Chapter 6.2 - Research issues

Question 1

What are extraneous variables?

Answer 1

Any variable, other than the IV, that may affect the DV if it is not controlled. EVs do not vary systematically with the IV - nuisance variables that are straightforward to control such as age, lighting in the lab etc

Question 2

What are confounding variables?

Answer 2

A type of EV but varies systematically with the IV, therefore we can’t tell if any change in the DV is due to the IV or the confounding variable

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 an investigation. This may lead to a participant changing their behaviour within the research situation - act in a way that they think is expected or underperform to sabotage the results of the study

Question 4

What is meant by participant reactivity?

Answer 4

This is when participants try to figure out what is going on in this new situation they find themselves in from the beginning of the experiment, they may change their behaviour to fit the situation rather than acting naturally

Question 5

What are investigator effects?

Answer 5

Any effect of the (un)conscious behaviour of the investigator on the research outcome : design of the study, selection of, and interaction with, participants during the research process e.g. leading questions

Question 6

What is randomisation?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

What is standardisation?

Answer 7

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