Psych Research Methods — the lifesaver
VCE Psychology · Research methods cheat sheet · 7 flashcards, free to study.
Every term VCAA asks about: confounds, operationalisation, ethics, sampling vs allocation.
- Independent vs dependent variable
- IV: what's manipulated. DV: what's measured.
- Operationalise — what does it mean?
- Define a variable in measurable terms (e.g. 'stress' → 'cortisol levels in saliva').
- Random sampling vs random allocation
- Sampling: who gets selected for the study. Allocation: which condition selected participants are placed in.
- What does counterbalancing control for?
- Order effects in within-subjects designs.
- Define a confounding variable
- A variable other than the IV that systematically varies with the IV and influences the DV.
- What is informed consent?
- Participants are told the study's purpose, procedures, risks before agreeing to participate.
- When is deception ethically acceptable?
- When the study cannot achieve its aim otherwise, risk is minimal, and participants are fully debriefed.