Observational Techniques - Vocabulary

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Evaluate

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To assess the strengths and weaknesses of something. Example: The students were asked to evaluate the effectiveness of different research methods in psychology.

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Objective

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Based on facts rather than personal feelings or opinions. Example: The researcher aimed to remain objective while analyzing the participants’ behavior.

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Reliability

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The consistency of a research method or measurement over time. Example: The experiment showed high reliability, as it produced similar results in repeated trials.

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Validity

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The extent to which a method measures what it is supposed to measure. Example: The survey’s validity was questioned because the questions were too vague.

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Ethical

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Relating to moral principles and the rightness or wrongness of actions. Example: The psychologist ensured the study was ethical by obtaining informed consent from all participants.

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Artificial

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Made by humans rather than occurring naturally; often used to describe controlled settings in research. Example: The artificial nature of the experiment made it difficult to apply the findings to real-life situations.

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Interpretation

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The act of explaining or making sense of something. Example: Different researchers had varying interpretations of the participants’ reactions in the study.

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Influence

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To have an effect on something or someone. Example: The presence of an observer can influence how participants behave in an experiment.

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Consent

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Permission for something to happen. Example: Participants must provide written consent before taking part in psychological research.

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Correlate

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To have a mutual relationship or connection. Example: The study found that stress levels correlate with sleep deprivation.