Free TCE Psychology Flashcard Review

It states exactly how a variable is measured or manipulated, making the intended evidence observable and reviewable rather than leaving a broad label such as concentration undefined.

The independent variable is the condition manipulated or compared; the dependent variable is the measured outcome used to assess its proposed effect.

It predicts the direction of a relationship or difference, such as greater correct recall with a cue than without one under specified conditions.

A person can remain seated while thinking about something else. The observed behaviour may not represent the intended construct without additional evidence.

It varies systematically with the proposed explanatory variable and offers an alternative account of the outcome, weakening a single-cause interpretation.

It reduces systematic pre-existing differences between recruited participants assigned to conditions. It does not by itself make the recruited sample representative of the population.

Either variable may influence the other, or another factor may affect both. The observed association alone does not isolate those possibilities.

It identifies an observation that could challenge the explanation, allowing evidence to discriminate rather than treating every possible result as automatic confirmation.

State the level and variable each explains, then test proposed links. A physiological measure and a reported experience are related evidence, not identical constructs.

A clear definition supports consistent observation and prevents the outcome from being redefined after results are known to fit a preferred explanation.

Sampling selects people from a population; allocation assigns recruited people to conditions. Each addresses a different source of bias and neither guarantees perfection.

People available or willing to participate may differ from the target population, so their pattern cannot automatically be treated as representative of everyone.

Add all scores and divide by the number of scores. Every value contributes, so an extreme value can substantially shift the result.

Order the values and select the middle one. It describes the central position rather than averaging all numerical distances.

The total is 25, giving a mean of 5. The middle ordered value is 3, so the high score makes the mean exceed the median.

It is the maximum minus the minimum, giving a simple measure of spread. It does not describe how the intermediate values are distributed.

Different distributions can share the same mean. Spread, unusual values and individual patterns may matter for interpreting the group result.

Experience in an earlier condition can influence later performance through practice, fatigue or carryover, complicating attribution to the condition itself.

Varying condition order distributes some order-related influences across conditions. It does not guarantee removal of every carryover effect or other design difference.

Outcome-driven deletion biases the analysis. Investigate recording or procedural issues and apply a justified, transparent rule consistently rather than selecting favourable data.