1 - the experimental method

Question 1

define aim

Answer 1

a general statement made by the researcher which tells us what they plan on investigating (purpose of study). developed from theories and similar research.

Question 2

define hypothesis

Answer 2

statement that clearly states the relationship between the variables being investigated

Question 3

what is the difference between a directional and non directional hypothesis

Answer 3

directional states direction the the relationship that will be shown between variables whereas non directional does not

Question 4

when is a directional hypothesis used

Answer 4

when there is already research which relates to the aim of the researcher’s investigation, suggesting a particular outcome

Question 5

when would a non directional hypothesis be appropriate

Answer 5

when there is no previous research which relates to the aim or the research is contradictory

Question 6

in order to test the effect of the iv we need what two conditions!

Answer 6

experimental condition and control conditoon

Question 7

define operationalisation of variables

Answer 7

researcher clearly defining the variables in terms of how they are being measured

Question 8

define extraneous variable

Answer 8

any other variable which is not the iv that affects the dv and does not vary systematically with the iv (do not confound results just make them harder to detect)

Question 9

define confounding variable

Answer 9

like extraneous variable but changes systematically with the iv. becomes difficult for researcher to be sure of the origin of the impact of the dv as the confounding variable could have been the cause

Question 10

define demand characteristics

Answer 10

any cue the researcher may give which makes the participant feel like they can guess the aim of the investigation

Question 11

what can demand characteristics look like?

Answer 11

acting in a way they think the researcher wants them to or intentionally underperforming to sabotage the results

Question 12

define investigator effects

Answer 12

any unwanted influence from the researchers behaviour on the dv measured

Question 13

define randomisation

Answer 13

use of chance to reduce the effects of bias from investigator effects

Question 14

define standardisation

Answer 14

using the exact same formalised procedures and instruction for every participant

Question 15

what can randomisation and standardisation minimise the effects of?

Answer 15

extraneous or confounding variables

Question 16

what are the four types of experiments?

Answer 16

laboratory, field, quasi and natural

Question 17

define a laboratory experiment

Answer 17

takes place in an environment where different variables can be carefully controlled

Question 18

define a field experiment

Answer 18

natural environment but with variables still being well controlled

Question 19

define a quasi experiment

Answer 19

the iv has not been determined by the researcher, instead it naturally exists

Question 20

define natural experiment

Answer 20

iv not brought about by researcher, would have happened anyways

Question 21

how is high level of control a strength of lab studies

Answer 21

iv has been precisely replicated, leading to greater accuracy

Question 22

how is replication a strength of lab studies

Answer 22

researchers can repeat experiments and check results

Question 23

how is experimenter’s bias a weakness of lab studies

Answer 23

bias can affect results and ps may be influenced by these expectations

Question 24

how is low ecological validity a weakness of lab studies

Answer 24

high degree of control makes the situation artificial

Question 25

how is naturalistic a strength of field studies

Answer 25

more natural behaviours hence high ecological validity even if iv is still controlled

Question 26

how is ethical considerations a weakness of field studies

Answer 26

invasion of privacy and likely to have been no informed consent

Question 27

how is loss of control a weakness of field studies

Answer 27

loss of control over extraneous variables hence precise replication not possible

Question 28

how is controlled conditions a strength of quasi experiments

Answer 28

hence replicable, likely to have high internal validity

Question 29

how is not being able to randomly allocate participants a weakness of quasi experiments

Answer 29

cannot randomly allocate ps to conditions so may be confounding variables presented. harder to conclude that iv caused the dv

Question 30

how is providing opportunities for research a strength of natural studies

Answer 30

research may have been otherwise impossible due to practical or ethical reasons

Question 31

how is high external validity a strength of natural studies

Answer 31

dealing with real life issues

Question 32

how is natural occurring event being rare a weakness of natural studies

Answer 32

means these experiments are not likely to be replicable hence hard to generalise findings

Question 33

how is difficulty to randomise groups a weakness of natural studies

Answer 33

confounding and extraneous variables become a problem