13-24 Flashcards
Extraneous variables
Anything that might have an effect on the DV. The variables can be controlled by the experimenter eg. Age of participants, time limits for tasks
Confounding variables
Variables that aren’t controlled for in an experiment which do affect the results (ruin them) eg. Weather, mood of participants
What is an aim
To the investigate the effect of a variable
What is a hypothesis
A formal unambiguous statement of what is predicted. It must both contain both condition of the IV and the expected outcome of the DV, be operationalised and measurable
What is a directional hypothesis
States whether the DV outcome is expected to be greater or lesser, positive or negative- it is used when there has been previous research which suggests the direction
What is a non-directional hypothesis
Doesn’t state the direction of the DV, just that there’ll be a difference- it is used when there is no theory/previous research or it is contradictory
What is a null hypothesis
The prediction of no difference between the two IV conditions on the outcome of the DV
What is reliability
Consistency
What is internal reliability
All participants are treated the same way
What is external reliability
Same/similar results found after repeated test
What are the three ways to test reliability
Test retest reliability
Inter observer reliability
Measured using a correlation
What is inter observer reliability
Two or more observers are used and results are compared
What should the correlation be above for reliability
+80
How can you improve reliability
Repeat the study and check results correlate again
What is validity
Accuracy
What is internal validity
Whether the study measures what it’s meant to measure
What is external validity
How generalisable beyond experimental setting the study is
What is ecological validity
How realistic the setting is
What is population validity
Applicable sample- does not represent a large population
What is temporal validity
Whether the results are still relevant
How can validity be assessed
Face validity
Concurrent validity
What is face validity
Whether it looks like it measures what it should