psychology
the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. The way psychological phenomena is explored is through research processes.
Experiment
a scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact. An investigation looking for a cause and effect relationship.
Independent variable
The experimental factor that is manipulated. Responsible for the changes in the dependent variable.
Dependent variable
The factor that is expected to change under the influence of the independent variable. The factor being measured.
extraneous variable
Something unwanted or unexpected. The variable that acts randomly and is usually unpredictable. These obscure the effect of the independent variable, as well as affect the results.
Control condition
The experimental variable is absent. You're controlling what is and what isn't.
Laboratory experiment
Experiment in which conditions are highly controlled. Conducted in an environment that is not the usual.
Experimental design
refers to how participants are allocated to the different conditions (or IV groups) in an experiment.
Independent measures design
Each condition of the experiment includes a different group of participants. Quicker, long term. Only encounter it once.
Demand characteristics
cues in an experiment that tell the participant what behavior is expected. Participants might notice or respond to clues that might make them change their behavior.
Repeated measures design
A experiment design where the same group of people participate in every level of the IV. They repeat their performance under different conditions. fewer participants.
participant variables
Individual differences between each participant (age, personality and intelligent) that could affect behavior in the study. It could hide or exaggerate the outcome in the IV levels.
Order effects
Practice and fatigue effects are consequences of participating in multiple studies. Causes changes in conditions that can affect or obscure the DV.
practice effect
The participants performance improves because they experience the experimental task more than once.
fatigue effect
Repetition could make performance worse. Like if they were bored or tired. Declines due to experiencing the task more than once.
Counterbalancing
Used to overcome order effects in the repeated measure design. Participants are divided into 2. ( one half will do A then B, other half will do B then A).
Matched pairs design
taking two similar people and using them for the experiment. (Age , gender, personality, intelligence). This reduces the effect of giving away aims. (Demand characteristics).
Standardization
The procedure for each participant can be kept exactly the same. To make sure any differences are due to variables under investigation rather than differences in the way they were treated.
reliability
when the procedure is consistent, that it would produce the same results with the same people on each occasion.
Validity
How certain the researcher can be that they are testing what they claim to be testing.
field experiment
Conducted in a normal environment for participants. Less control than laboratory but more than natural. Participants are unaware they are in a experiment.
generalise
Apply the findings of a study more widely. To other settings and populations.
ecological validity
The findings of research in one situation would generalise to other situations. Weather the situation represents the real world effectively. Weather it's relevant to real life.
natural experiment
Zero to no control.researcher cannot manipulated levels of the IV. Studying the effect of an existing difference or change.
Uncontrolled variable
Variable that may not have been identified and eliminated in an experiment, which can confuse results.
Informed consent
Knowing enough about a study to decide whether you want to agree to participate.
Right to withdraw
Participants can remove themselves and their data, from the study at any time.
Privacy
Participants emotions and space should not be invaded. Should not be observed in situations/places where they would not expect to be seen.
Confidentiality
Results and personal info should be kept safely and not released to anyone outside of study,
Random allocation
A way to reduce the effect individual differences. Participants are places in each IV level to equal the chance of each condition.