Research Methods glossary
A
Aim - a general statement of what the research intends to investigate; purpose
of study
B
Bar chart – a graph that shows the data in the form of categories that the
researcher wishes to compare
Behavioural categories – dividing a target behaviour into a subset of specific
and operationalised behaviours
Bias – a systematic distortion
C
Case study – a research investigation that involves a detailed study of a single
individual, institution or event. They provide a rich record of human experience
but are hard to generalise from
Closed questions – questions that have a predetermined range of answers from
which respondents select one.
Co-variables – the two measured variables in a correlational analysis
Coefficient correlation – a number between -1 and +1 that tells us how closely
the co-variables in a correlational analysis are associated
Concurrent validity – comparing a new test with another test of the same thing
to see if they produce similar results
Confidentiality – concerns the communication of personal information from one
person to another, and the trust that the information will be protected
Confounding variable - any variable that may affect the DV so we can’t be sure
of the true source of changes od DV
Content analysis – a method to analyse qualitative data, and allows the
researcher to transform it into quantitative data
Continuous variables – a variable that can take on any value within a certain
range. The latter could be arranged in any order
Control – refers to the extent to which any variable is held constant or regulated
by a researcher
Control group – a group that is treated normally and gives us a measure of how
people behave when they are not exposed to the experimental treatment
, Controlled observation – a form of investigation in which behaviour is observed
but under conditions where certain variables have been organised by researcher
Convert observations – observing people without their knowledge. Knowing
that behaviour is being observed is likely to alter a participant’s behaviour
Correlation – determining the extent of an association between two variables;
co-variables may not be liked at all, they may both increase together, or as one
co-variable increases the other decreases
Counterbalancing – an experiment technique used to overcome order effects
when using a repeated measures design. It ensures that each condition is tested
in equal amounts
Critical value – the value that a test statistic must reach for the hypothesis to
be accepted
Curvilinear correlation – a non-linear relationship between co-variables
D
Debriefing – after completing the research, the true aim is revealed to the
participant.
Deception – involves misleading participants about the purpose of a study
Demand characteristics – any cue from the researcher may be interested by
participant as revealing the purpose of the investigation
Dependent variable (DV) – the variable that is measured by the researcher
Descriptive statistics – analysis of data that helps describe, show or summarize
data in a meaningful way
Directional hypothesis – states the direction of the predicted difference
between two conditions or two groups of participants
Dispersion measure – shows how a set of data is spread out
Double blind – participants are not told the true purpose of the research and the
experimenter is also blind to at least some aspects of the research design
E
Ecological validity – a form of external validity, concerning the ability to
generalise a research effect beyond the setting in which it is demonstrated. It is
established by representativeness and generalisation
Ethical guidelines – these are provided by the BPS – rules by which all
psychologists should operate
Ethical issues – concern question of right and wrong. They arise in research
where there are conflicting sets of values between researchers and participants
concerning the goals, procedures or outcomes of a research study
A
Aim - a general statement of what the research intends to investigate; purpose
of study
B
Bar chart – a graph that shows the data in the form of categories that the
researcher wishes to compare
Behavioural categories – dividing a target behaviour into a subset of specific
and operationalised behaviours
Bias – a systematic distortion
C
Case study – a research investigation that involves a detailed study of a single
individual, institution or event. They provide a rich record of human experience
but are hard to generalise from
Closed questions – questions that have a predetermined range of answers from
which respondents select one.
Co-variables – the two measured variables in a correlational analysis
Coefficient correlation – a number between -1 and +1 that tells us how closely
the co-variables in a correlational analysis are associated
Concurrent validity – comparing a new test with another test of the same thing
to see if they produce similar results
Confidentiality – concerns the communication of personal information from one
person to another, and the trust that the information will be protected
Confounding variable - any variable that may affect the DV so we can’t be sure
of the true source of changes od DV
Content analysis – a method to analyse qualitative data, and allows the
researcher to transform it into quantitative data
Continuous variables – a variable that can take on any value within a certain
range. The latter could be arranged in any order
Control – refers to the extent to which any variable is held constant or regulated
by a researcher
Control group – a group that is treated normally and gives us a measure of how
people behave when they are not exposed to the experimental treatment
, Controlled observation – a form of investigation in which behaviour is observed
but under conditions where certain variables have been organised by researcher
Convert observations – observing people without their knowledge. Knowing
that behaviour is being observed is likely to alter a participant’s behaviour
Correlation – determining the extent of an association between two variables;
co-variables may not be liked at all, they may both increase together, or as one
co-variable increases the other decreases
Counterbalancing – an experiment technique used to overcome order effects
when using a repeated measures design. It ensures that each condition is tested
in equal amounts
Critical value – the value that a test statistic must reach for the hypothesis to
be accepted
Curvilinear correlation – a non-linear relationship between co-variables
D
Debriefing – after completing the research, the true aim is revealed to the
participant.
Deception – involves misleading participants about the purpose of a study
Demand characteristics – any cue from the researcher may be interested by
participant as revealing the purpose of the investigation
Dependent variable (DV) – the variable that is measured by the researcher
Descriptive statistics – analysis of data that helps describe, show or summarize
data in a meaningful way
Directional hypothesis – states the direction of the predicted difference
between two conditions or two groups of participants
Dispersion measure – shows how a set of data is spread out
Double blind – participants are not told the true purpose of the research and the
experimenter is also blind to at least some aspects of the research design
E
Ecological validity – a form of external validity, concerning the ability to
generalise a research effect beyond the setting in which it is demonstrated. It is
established by representativeness and generalisation
Ethical guidelines – these are provided by the BPS – rules by which all
psychologists should operate
Ethical issues – concern question of right and wrong. They arise in research
where there are conflicting sets of values between researchers and participants
concerning the goals, procedures or outcomes of a research study
