. Confounding Any variable other than the IV, that may effect the DV. This
Variables means we don't know if any changes to the DV are caused
by the IV or the confounding variable.
This does vary systematically with the IV
14. Demand charac- a clue/cue from the researcher or the researcher situation
teristics that the participant interprets as the purpose of the inves-
tigation.
This can lead to a change in participant behaviour
15. What is a sig- participant reactivity
nificant extrane-
ous variable that
is very difficult to
control
16. what is partici- when a participant shows any unnatural behaviour:
pant reactivity
- demand characteristics can lead to them behaving in an
, Psychology Research Methods notes
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'expected way'
- they can over-perform to please - the 'please-U-effect'
- or deliberately underperform to sabotage the results-the
'screw-U-effect'
17. What are investi- Any effect of the researchers behaviour - conscious or
gator effects unconscious - on the DV
This can include the deign of the study, the selection of
and interaction with participants
18. Example of in- Leading questions in eye witness testimony- design of
vestigator ef- study is flawed
fects
smiling a participants when they prove the aim and hy-
pothesis
19. Randomisation - the use of chance in order to control for bias when
designing materials and deciding the order of conditions
- An alternative to counterbalancing
20. Why is randomi- - an attempt to control investigator effects by reducing
sation important researchers influence on the design e.g. order of word list
should be randomly generated
- to minimise the effect of confounding/extraneous vari-
ables
21. What is stan- Using exactly the same procedures and instructions for
dardisation all of the participants
22. Why is standard- - To reduce chance of an extraneous variable
isation important
- to reduce effect of extraneous variables by standardising
it across all procedures
-(this is because a change in procedure can have an
effect on the DV)
, Psychology Research Methods notes
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_f473hh
23. What are the - independent groups
experimental de-
signs - repeated measures
- matched pairs
24. What is an inde- - when two separate groups of participants experience
pendent groups two different conditions
design
- if there are 2 levels of the IV: an experimental condition
and a control condition
25. What is a repeat- All of the participants take part in all of the conditions
ed measures de-
sign
26. What is a - First pairs of participants are matched based on some
matched pairs variable(s) that can affect the DV
design
- Then one member is assigned to condition A and the
other to condition B
27. Evaluation of WEAKNESS:
independent - differences in findings may be due to participant vari-
groups design ables- individual differences not the IV
- However researchers will use random allocation to help
minimise this in hope of evenly distributing participant
characteristics
- less economical than repeated measures as each par-
ticipant contributes single result only
- means you will need twice as many participants to
gather equivalent data to a repeated measures
STRENGTHS:
- participants are less likely to guess the aim
- order effects aren't a problem
28.
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_f473hh
1. Aims They are developed from theories, and a general state-
ment that describes the purpose of the investigation. This
is made at the start from the initial idea.
2. Hypothesis It is made at the start of the experiment, is testable and
clearly states the relationship between the variables .
3. What is a di- States the nature of the difference between two different
rectional hypoth- conditions or groups
esis
It is one-tailed
4. What is a non-di- Does not state the nature of the difference between the
rectional hypoth- different conditions or groups (it has no direction)
esis
It is two-tailed
5. How to choose Directional- when findings from previous research studies
which hypothe- suggest a particular outcome
sis to use
Non directional- when there is no previous research, or
findings from studies are contradictory
6. Independent An aspect of the experimental situation that is manipulat-
variable ed by the researcher -or changes naturally- so the effect
on DV can be measured
7. Dependent vari- The variable that is measured. Any effect on the DV
able should be caused by the change of the IV
8. Why do we use - we need it to test the effect of the IV - by having different
the Levels of the experimental conditions
IV and what is it
- the control condition
- the experimental condition
9. What is opera- Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be
tionalisation measured
10.
, Psychology Research Methods notes
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_f473hh
What makes up a - clear IV and DV
good hypothesis - operationalisation of the variables
This makes it CLEAR and TESTABLE
11. what is an extra- - Any variable other than the IV that has an effect on the
neous variable DV- if it is not controlled or removed. These don't vary
systematically with the IV
- They do not confound the findings but can make it harder
to detect a result
12. nuisance vari- - an extraneous variable that is easy to control e.g. light-
able ing, age of participants etc
- so they don't vary systematically with the IV, don't con-
found the findings of the study but can make it harder to
detect a result
13. Confounding Any variable other than the IV, that may effect the DV. This
Variables means we don't know if any changes to the DV are caused
by the IV or the confounding variable.
This does vary systematically with the IV
14. Demand charac- a clue/cue from the researcher or the researcher situation
teristics that the participant interprets as the purpose of the inves-
tigation.
This can lead to a change in participant behaviour
15. What is a sig- participant reactivity
nificant extrane-
ous variable that
is very difficult to
control
16. what is partici- when a participant shows any unnatural behaviour:
pant reactivity
- demand characteristics can lead to them behaving in an
, Psychology Research Methods notes
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_f473hh
'expected way'
- they can over-perform to please - the 'please-U-effect'
- or deliberately underperform to sabotage the results-the
'screw-U-effect'
17. What are investi- Any effect of the researchers behaviour - conscious or
gator effects unconscious - on the DV
This can include the deign of the study, the selection of
and interaction with participants
18. Example of in- Leading questions in eye witness testimony- design of
vestigator ef- study is flawed
fects
smiling a participants when they prove the aim and hy-
pothesis
19. Randomisation - the use of chance in order to control for bias when
designing materials and deciding the order of conditions
- An alternative to counterbalancing
20. Why is randomi- - an attempt to control investigator effects by reducing
sation important researchers influence on the design e.g. order of word list
should be randomly generated
- to minimise the effect of confounding/extraneous vari-
ables
21. What is stan- Using exactly the same procedures and instructions for
dardisation all of the participants
22. Why is standard- - To reduce chance of an extraneous variable
isation important
- to reduce effect of extraneous variables by standardising
it across all procedures
-(this is because a change in procedure can have an
effect on the DV)
, Psychology Research Methods notes
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_f473hh
23. What are the - independent groups
experimental de-
signs - repeated measures
- matched pairs
24. What is an inde- - when two separate groups of participants experience
pendent groups two different conditions
design
- if there are 2 levels of the IV: an experimental condition
and a control condition
25. What is a repeat- All of the participants take part in all of the conditions
ed measures de-
sign
26. What is a - First pairs of participants are matched based on some
matched pairs variable(s) that can affect the DV
design
- Then one member is assigned to condition A and the
other to condition B
27. Evaluation of WEAKNESS:
independent - differences in findings may be due to participant vari-
groups design ables- individual differences not the IV
- However researchers will use random allocation to help
minimise this in hope of evenly distributing participant
characteristics
- less economical than repeated measures as each par-
ticipant contributes single result only
- means you will need twice as many participants to
gather equivalent data to a repeated measures
STRENGTHS:
- participants are less likely to guess the aim
- order effects aren't a problem
28.
