What's covered
Key facts
Data handling, averages and graphs
A bar chart displays categorical (discrete) data, with the bars separated by gaps.
Experimental designs and non-experimental methods
In an observation, categories of behaviour are defined in advance to make clear exactly which behaviours should be recorded.
Hypotheses, variables and sampling
The alternative (experimental) hypothesis predicts that there will be a difference or relationship between the variables.
Procedures, reliability, validity and ethics
The British Psychological Society (BPS) sets the ethical guidelines that psychologists in the UK must follow when carrying out research.
Data handling, averages and graphs
A correlation shows that two co-variables are related but does not prove that one causes the other.
Experimental designs and non-experimental methods
A correlation shows two variables are related but does not show that one causes the other.
Hypotheses, variables and sampling
The dependent variable (DV) is the variable the researcher measures; it is the outcome affected by the IV.
Procedures, reliability, validity and ethics
Debriefing is informing participants of the study's true aims afterwards and answering any questions, restoring them to their pre-study state.
Data handling, averages and graphs
A histogram displays continuous data and its bars touch with no gaps between them.
Experimental designs and non-experimental methods
A positive correlation is where, as one variable increases, the other variable also increases.
Sample questions
A taste of the 59 questions in this topic, answers marked. Sign up to practise the full set with spaced repetition.
How is the mean of a set of scores calculated?
- ✓Add all scores, divide by the number of scores
- •Find the most frequent score in the set
- •Subtract the lowest score from the highest score
- •Take the middle value when scores are ordered
Which experimental design uses different participants in each condition?
- •Counterbalanced design
- ✓Independent groups design
- •Matched pairs design
- •Repeated measures design
What is the independent variable (IV) in an experiment?
- •Any uncontrolled variable that could affect the study's results
- ✓The variable the researcher manipulates to test its effect on the DV
- •The variable the researcher measures as the outcome of the study
- •The whole group the researcher draws a sample from
In psychology, what does reliability refer to?
- ✓The consistency of a study or measure across repetitions
- •Whether a study measures what it claims to measure
- •Whether findings generalise to real-life settings
- •Whether participants gave their informed consent
Which graph displays continuous data with bars that touch (no gaps)?
- •A bar chart
- ✓A histogram
- •A pie chart
- •A scatter diagram
What technique controls order effects in a repeated measures design?
- ✓Counterbalancing splits participants so half do each condition first.
- •Matching pairs participants on traits relevant to the study.
- •Randomly allocating each participant to one condition only.
- •Standardising the instructions given to every participant.
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