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A Level AQA Psychology COPY > 7.1: The experimental method > Flashcards

7.1: The experimental method Flashcards

1
Q

The Experimental method

A

The Experimental method is a research method using:
1. Random allocation of participants
2. The manipulation of variables
to determine cause and effect

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2
Q

The Experimental method is a research method using random allocation of participants and the manipulation of variables to determine cause and effect.
This method relies on what to test a hypothesis?

A

The Experimental method relies on high levels of control to test a hypothesis

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3
Q

Variable

A 
A variable is any object, characteristic or event in an investigation that is:
1. Manipulated
2. Measured
Or,
3. Controlled
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4
Q

Research methods

A

Research methods are the means by which explanations are tested

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5
Q

Independent variable (IV)

A

The independent variable (IV) is an aspect of the research situation that:
1. Is manipulated by researchers in an investigation
Or,
2. Changes naturally

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6
Q

Dependent variable (DV)

A

The dependent variable (DV) is the factor in the experimental situation that is measured by researchers in an investigation

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7
Q

The dependent variable (DV) is the factor in the experimental situation that is measured by researchers in an investigation and should be caused by what?

A

The dependent variable (DV):

  1. Is the factor in the experimental situation that is measured by researchers in an investigation
  2. Should be caused by the independent variable
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8
Q

The operationalisation of variables is the process of defining variables into measurable factors and to be precise and clear about what is being manipulated or measured.
Make it what?

A

Make it:

  1. Testable
  2. Repeatable
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9
Q

Before you can write your research hypothesis, you must do what?

A

Before you can write your research hypothesis, you must:

  1. Operationalise your variables
  2. Think about how you will control any extraneous variables
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10
Q

On a graph, what goes on the y axis and what goes on the x axis?

A

On a graph, the:

  1. Dependent variable (DV) goes on the y axis
  2. Independent variable (IV) goes on the x axis
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11
Q

On a graph, the dependent variable (DV) goes on the y axis and the independent variable (IV) goes on the x axis.
The rule is what?

A

The rule is:

  1. In
  2. Then up
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12
Q

On a graph, the dependent variable (DV) goes on the y axis and the independent variable (IV) goes on the x axis.
The rule is in and then up.
The ‘in’ means what?

A

The ‘in’ means the independent variable (IV)

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13
Q

Extraneous variables

A

Extraneous variables are variables other than the independent variable (IV) that might affect the dependent variable (DV)

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14
Q

Extraneous variables are variables other than the independent variable (IV) that might affect the dependent variable (DV).
Extraneous variables are controlled, so that they do not vary across any of the experimental conditions or between participants.
What can uncontrolled extraneous variables do?

A

Uncontrolled extraneous variables can:

  1. Become confounding variables
  2. ‘Confuse’ the results and affect their accuracy and reliability by affecting the dependent variable (DV)
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15
Q

You always start with what variables?

A

You always start with extraneous variables

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16
Q

You always start with extraneous variables, then you do what?

A

You always start with extraneous variables, then you:
1. Gather confounding variables
Or,
2. Control variables from it

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17
Q

Extraneous variables are variables other than the independent variable (IV) that might affect the dependent variable (DV).
Extraneous variables are controlled, so that they do not vary across any of the experimental conditions or between participants.
Uncontrolled extraneous variables can become confounding variables and ‘confuse’ the results and affect their accuracy and reliability by affecting the dependent variable (DV).
For example, if researchers wished to investigate the effect of background music (Condition 1) or silence (Condition 2) on homework performance using 2 classes, they would have to control a number of extraneous variables.
Examples

A

For example:

  1. Age
  2. Homework difficulty
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18
Q

Extraneous variables are variables other than the independent variable (IV) that might affect the dependent variable (DV).
Extraneous variables are controlled, so that they do not vary across any of the experimental conditions or between participants.
Uncontrolled extraneous variables can become confounding variables and ‘confuse’ the results and affect their accuracy and reliability by affecting the dependent variable (DV).
For example, if researchers wished to investigate the effect of background music (Condition 1) or silence (Condition 2) on homework performance using 2 classes, they would have to control a number of extraneous variables, including age and homework difficulty.
If these were all controlled, the results would be trustworthy.
However, if the participants in Condition 1 were brighter than those in Condition 2, intelligence would be a what?

A

If the participants in Condition 1 were brighter than those in Condition 2, intelligence would be a confounding variable

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19
Q

Extraneous variables are variables other than the independent variable (IV) that might affect the dependent variable (DV).
Extraneous variables are controlled, so that they do not vary across any of the experimental conditions or between participants.
Uncontrolled extraneous variables can become confounding variables and ‘confuse’ the results and affect their accuracy and reliability by affecting the dependent variable (DV).
For example, if researchers wished to investigate the effect of background music (Condition 1) or silence (Condition 2) on homework performance using 2 classes, they would have to control a number of extraneous variables, including age and homework difficulty.
If these were all controlled, the results would be trustworthy.
However, if the participants in Condition 1 were brighter than those in Condition 2, intelligence would be a confounding variable.
The researchers could not then be sure whether what?

