Collecting Data

Question 1

What are the explanatory and response variables?

Answer 1

1. Explanatory - variable manipulated (x-axis)

2. Response - variable measured/outcome (y-axis)

Question 2

What is a laboratory experiment?

Answer 2

Experiment conducted in a controlled environment

Question 3

What are the adv/disadvantages of a lab experiment?

Answer 3

1. Easy to replicate
2. Can control extraneous variables
3. Ppts may behave differently in test conditions

Question 4

What is a field experment?

Answer 4

Carried out in the ppt’s everyday environment

Question 5

What are the adv/disadvantages of a field experiment?

Answer 5

1. More likely to reflect real-life behaviour

2. Can’t control extraneous variables

Question 6

What is a natural experiment?

Answer 6

Carried out in the ppt’s everyday environment, but the researcher has NO control over any variables

Question 7

What are the adv/disadvantages of a natural experiment?

Answer 7

1. More likely to reflect real-life behaviour

2. Lack of control over extraneous variables = can’t replicate exactly

Question 8

What is a control group?

Answer 8

Group that doesn’t receive treatment and is used for comparison against the test group

Question 9

What is an outlier?

Answer 9

Anomalous data value that does not fit the pattern of the data

Question 10

Why might you ignore or include an outlier?

Answer 10

1. IGNORE: due to a measuring or recording error
2. IGNORE: not typical
3. INCLUDE: it’s a genuine result

Question 11

How do we clean data?

Answer 11

1. Identify and either correct or remove inaccurate data value
2. Remove units/symbols from data
3. Decide what to do about the now missing data

Question 12

What are extraneous variables?

Answer 12

Variables that we are not investigating but could still affect the results of an experiment