Exam 2 - Chapter 9 (Conducting Experiments)

Question 1

Manipulating the Independent Variable

Answer 1

To manipulate an IV you have to:

• create an operational definition.
• Turn a conceptual variable into a set of operations that can be presented to the participants.

**The manipulation happens when the researcher changes the conditions exposed to the participant. **

Question 2

Strength of the IV Manipulation

Answer 2

Manipulation of the IV should be strong enough to create an effect (if one exists), but not too strong that it hurts the study.

• The amount of potential impact of the IV on the DV.

Strong Manipulations = Important in early stages of research in order to demonstrate that a relationship does exist

Example:

• Weak Manipulation:
  
  • Hot – Cold
  • Hot – C_ld
    Stronger Manipulation:
  • Hot – Cold
  • Hot – ____

Question 3

Manipulations can be TOO Strong

Answer 3

Ecological and External Validity → when a manipulation is unrealistic to the real-world, it is too strong. (ie: inducing anxiety via monster chase = unrealistic)

Ethics → Using extreme scenarios to manipulate IV can be unethical (ie: Stanford Prison)

Curvilinear relationships → we might not see the relationship when using too strong of a manipulation (ie: Performance – Arousal)

Question 4

Types of Manipulations:

Straightforward Studies vs. Staged Studies

Answer 4

Straightforward Studies: Easy situations are used to manipulated the IV by presenting written, verbal, or visual materials to the participants.

Staged Studies: Complex situations are used to manipulate the IV, often using simulations of real-life.

• Used for One of Two Reasons:
  
  • To create a psychological state (frustration, anger, affect self-esteem, etc)
  • To simulate a real-world situation

Question 5

Manipulation Checks

Answer 5

A measure used to determine if the manipulation of the IV had its intended effect on the participant.

• Includes another measure (that IS NOT the Dependent Variable) to see if the manipulation worked. (ie: self-report)
• Provide evidence for the Construct Validity of the manipulation

Risk: manipulation checks might create Demand Characteristics

• solutions: disguise the check OR do the check after measuring the DV.
• BUT: Post DV measurement risks that IV effect may have weakened. – Instead do it in a Pilot Study

Question 6

Pilot Study

Answer 6

A small-scale study done before the main experiment to test the procedures (aka a test-run).

• A Pilot Study can be done instead of a Manipulation Check to Demand Characteristics in the main study

Question 7

Demand Characteristics

Answer 7

Anything about the experiment that unintentionally indicates to participants how they should act, making people change their behavior to conform to what they think they should do.

• Could be smth that reveals the true purpose of the study (ie: Title of study, Instructions)
• Could be smth that leads people to believe an inaccurate purpose of the study

Question 8

Expectancy effects (Experimenter Bias)

Answer 8

The intentional or unintentional impact that an experimenter’s expectations about the outcome of the study has on participants.

Can happen through:

• Instructions (wording),
• behavior (friendly/cold behavior),
• Informing participants of the purpose of the study

Controlling for Experimenter Bias:

• Double-blind study (participant + experimenter are unaware of the group the participant is in)
• Automated procedures/instructions
• Multiple experimenters

Question 9

Types of Dependent Variable Measures

Answer 9

1. Behavioral Measures
   
   • recall, recognition, cued recall, etc.
2. Self-Report Measures
   
   • give real-time self-reported measures instead of asking for predictions
3. Physiological Measures
   
   • hard to fake, but take more work/background research

Question 10

Test Example Question:

What features of an experiment handle this issue: Expectancy effects / experimenter bias

Answer 10

Answer: Double-Blind Study, Automated procedures/instructions, Multiple experimenters, and more.

Question 11

Test Example Question

What features of an experiment handle this issue: Demand characteristics

Answer 11

Answer: Use of Deception (make participants think you are studying smth you are not), ambiguous (unobtrusive) measures, disguising the measure (usually used for manipulation checks)

Question 12

Test Example Question:

What features of an experiment handle this issue: Confounding variables

Answer 12

Answer: Random assignment, matching or control groups, covariates

Question 13

Test Example Question:

What features of an experiment handle this issue: Sensitivity of the DV

Answer 13

Answer: Pilot Testing the DV (helps ensure sensitivity is just right), using Multiple Measures,

Question 14

Test Example Question:

What features of an experiment handle this issue: Strength of the manipulation

Answer 14

Answer: Manipulation checks, Pilot Studies that check the strength of DV measure,