A

The researchers could not then be sure whether differences in homework performance were due to:
1. The presence of the music
Or,
2. Intelligence

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20
Q

Extraneous variables are variables other than the independent variable (IV) that might affect the dependent variable (DV).
Extraneous variables are controlled, so that they do not vary across any of the experimental conditions or between participants.
Uncontrolled extraneous variables can become confounding variables and ‘confuse’ the results and affect their accuracy and reliability by affecting the dependent variable (DV).
For example, if researchers wished to investigate the effect of background music (Condition 1) or silence (Condition 2) on homework performance using 2 classes, they would have to control a number of extraneous variables, including age and homework difficulty.
If these were all controlled, the results would be trustworthy.
However, if the participants in Condition 1 were brighter than those in Condition 2, intelligence would be a confounding variable.
The researchers could not then be sure whether differences in homework performance were due to the presence of the music, or intelligence.
The results would be what?

A

The results would be:

  1. Confounded
  2. Worthless
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21
Q

Confounding variables

A

Confounding variables are uncontrolled extraneous variables that negatively affect results

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22
Q

Demand characteristics

A

Demand characteristics are features of a piece of research that allow the participants to work out its:
1. Aim
And/Or
2. Hypothesis

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23
Q

Demand characteristics are features of a piece of research that allow the participants to work out its aim and/or hypothesis.
Participants may then do what?

A

Participants may then:

  1. Change their behaviour
  2. So frustrate the aim of the research
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24
Q

Extraneous variables are variables other than the independent variable (IV) that might affect the dependent variable (DV).
Extraneous variables are controlled, so that they do not vary across any of the experimental conditions or between participants.
Uncontrolled extraneous variables can become confounding variables and ‘confuse’ the results and affect their accuracy and reliability by affecting the dependent variable (DV).
How many main types of extraneous variables are there?

A

There are 3 main types of extraneous variables:

  1. Participant variables
  2. Situational variables
  3. Experimenter variables
25
Q

Extraneous variables are variables other than the independent variable (IV) that might affect the dependent variable (DV).
Extraneous variables are controlled, so that they do not vary across any of the experimental conditions or between participants.
Uncontrolled extraneous variables can become confounding variables and ‘confuse’ the results and affect their accuracy and reliability by affecting the dependent variable (DV).
There are 3 main types of extraneous variables, participant variables, situational variables and experimenter variables.
1. Participant variables concern what?

A

Participant variables concern factors such as participants’:

  1. Age
  2. Intelligence
26
Q

Extraneous variables are variables other than the independent variable (IV) that might affect the dependent variable (DV).
Extraneous variables are controlled, so that they do not vary across any of the experimental conditions or between participants.
Uncontrolled extraneous variables can become confounding variables and ‘confuse’ the results and affect their accuracy and reliability by affecting the dependent variable (DV).
There are 3 main types of extraneous variables, participant variables, situational variables and experimenter variables.
2. Situational variables concern what?

A

Situational variables concern the:

  1. Experiment setting
  2. Surrounding environment
27
Q

Extraneous variables are variables other than the independent variable (IV) that might affect the dependent variable (DV).
Extraneous variables are controlled, so that they do not vary across any of the experimental conditions or between participants.
Uncontrolled extraneous variables can become confounding variables and ‘confuse’ the results and affect their accuracy and reliability by affecting the dependent variable (DV).
There are 3 main types of extraneous variables, participant variables, situational variables and experimenter variables.
2. Situational variables concern the experiment setting and the surrounding environment.
Example

A

For example:

  1. Temperature
  2. Noise levels
28
Q

Extraneous variables are variables other than the independent variable (IV) that might affect the dependent variable (DV).
Extraneous variables are controlled, so that they do not vary across any of the experimental conditions or between participants.
Uncontrolled extraneous variables can become confounding variables and ‘confuse’ the results and affect their accuracy and reliability by affecting the dependent variable (DV).
There are 3 main types of extraneous variables, participant variables, situational variables and experimenter variables.
3. Experimenter variables concern what?

A 
Experimenter variables concern changes in the:
1. Personality
2. Appearance
3. Conduct
of the researcher
29
Q

Extraneous variables are variables other than the independent variable (IV) that might affect the dependent variable (DV).
Extraneous variables are controlled, so that they do not vary across any of the experimental conditions or between participants.
Uncontrolled extraneous variables can become confounding variables and ‘confuse’ the results and affect their accuracy and reliability by affecting the dependent variable (DV).
There are 3 main types of extraneous variables, participant variables, situational variables and experimenter variables.
3. Experimenter variables concern changes in the personality, appearance and conduct of the researcher.
Example

A

For example, female researchers may gain different results from male researchers

30
Q

Conducting research involves what?

