7.2: Experimental designs

Question 1

Discuss the purpose of counterbalancing (3 marks)

Answer 1

Counterbalancing controls the impact of order effects (practice, fatigue or boredom)

Question 2

Discuss the purpose of counterbalancing (3 marks).
Counterbalancing controls the impact of order effects (practice, fatigue or boredom).
What does it allow?

Answer 2

It allows order effects to be distributed evenly across both conditions

Question 3

Discuss the purpose of counterbalancing (3 marks).
Counterbalancing controls the impact of order effects (practice, fatigue or boredom).
It allows order effects to be distributed evenly across both conditions.

Answer 3

Counterbalancing does not eliminate order effects that will be present

Question 4

Discuss the purpose of counterbalancing (3 marks).
Counterbalancing controls the impact of order effects (practice, fatigue or boredom).
It allows order effects to be distributed evenly across both conditions.
Counterbalancing does not eliminate order effects that will be present, why?

Answer 4

Counterbalancing does not eliminate order effects that will be present, because there are two separate tasks to be completed by each person

Question 5

A psychologist studying obedience conducted the following experiment.
A confederate (stooge) approached people in the street and instructed them to pick up a piece of litter and put it in a nearby bin. None of the people approached had dropped the litter.
There were two groups in the experiment.
Group A: The confederate (stooge) was dressed in everyday clothing.
Group B: The confederate (stooge) was dressed in a uniform.
The psychologist recorded how many people in each group obeyed the instruction of the confederate (stooge).

Identify the experimental design that was used in this study. Briefly explain one advantage of using this experimental design in this study (3 marks)

Answer 5

Independent measures design
As participants will either be approached by a confederate wearing uniform or a confederate in everyday clothing / as participants only take part in one condition (1), they are unlikely to guess the aim of the study / there are no order effects (1)