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VCE Psychology Unit 1 Questions and Answers
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Psychology Ans: The scientific study of human thoughts, feelings and
behaviour.
Pseudoscience Ans: False or fake science
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Research method Ans: A particular way of conducting a research study
(investigation) to collect accurate and reliable data on a topic of
interest.
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Sample Ans: A subsection or smaller group of research participants
selected from a larger group of research interest.
Population Ans: The entire group of research interest from which a
sample is drawn and to which the researcher will seek to apply
(generalise) the results of their investigation.
Research hypothesis Ans: A testable prediction of the relationship
between two or more variables (events to characteristics).
Experiment Ans: Used to test a cause-effect relationship between
variables under controlled conditions.
Variable Ans: Something that can change (vary) in amount or type and
is measurable.
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Independent variable Ans: The variable that is manipulated in order to
measure its effect on the dependent variable. It is sometimes referred to
as the 'treatment' variable to which participants may or may not be
exposed.
Dependent variable Ans: The variable that is used to observe and
measure the effects of the IV.
Operationalising Ans: Operationalising the IV and the DV involves
defining them in terms of the specific procedures or actions (operations)
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used to measure them.
Experimental group Ans: The group of participants that is exposed to the
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independent variable (i.e. the treatment).
Control group Ans: The group of participants that is not exposed to the
independent variable.
Extraneous variable Ans: Any variable other than the IV that can cause
a change in the DV and therefore affect the results in a negative way.
Confounding variable Ans: A variable other than the IV that has had an
unwanted effect on the DV, making it impossible to determine which of
the variables has produced a change in the DV.
Individual participant differences Ans: The unique combination of
personal characteristics, abilities and backgrounds each participant
brings to an experiment.
Sampling Ans: The process of selecting participants from a population of
interest.
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Representative sample Ans: A sample that is approximately the same as
the population from which it is drawn in every important variable.
Random sampling Ans: A sampling procedure that ensures every
number of the population of research interest has an equal chance of
being selected to be a part of the sample.
Stratified sampling Ans: Involved dividing the population to be sampled
into different subgroups, or strata, then selecting a separate sample from
each subgroup (stratum) in the same proportions as they occur in the
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population of interest.
Convenience sampling Ans: Or opportunity sampling, involves selecting
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participants who are readily available without any attempt to make the
sample representative of a population.
Random allocation Ans: Also called random assignment, is a procedure
used to place participants in groups so that they are as likely to be in
one group as the other.
Counter balancing Ans: Involves systematically changing the order of
treatments or tasks for participants in a 'balanced' way to 'counter' the
unwanted effects on performance in any one order.
Single-blind procedure Ans: Participants are no aware of (are 'blind' to)
the condition of the experiment to which they have been allocated and
therefore the experimental treatment (IV).
Double-blind procedure Ans: The participants and the researcher (or
research assistant) directly involved with the participants are unaware of
(are 'blind' to) the conditions to which the participants have been
allocated.