A

Conducting research involves interaction between:

  1. Researchers
  2. Participants
31
Q

Conducting research involves interaction between researchers and participants and such interactions can do what?

A

Conducting research involves interaction between:
1. Researchers
2. Participants
and such interactions can affect research findings

32
Q

Conducting research involves interaction between researchers and participants and such interactions can affect research findings.
There are several features of research studies that enable participants to do what?

A

There are several features of research studies that enable participants to guess what:

  1. A study is about
  2. Is expected of them
33
Q

Conducting research involves interaction between researchers and participants and such interactions can affect research findings.
There are several features of research studies that enable participants to guess what a study is about and what is expected of them.
Such demand characteristics can involve participants:
1. Guessing what and trying to please the researcher by doing what?

A

Such demand characteristics can involve participants:

  1. Guessing the purpose of the research
  2. Trying to please the researcher by giving the ‘right’ results
34
Q

Conducting research involves interaction between researchers and participants and such interactions can affect research findings.
There are several features of research studies that enable participants to guess what a study is about and what is expected of them.
Such demand characteristics can involve participants:
1. Guessing the purpose of the research and trying to please the researcher by giving the ‘right’ results.
2. Guessing what and trying to annoy the researcher by doing what?

A

Such demand characteristics can involve participants:

  1. Guessing the purpose of the research
  2. Trying to annoy the researcher by giving the ‘wrong’ results
35
Q

Conducting research involves interaction between researchers and participants and such interactions can affect research findings.
There are several features of research studies that enable participants to guess what a study is about and what is expected of them.
Such demand characteristics can involve participants:
1. Guessing the purpose of the research and trying to please the researcher by giving the ‘right’ results.
2. Guessing the purpose of the research and trying to annoy the researcher by giving the ‘wrong’ results.
This is called what?

A

This is called the ‘screw you’ effect

36
Q

Conducting research involves interaction between researchers and participants and such interactions can affect research findings.
There are several features of research studies that enable participants to guess what a study is about and what is expected of them.
Such demand characteristics can involve participants:
1. Guessing the purpose of the research and trying to please the researcher by giving the ‘right’ results.
2. Guessing the purpose of the research and trying to annoy the researcher by giving the ‘wrong’ results.
This is called the ‘screw you’ effect.
3. Acting unnaturally out of what?

A

Such demand characteristics can involve participants acting unnaturally out of:
1. Nervousness
Or,
2. Fear of evaluation

37
Q

Conducting research involves interaction between researchers and participants and such interactions can affect research findings.
There are several features of research studies that enable participants to guess what a study is about and what is expected of them.
Such demand characteristics can involve participants:
1. Guessing the purpose of the research and trying to please the researcher by giving the ‘right’ results.
2. Guessing the purpose of the research and trying to annoy the researcher by giving the ‘wrong’ results.
This is called the ‘screw you’ effect.
3. Acting unnaturally out of nervousness or fear of evaluation.
4. Acting unnaturally due to what?

A

Such demand characteristics can involve participants acting unnaturally due to social desirability bias

38
Q

The single-blind procedure

A

The single-blind procedure is a technique that reduces demand characteristics

39
Q

The single-blind procedure is a technique that reduces demand characteristics.
It involves what?

A

The single-blind procedure involves participants having no idea which condition of a study they are in

40
Q

The single-blind procedure is a technique that reduces demand characteristics.
It involves participants having no idea which condition of a study they are in.
Example

A

For example, in drug trials, they would not know whether they were being given a:
1. Real drug
Or,
2. Placebo drug (sugar pill)

41
Q

Investigator effects

A

Investigator effects are the ways in which researchers unconsciously influence the results of research

42
Q

Investigator effects are the ways in which researchers unconsciously influence the results of research and can occur in several ways:
1. What characteristics of investigators may influence results?

A

Physical characteristics of investigators may influence results

43
Q

Investigator effects are the ways in which researchers unconsciously influence the results of research and can occur in several ways:
1. Physical characteristics of investigators may influence results, such as what?

