Aims, hypothesis and variables
A statement outlining the purpose of the investigation.
What is the aim?
Laboratory experiments and field experiments
What are experimental research methods?
Errors due to some chance factor or chance variation in measurement.
What are random errors?
What are experimenter effects?
The commitment to maximising benefits and minimising the risks and harms involved in taking a particular position or course of action.
What is beneficence?
A testable prediction of the relationship between two or more variables (events or characteristics.
What is a research hypothesis?
Case studies, observational studies, questionnaries, interviews, correlational studies and simulation studies
What are non-experimental research methods?
Reduces the accuracy and validity of a measurement
What does a systematic error reduce?
External factors associated with the experimental setting that may influence participant responses.
What are situational variables?
Confidentiality, debriefing, informed consent procedures, use of deception in research, voluntary participation and withdrawal rights
What are ethical guidelines?
The variable that is manipulated in order to measure its effect on the dependent variable
What is the independent variable?
A sampling technique that ensures every member of the population of research interest has an equal chance of being selected to be part of the sample.
What is random sampling?
Produces by some factor that consistently favours one condition rather than another.
What are systematic errors?
Occurs when performance on the DV is influenced by the specific order in which the experimental tasks are presented rather than the IV.
What are order effects?
Involves consideration of the extent to which living things have an intrinsic value and/or instrumental value; giving due regard to the welfare, liberty and autonomy, beliefs, perceptions, customs and cultural heritage etc.
What is respect?
What is operationalising the IV and DV?
Involves collection of data by carefully watching and recording behaviour as it occurs without any intervention or manipulation of the behaviour being observed.
What is observational study?
A fault or mistake by the researcher
What are personal errors?
Systematically changing the order of treatments or tasks for participants in a balanced way to reduce or avoid the unwanted effects on performance of any one order.
What is counterbalancing?
The moral obligation to ensure that there is fair consideration of competing claims; that there is no unfair burden on a particular group from an action; and that there is fair distribution and access to the benefits of an action.
What is a model in psychology?
Exposed to the IV under investigation in a controlled experiment
What is the experimental group?
A variable other than the IV that may cause a change in the DV and therefore may affect the results.
What is an extraneous variable?
What are controls for participant variables?
Is only permissible when participants knowing the true purpose of the experiment may affect their behaviour whilst participating in the study, and the subsequent validity of the experiment.