RESEARCH METHODS TERMINOLOGIES EXPLAINED #24
Scientific method - correct answer A data-gathering method that involves testing a
hypothesis by means of careful measurement and controlled observation.
Hypothesis - correct answer A testable prediction of the relationship between two
variables.
Variable - correct answer Any event, condition or characteristic that changes (varies) or
can be made to change.
Participants - correct answer The people or animals whose behaviour, characteristics or
responses are investigated and measured as part of an experiment.
Data - correct answer The observed facts that constitute the results of an experiment.
Raw data - correct answer The actual data collected from a study, before it is sorted or
analysed.
Conclusion - correct answer A decision or judgement about the meaningfulness of the
results of the study.
Inferential statistics - correct answer Statistics that allow an experimenter to make
inferences and conclusions about data; they are often used to interpret results of a
study.
Experimental method - correct answer A scientific research method that uses
participants in a formal trial to confirm or disconfirm a hypothesis.
Experiment - correct answer A research method that involves gathering data under
controlled conditions to test a hypothesis by exposing participants to a treatment and
observing and measuring its effect.
Experimental group - correct answer In a controlled experiment, the group of
participants exposed to the independent variable.
Independent variable (IV) - correct answer The condition that an experimenter
systematically manipulates (changes or varies) in order to gauge its effect on another
variable (the dependent variable).
Dependent variable (DV) - correct answer The condition in an experiment or aspect of
the participant's behaviour that is affected by changes in the independent variable (IV);
it is used as a measure of the IV's effect.
Control group - correct answer In a controlled experiment, the group of participants
exposed to all conditions or variables except the independent variable.
, Experimental hypothesis - correct answer A broad or general prediction about the
direction of a relationship between variables in an experiment - i.e. Whether the
variables increase or decrease in relation to one another.
Research hypothesis - correct answer A hypothesis that operationalises the variables
by precisely defining and describing how each variable is measured, and predicts the
exact effect the IV is expected to have on the behaviour of the population from which
the sample has been selected.
Population - correct answer The larger group of research interest from which a sample
in a research study has been drawn.
Sample - correct answer The group of participants in a research study selected from,
and representative of, a population of research interest.
Operational variable - correct answer A variable defined or described in terms of the
procedures used to observe and measure it.
Extraneous variable - correct answer In an experiment, a variable other than the IV that
might cause unwanted changes in the DV.
Controlled variable - correct answer An extraneous variable whose influence has been
eliminated from an experiment so that it cannot affect results; it has been controlled.
Uncontrolled variable - correct answer An extraneous variable whose influence has not
been eliminated from an experiment because the experimenter was not aware of it.
Confounding variable - correct answer An uncontrolled variable that has had an
unwanted effect on the DV and might get confused with the effect of the IV.
Demand characteristics - correct answer What participants' knowledge of the aim of the
study causes them to behave in a way that is not normal for them; this affects the
results of the study.
Standardisation - correct answer Establishing standards for administering a test and
interpreting scores.
Participant variables - correct answer Individual differences in the personal
characteristics of research participants that, if not controlled, can confound the results of
the experiment.
Order effect - correct answer When prior knowledge of a task or situation influences a
participant's performance, which in turn influences the results of the experiment; also
known as the practice effect.
Scientific method - correct answer A data-gathering method that involves testing a
hypothesis by means of careful measurement and controlled observation.
Hypothesis - correct answer A testable prediction of the relationship between two
variables.
Variable - correct answer Any event, condition or characteristic that changes (varies) or
can be made to change.
Participants - correct answer The people or animals whose behaviour, characteristics or
responses are investigated and measured as part of an experiment.
Data - correct answer The observed facts that constitute the results of an experiment.
Raw data - correct answer The actual data collected from a study, before it is sorted or
analysed.
Conclusion - correct answer A decision or judgement about the meaningfulness of the
results of the study.
Inferential statistics - correct answer Statistics that allow an experimenter to make
inferences and conclusions about data; they are often used to interpret results of a
study.
Experimental method - correct answer A scientific research method that uses
participants in a formal trial to confirm or disconfirm a hypothesis.
Experiment - correct answer A research method that involves gathering data under
controlled conditions to test a hypothesis by exposing participants to a treatment and
observing and measuring its effect.
Experimental group - correct answer In a controlled experiment, the group of
participants exposed to the independent variable.
Independent variable (IV) - correct answer The condition that an experimenter
systematically manipulates (changes or varies) in order to gauge its effect on another
variable (the dependent variable).
Dependent variable (DV) - correct answer The condition in an experiment or aspect of
the participant's behaviour that is affected by changes in the independent variable (IV);
it is used as a measure of the IV's effect.
Control group - correct answer In a controlled experiment, the group of participants
exposed to all conditions or variables except the independent variable.
, Experimental hypothesis - correct answer A broad or general prediction about the
direction of a relationship between variables in an experiment - i.e. Whether the
variables increase or decrease in relation to one another.
Research hypothesis - correct answer A hypothesis that operationalises the variables
by precisely defining and describing how each variable is measured, and predicts the
exact effect the IV is expected to have on the behaviour of the population from which
the sample has been selected.
Population - correct answer The larger group of research interest from which a sample
in a research study has been drawn.
Sample - correct answer The group of participants in a research study selected from,
and representative of, a population of research interest.
Operational variable - correct answer A variable defined or described in terms of the
procedures used to observe and measure it.
Extraneous variable - correct answer In an experiment, a variable other than the IV that
might cause unwanted changes in the DV.
Controlled variable - correct answer An extraneous variable whose influence has been
eliminated from an experiment so that it cannot affect results; it has been controlled.
Uncontrolled variable - correct answer An extraneous variable whose influence has not
been eliminated from an experiment because the experimenter was not aware of it.
Confounding variable - correct answer An uncontrolled variable that has had an
unwanted effect on the DV and might get confused with the effect of the IV.
Demand characteristics - correct answer What participants' knowledge of the aim of the
study causes them to behave in a way that is not normal for them; this affects the
results of the study.
Standardisation - correct answer Establishing standards for administering a test and
interpreting scores.
Participant variables - correct answer Individual differences in the personal
characteristics of research participants that, if not controlled, can confound the results of
the experiment.
Order effect - correct answer When prior knowledge of a task or situation influences a
participant's performance, which in turn influences the results of the experiment; also
known as the practice effect.