A

Physical characteristics of investigators may influence results, such as:
1. Age
Or,
2. Ethnicity

44
Q

Investigator effects are the ways in which researchers unconsciously influence the results of research and can occur in several ways:
1. Physical characteristics of investigators may influence results, such as age or ethnicity.
Example

A

For example, male participants may be unwilling to admit sexist views to female researchers

45
Q

Investigator effects are the ways in which researchers unconsciously influence the results of research and can occur in several ways:

  1. Physical characteristics of investigators may influence results, such as age or ethnicity.
  2. Less obvious what of individuals can influence results?
A

Less obvious personal characteristics of individuals can influence results

46
Q

Investigator effects are the ways in which researchers unconsciously influence the results of research and can occur in several ways:

  1. Physical characteristics of investigators may influence results, such as age or ethnicity.
  2. Less obvious personal characteristics of individuals can influence results, like what?
A

Less obvious personal characteristics of individuals can influence results, like:
1. Accent
Or,
2. Tone of voice

47
Q

Investigator effects are the ways in which researchers unconsciously influence the results of research and can occur in several ways:
1. Physical characteristics of investigators may influence results, such as age or ethnicity.
2. Less obvious personal characteristics of individuals can influence results, like accent or tone of voice.
Example

A

For example, participants may respond differently to someone with a stern voice

48
Q

Investigator effects are the ways in which researchers unconsciously influence the results of research and can occur in several ways:

  1. Physical characteristics of investigators may influence results, such as age or ethnicity.
  2. Less obvious personal characteristics of individuals can influence results, like accent or tone of voice.
  3. Investigators may be unconsciously what?
A

Investigators may be unconsciously biased in their interpretation of data

49
Q

Investigator effects are the ways in which researchers unconsciously influence the results of research and can occur in several ways:

  1. Physical characteristics of investigators may influence results, such as age or ethnicity.
  2. Less obvious personal characteristics of individuals can influence results, like accent or tone of voice.
  3. Investigators may be unconsciously biased in their interpretation of data and find what?
A

Investigators may:

  1. Be unconsciously biased in their interpretation of data
  2. Find what they expect to find
50
Q

The double-blind procedure

A

The double-blind procedure is a technique that reduces investigator effects

51
Q

The double-blind procedure is a technique that reduces investigator effects, which involves what?

A

The double-blind procedure is a technique that reduces investigator effects, which involves neither:
1. Participants
Nor
2. Investigators
knowing which condition participants are in

52
Q

The double-blind procedure is a technique that reduces investigator effects, which involves neither participants nor investigators knowing which condition participants are in.
They are both what to this knowledge?

A

The:
1. Participants
2. Investigators
are both ‘blind’ to this knowledge

53
Q

The double-blind procedure is a technique that reduces investigator effects, which involves neither participants nor investigators knowing which condition participants are in.
They are both ‘blind’ to this knowledge.
This prevents investigators from doing what?

A

This prevents investigators from unconsciously giving participants clues as to which condition they are in

54
Q

The double-blind procedure is a technique that reduces investigator effects, which involves neither participants nor investigators knowing which condition participants are in.
They are both ‘blind’ to this knowledge.
This prevents investigators from unconsciously giving participants clues as to which condition they are in and therefore reduces what?

A

This prevents investigators from unconsciously giving participants clues as to which condition they are in and therefore reduces:

  1. Investigator effects
  2. Demand characteristics
55
Q

The double-blind procedure is a technique that reduces investigator effects, which involves neither participants nor investigators knowing which condition participants are in.
They are both ‘blind’ to this knowledge.
This prevents investigators from unconsciously giving participants clues as to which condition they are in and therefore reduces investigator effects and demand characteristics.
For example, in drug trials, the drug and placebo would be what?

A 
For example, in drug trials, the drug and the placebo would be allocated in such a way that neither the:
1. Participant
Nor,
2. Researcher
would know who was receiving which
56
Q

The operationalisation of variables

A

The operationalisation of variables is:

  1. The process of defining variables into measurable factors
  2. To be precise and clear about what is being manipulated or measured
57
Q

Extraneous variables are variables other than the independent variable (IV) that might affect the dependent variable (DV).
Extraneous variables are controlled, so that they do not vary across any of the experimental conditions, or between participants.
Uncontrolled extraneous variables can become confounding variables and ‘confuse’ the results and affect their accuracy and reliability by affecting the dependent variable (DV).
For example, if researchers wished to investigate what using what, they would have to control a number of extraneous variables?

A

For example, if researchers wished to investigate the effect of:
1. Background music (Condition 1)
Or,
2. Silence (Condition 2)
on homework performance using 2 classes, they would have to control a number of extraneous variables

58
Q

Extraneous variables are variables other than the independent variable (IV) that might affect the dependent variable (DV).
Extraneous variables are controlled, so that they do not vary across any of the experimental conditions, or between participants.
Uncontrolled extraneous variables can become confounding variables and ‘confuse’ the results and affect their accuracy and reliability by affecting the dependent variable (DV).
For example, if researchers wished to investigate the effect of background music (Condition 1) or silence (Condition 2) on homework performance using 2 classes, they would have to control a number of extraneous variables, including age and homework difficulty.
If these were all controlled, the results would be what?

A

If these were all controlled, the results would be trustworthy

A Level AQA Psychology COPY (145 decks)

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