Research Methods
The variable that is manipulated or changed by the experimenter.
What is the independent variable (IV)
This refers to the consistency and stability of a research study's findings; if repeated, the results would be similar
What is reliability?
This type of data is numerical and can be measured, such as reaction times or test scores.
What is quantitative data?
In this sampling method, every member of the target population has an equal chance of being selected.
What is random sampling?
An in-depth investigation of a single individual, group, or event, offering rich, qualitative insights.
What is a case study?
A testable prediction about the relationship between two or more variables
A hypothesis
The extent to which a study's results can be generalized to other settings, other people, and over time.
What is external validity?
The measure of central tendency that is the arithmetic average of all scores in a distribution.
What is the mean?
This technique involves selecting participants who are readily available without any attempt to make the sample representative.
What is opportunity (or convenience) sampling?
A question format in a survey that forces a respondent to choose from a set of predetermined answers.
What is a closed-ended question?
This numerical value, ranging from -1.0 to +1.0, expresses the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables.
What is a correlation coefficient?
Unwanted variables that can influence the relationship between the independent and dependent variables, creating a potential alternative explanation for the results.
What are confounding variables?
Data that is rich in detail and description, often collected from interviews or open-ended questions.
What is qualitative data?
This method involves dividing the population into relevant sub-groups (e.g., by gender or age) and then randomly sampling from each sub-group.
What is stratified sampling?
In this type of observation, the researcher watches subjects in their natural environment without any interference.
What is a naturalistic observation?
In an experiment, this group does not receive the treatment or manipulation and is used as a baseline for comparison.
What is the control group?
Cues (stimulus) in an experiment that might signal to a participant the purpose of the study, causing them to alter their behavior.
What are demand characteristics?
A statistical measure of variability that indicates the average distance of scores from the mean.
What is the standard deviation
A sampling method where participants are asked to recommend other potential participants who fit the study's criteria.
What is snowball sampling?
A research design that follows the same group of individuals over a long period of time to track changes.
What is a longitudinal study?
A statement predicting that the independent variable will have no effect on the dependent variable.
What is a null hypothesis
This occurs when a researcher's expectations influence the study's results, often countered with a double-blind procedure.
What is experimenter bias?
this measure of central tendency is a better representation of the typical score than the mean because it is less affected by outliers.
What is median
This is the entire group of people that a researcher is interested in studying and from which a sample is drawn
What is the target population?
A common type of rating scale in a questionnaire that asks respondents to indicate their level of agreement with a statement.
Likert Scale
(strongly, neutral, agree)