C Methodolgy

Question 1

Laboratory experiment

Answer 1

Experiments carried out in an artificial controlled setting. This setting is unnatural for the pp. the IV is manipulated in some way, usually 2 conditions or more. Good control variables

Question 2

Field experiment

Answer 2

Experiments carried out in ‘the field’ i.e in the natural setting of the pp for example in a school for teachers or pupils participating. There is still the control of the lavatory experiment included but these might be difficult to put into place

Question 3

Experimental hypothesis

Answer 3

This is the alternative to the null hypothesis; that there is a difference predicted. Therefore the null hypothesis can be rejected

Question 4

Directional / one tailed hypothesis

Answer 4

The direction of the difference is predicted, there is a direction stated.

Question 5

Non directional / two tailed hypothesis

Answer 5

Where the direction of the hypothesis is not predicted.

Question 6

Null hypothesis

Answer 6

The hypothesis that is tested for statistical purposes and the null hypothesis is that there is no difference as predicted

Question 7

Operationalisation

Answer 7

Making something measurable and clear. ‘ obedience levels’ , ‘no. Of words recalled’

Question 8

Participant design

Answer 8

Three ways of separating pp into groups to study them

Question 9

Independent groups

Answer 9

Each group is independent of the other with regard to the people doing the study. One group recalls themed words another recalls random words

Question 10

Repeated measures

Answer 10

The same pp are involved in all the conditions

Question 11

Matched pairs

Answer 11

Different pp in different conditions as in independent groups but pp are matched in terms of age, gender, experience

Question 12

Order effects

Answer 12

This refers to the problems that might occur when the same people are doing all the conditions
Practice effects
Fatigue effects

Question 13

Practice effects

Answer 13

Order effects - having done one of the tasks the pp does. The next one better because of having had practice

Question 14

Fatigue effects

Answer 14

Order effects - having done one task before the other, the pp is tired so does the next one less well

Question 15

Independent variable

Answer 15

The variable that is manipulated to see the effect on the dependent variable

Question 16

Dependent variable

Answer 16

The variable that is measured to see the effect of the independent variable.

Question 17

Counterbalancing

Answer 17

A way to avoid order effects: alternate the order in which the pp does the conditions

Question 18

Randomising

Answer 18

A way to avoid order effects: chose at random which task the pp will do first. Toss a coin.

Question 19

Experimental control

Answer 19

An experiment should have control over the many variables that may affect the results of the study. Some variables are easier to Control than others

Question 20

Extraneous variables

Answer 20

These are any variables that can influence the findings of the study EXCEPT the independent variable. Sometimes the variables can influence the dependent variable and confound the result

Question 21

Confounding variables

Answer 21

This is a factor that has not been controlled and has an impact on the findings of the study

Question 22

Situational variable

Answer 22

Variables in the situation such as noise, light, temperature that might affect the results if they are different in the different conditions

Question 23

Participant variable

Answer 23

Variables in the pp such as mood, hunger, age, gender that might affect the results if they are different in different conditions

Question 24

Ecological validity

Answer 24

This refers to how well a study reflects a natural situation. Results can be ‘abnormal’ if expt carried out in a highly artificial environment. Field and natural expts have ecological validity as they are conducted in natural surroundings

Question 25

Construct validity

Answer 25

The extent to which the test measures what it claims to measure. For example recalling a list of words might not be a useful measure of episodic memory because a pp may draw on semantic memory to make a good guess

Question 26

Predictive validity

Answer 26

The extent to which results from a test or study can predict future behaviour. For example if a test of intelligence can predict future academic success, then it has predictive validity

Question 27

Internal validity

Answer 27

The extent to which the outcome of the study is a direct result of the manipulated independent variable. Internal validity can be ensured by using standardised procedures, controlling for order effects and individual differences and avoiding demand characteristics

Question 28

External validity

Answer 28

The extent to which the findings apply to other people and situations

Question 29

Experimenter effects

Answer 29

These are things such as tone of researchers tone of voice, clothes worn, gender, age. They must be controlled if the experiment is to be truly objective and reliable

Question 30

Demand characteristics

Answer 30

When characteristics of a question or features of a study give clued to the respondent about the answers expected. Questions need to be suitable and hide true intentions

Question 31

Objectivity

Answer 31

The study is not biased because of the researcher giving their own opinions or influencing the results. Personal opinions should not influence the process

Question 32

Reliability

Answer 32

Getting the same results again if the study is repeated. To test for reliability, there needs to be replicability

Question 33

Validity

Answer 33

Measuring what you claim to measure, meaning that what you measure is real life and not forced nbecause of the study’s methodology

Question 34

strengths of laboratory experiment

Answer 34

high levels of control allows extraneous variables to be minimised. cause and effect conclusion can be made

replicable to check findings

Question 35

weakness of lab experiments

Answer 35

Low internal validity - don’t measure how people would act in real life as the tasks are often artificial
Demand characteristics- pp will change their behaviour due to what they think is being investigated or how they think they are expected to behave. The results will be invalid because its not the effect of the IV that is being measured

Question 36

Advantages of a field experiment

Answer 36

Allow psychologists to measure how people behave in their everyday lives. So the findings have high external validity.
No demand characteristics- the pp do not know they are participating in a study, they will be unaware they are being watched or manipulated.

Question 37

Disadvantages of field experiments

Answer 37

Not always possible to control extraneous variables that might affect the IV or the DV. The researcher cannot always draw a cause and effect conclusion
Difficult to replicate and therefore will be hard to check the reliability of the findings