A-level Psychology - Research methods
with complete solutions graded A
Aim - correct answerA general expression of what the researcher intends to investigate
Hypothesis - correct answerA precise and operationalised statement about the assumed relationship
between variables
Directional Hypothesis - correct answerStates the direction of the predicted difference between two
conditions or two groups of participants
Non-directional Hypothesis - correct answerPredicts simply that there is a difference between two
conditions or two groups of participants without stating the direction of the difference
Independent Variable - correct answerSome event that either naturally varies or is directly manipulated
by an experiment in order to test it's effect on another variable
Dependent Variable - correct answerA measurable outcome of the action of the independent variable in
an experiment
Operationalise - correct answerEnsuring that variables are in a form that can be easily measured.
Experimental method - correct answerA researcher causes the independent variable to vary and records
the effect of the IV on the dependent variable. The DV must be operationalised.
Control - correct answer(Refers to) The extent to which any variable is held constant or regulated by a
researcher
Extraneous Variables - correct answer'Nuisance' variables that do not vary systematically with the IV. A
researcher may control some of these.
Confounding Variable - correct answerChange systematically with the IV so we cannot be sure if any
observed change in the DV is due to the CV or the IV. CVs must be controlled.
,A-level Psychology - Research methods
with complete solutions graded A
Demand Characteristics - correct answerRefers to any cue from the researcher or research situation that
may reveal the aim of the study
Investigator Effect - correct answerAny effect of the investigator's behaviour on the outcome of the
research (the DV)
Randomisation - correct answerThe use of chance when designing investigations to control for the
effects of bias
Standardisation - correct answerUsing exactly the same formalised procedures for all ps in a research
study
Control groups - correct answerControl groups are used for the purpose of setting a comparison. They
act as a 'baseline' and help establish causation.
Single Blind Design - correct answerA ps doesn't know the aims of the study so that demand
characteristics are reduced.
Double Blind Design - correct answerBoth ps and researcher don't know the aims of the study to reduce
demand characteristics and investigator effects.
Participant Variables - correct answerIndividual differences. Differences among participants, overcome
by a large sample size which dilutes any extremes
Situational Variables - correct answerPeople act differently in different situations. Time of day, Lab
setting vs Natural setting
Validity - correct answer(Refers to) Whether an observed effect is a genuine one
, A-level Psychology - Research methods
with complete solutions graded A
External Validity - correct answerThe degree to which a research finding can be generalised
Ecological Validity - correct answerA type of External Validity - generalising to other settings
Population Validity - correct answerA type of External Validity - generalising to other groups of people
Temporal Validity - correct answerA type of External Validity - generalising to other times/over time
Cultural Validity - correct answerA type of External Validity - generalising to other cultures
Internal Validity - correct answerThe degree to which an observed effect was due to the experimental
manipulation rather than other factors such as extraneous or confounding variables
Mundane Realism - correct answer(Refers to) How a study mirrors the real world. The research
environment is realistic to the degree to which experiences encountered in the research environment
will occur in the real world.
Independent Groups - correct answerOne group does one condition the other group does the other
condition. Each ps experiences one condition and they're randomly allocated to the groups.
✔️no order effects
✔️no demand characteristics
✖️more ps
✖️ps variables
Repeated Measures - correct answerParticipants doing both conditions. To avoid order effects
conditions should be counterbalanced. AB-BA
✔️less ps
✔️no ps variables
✖️order effects
with complete solutions graded A
Aim - correct answerA general expression of what the researcher intends to investigate
Hypothesis - correct answerA precise and operationalised statement about the assumed relationship
between variables
Directional Hypothesis - correct answerStates the direction of the predicted difference between two
conditions or two groups of participants
Non-directional Hypothesis - correct answerPredicts simply that there is a difference between two
conditions or two groups of participants without stating the direction of the difference
Independent Variable - correct answerSome event that either naturally varies or is directly manipulated
by an experiment in order to test it's effect on another variable
Dependent Variable - correct answerA measurable outcome of the action of the independent variable in
an experiment
Operationalise - correct answerEnsuring that variables are in a form that can be easily measured.
Experimental method - correct answerA researcher causes the independent variable to vary and records
the effect of the IV on the dependent variable. The DV must be operationalised.
Control - correct answer(Refers to) The extent to which any variable is held constant or regulated by a
researcher
Extraneous Variables - correct answer'Nuisance' variables that do not vary systematically with the IV. A
researcher may control some of these.
Confounding Variable - correct answerChange systematically with the IV so we cannot be sure if any
observed change in the DV is due to the CV or the IV. CVs must be controlled.
,A-level Psychology - Research methods
with complete solutions graded A
Demand Characteristics - correct answerRefers to any cue from the researcher or research situation that
may reveal the aim of the study
Investigator Effect - correct answerAny effect of the investigator's behaviour on the outcome of the
research (the DV)
Randomisation - correct answerThe use of chance when designing investigations to control for the
effects of bias
Standardisation - correct answerUsing exactly the same formalised procedures for all ps in a research
study
Control groups - correct answerControl groups are used for the purpose of setting a comparison. They
act as a 'baseline' and help establish causation.
Single Blind Design - correct answerA ps doesn't know the aims of the study so that demand
characteristics are reduced.
Double Blind Design - correct answerBoth ps and researcher don't know the aims of the study to reduce
demand characteristics and investigator effects.
Participant Variables - correct answerIndividual differences. Differences among participants, overcome
by a large sample size which dilutes any extremes
Situational Variables - correct answerPeople act differently in different situations. Time of day, Lab
setting vs Natural setting
Validity - correct answer(Refers to) Whether an observed effect is a genuine one
, A-level Psychology - Research methods
with complete solutions graded A
External Validity - correct answerThe degree to which a research finding can be generalised
Ecological Validity - correct answerA type of External Validity - generalising to other settings
Population Validity - correct answerA type of External Validity - generalising to other groups of people
Temporal Validity - correct answerA type of External Validity - generalising to other times/over time
Cultural Validity - correct answerA type of External Validity - generalising to other cultures
Internal Validity - correct answerThe degree to which an observed effect was due to the experimental
manipulation rather than other factors such as extraneous or confounding variables
Mundane Realism - correct answer(Refers to) How a study mirrors the real world. The research
environment is realistic to the degree to which experiences encountered in the research environment
will occur in the real world.
Independent Groups - correct answerOne group does one condition the other group does the other
condition. Each ps experiences one condition and they're randomly allocated to the groups.
✔️no order effects
✔️no demand characteristics
✖️more ps
✖️ps variables
Repeated Measures - correct answerParticipants doing both conditions. To avoid order effects
conditions should be counterbalanced. AB-BA
✔️less ps
✔️no ps variables
✖️order effects
