2. Control Of Variables

Question 1

What are Extraneous variables?

Answer 1

Any variable, other than the IV, that MAY have an effect on the DV if it is not controlled. (Does not vary systemically with the IV)

Question 2

What are confounding variables ?

Answer 2

Any variable, other that the IV, that may have affected the DV so we cannot be SURE of the TRUE sources of change to the DV (does vary systematically with the IV)

Question 3

What are demand characteristics ?

Answer 3

Any cue from the researcher or from the research situation that may be interpreted by participants as revealing the purpose of the investigation so it may lead to them changing their behaviour

Question 4

What are investigator effects ?

Answer 4

Any effect of the investigators behaviour which is conscious or unconscious on the research outcome .

Question 5

What is randomisation?

Answer 5

The use of chance in order to control for the effects of bias when designing materials and deciding the order of conditions

Question 6

What is standardisation ?

Answer 6

Using exactly the same formalised procedures and instructions for all participants in a study

Question 7

Name a conscious example of an investigator effect ?

Answer 7

Smiling, shaking head, raised eyebrow, eye contact etc

Question 8

Name an unconscious investigator effect ?

Answer 8

Age, gender etc

Question 9

What is the name of the variable that may affect the DV if it is not controlled ?

Answer 9

Extraneous variable

Question 10

How do you control extraneous variables ?

Answer 10

Identify it at the start of study then take steps to minimise its influence

Question 11

Name examples of extraneous variables ?

Answer 11

Age, lighting etc.

Question 12

Name examples of a confounding variable ?

Answer 12

Personality, mood, willingness

Question 13

What is participant reactivity ?

Answer 13

a phenomenon in which the responses and/or behaviors of study participants are affected by their awareness that they are part of a study

Question 14

What type of variable is participant reactivity ?

Answer 14

It is an extraneous variable

Question 15

What is the ‘please-U effect’ ?

Answer 15

When a participant acts in a way that they think is expected and over preform to please the experimenter

Question 16

What is the ‘screw-U effect’ ?

Answer 16

When a participant deliberately under performs to sabotage the results of the study

Question 17

What does participant reactivity lead to ?

Answer 17

Investigator effects

Question 18

What can a researcher do to minimise the effect of extraneous:confounding variables ?

Answer 18

They can use randomisation

Question 19

What does randomisation prevent ?

Answer 19

It uses chance wherever possible to reduce the researchers influence on the design of the investigation - attempt to control investigator effects

Question 20

E.g a memory test, what could you do to minimise investigator effects ?

Answer 20

Randomisation, the order of the list of words would be randomly generated so that the position of each word would not be decided by the researcher

Question 21

What should you do in an investigation with participants who need to participate in multiple conditions ?

Answer 21

The order would need to be completely randomised or you could use counterbalancing

Question 22

What are standardised instructions ?

Answer 22

Same Instructions that are read to each participant to ensure they know exactly what needs to be done in the study

Question 23

What can extraneous variables be divided into ?

Answer 23

Situational and participant variables ?

Question 24

What are situational variables ?

Answer 24

Any features of the experimental situation that may affect the DV

Question 25

What are participant variables ?

Answer 25

Any individual differences between participants that may affect the DV

Question 26

Examples of a situational variable ?

Answer 26

Noise, weather, temperature, time of day, instructions

Question 27

Examples of participant variables

Answer 27

Age, motivation, personality, intelligence, gender, concentration

Question 28

Explain the difference between extraneous variables and confounding variables

Answer 28

Extraneous variables can be controlled and minimised whereas confounding variables are unexpected and we are unsure of what the true sources changes to the DV are