1. variables Flashcards
what is an independent variable
the variable the researcher manipulates
what is the dependent variable
the variable that is measured
what is the extraneous variable
a variable that might effect the dv that isnt the iv
identified at the start and controlled for
eg room temperature, time of the day
what is the confounding variable
type of extraneous variable you did not control that interacts with iv and dv
eg number of years driving, how much sleep a participant got
what does operationalisation of variables mean
how variables are made measurable
what does demand characteristics mean
the tendency of participants to use clues in experiments to work out how the experimenter expcets them to believe so participants behave in a way they think is expected
change in behaviour can be conscious or unconscious
also refers to other changes in behaviour like nerves or purposefully trying to sabotage results
unnatural behaviour reduces the internal validity
how to reduce demand characteristics
use different participants in each condition (independent groups)
single blind technique where participant doesn’t know which condition of the experiment they are assigned to
what are investigator effects
expectation effects
presence of an observer
experimenter exerting influence unconscous or conscious onto the research
expectation effects where researcher is deeply commited to achieveing outcome so observing events may be interpreted the wrong way to support researchers theory
the presence of an observer causes participants to act in an unatural way
different aspects of the investigator may have an influence: age, gender, ethnic group, appearance, facial expressions, communication style, leading questions the way a question is asked as a part of a questionaire may lead a participant to answer in a certain way
investigator effects reduces internal validity
how to reduce investigator effects
use a double blind technique where neither researcher or participant know the aims and or conditions of the study. also helps to reduce demand characteristics
