Controlling Variables, Experiment Types: Research Methods Flashcards
Random allocation
Each participant has an equal chance of being allocated to either condition
Counterbalancing
Is a way to control for order effects. Half of the participants do condition A then is then the other do B then A.it means any order effects will be spread
Randomisation
Used in the presentation of stimuli to make sure it is presented in a random manner so the order of presentation does not have any effect on the DV
Standardisation
The process in which procedures used in research are kept the same apart from IV
Single blind study
Participants don’t know what group they belong to
Double blind study
Participants and researcher both don’t know the group the ppt is in
Lab experiment
Conducted under highly controlled conditions and the IV is deliberately manipulated by researcher and ppts know they’re in the study
Lab experiments evaluation
+ high control, standardised procedure
- low ecological validity, low mundane realism, chance of demand characteristics
Field experiment
Conducted in a natural environment but the IV is manipulated and ppt typically don’t know they are in study
Field study evaluation
+ High ecological validity, high mundane realism, less chance of demand characteristics
- extraneous variables, hard to replicate to check reliability
Natural experiments
Conducted in a natural environment and the IV is naturally occurring such as a natural disaster
Natural experiments evaluation
+ high ecological validity, allows research to be carried out that would not be normally ethically viable
- confounding variables, can’t be replicated to check reliability
Quasi experiment
Conducted in a lab or natural environment but the IV is natural occurring characteristic such as age, gender, OCD - random allocation not possible
