Variables
What is the independent variable (IV)?
In an experiment, this is the variable the researcher deliberately manipulates.
What is the placebo effect?
Participants improve simply because they believe they're receiving a treatment, even if they aren't.
What is random allocation?
Assigning participants to groups by chance to reduce bias between groups.
What is a frequency table?
A table showing how often each value or score occurs.
What is external validity?
Asks whether results can apply to real-life settings or other people
What is voluntary participation?
Participants must agree to take part without pressure or coercion.
What is the dependent variable (DV)?
This is the variable that is measured to see the effect of the IV.
What is an extraneous variable?
Any factor other than the IV that could potentially affect the DV.
What is a placebo?
A fake treatment with no active ingredient, given to a control group
What is the mean?
Calculated by adding all values and dividing by the number of values.
What is internal validity?
Asks whether the IV actually caused the change in the DV, rather than something else.
What is informed consent?
Researchers educate participants about risks and benefits before they agree to take part.
What is a hypothesis?
A testable statement predicting the relationship between variables.
What are demand characteristics?
Participants guess the aim of a study and change their behaviour to fit it.
What is a single-blind procedure?
A design where participants don't know their condition, but the researcher does.
What is the median?
The middle value when scores are arranged in order.
What is test-retest reliability?
Asks whether results are consistent over time.
What is confidentiality?
Researchers must keep all participant information and records private.
What is operationalising a variable?
This term describes turning a concept into something measurable e.g. turning "memory" into "number of words recalled."
What is a confounding variable?
An extraneous variable that hasn't been controlled and actually does affect the DV becomes this.
What is a double-blind procedure?
A design where neither participants nor the researchers interacting with them know who got the real treatment.
What is a positive correlation?
A correlation where as one variable increases, so does the other.
What is inter-rater reliability?
Asks whether different observers agree on what they see.
What is the right to withdraw?
Participants can leave a study at any time without penalty.
Name all three qualities of a good research question.
What is specific, measurable, and testable?
In the ice cream/drowning example, where data found the link between increased ice cream sales and drownings, what was the confounding variable.
temperature
What is standardisation?
Keeping instructions, environment, and procedure identical for every participant.
What is -1 and +1?
The two values Pearson's r ranges between, with 0 meaning no relationship.
What is generalisability?
The extent to which results from a sample can be applied to the whole population.
What is "no harm"?
Requires researchers to avoid causing physical or emotional suffering to participants.