Experimental design

Question 1

What is an independent variable

Answer 1

variable manipulated by experimenter that creates different conditions

Question 2

What are the levels of the independent variable

Answer 2

The different conditions eg a control group and the other group

Question 3

What is the dependent variable

Answer 3

> The variable that is measured by the experimenter in each condition
Shows the effects of the IV on the DV

Question 4

What is a confounding variable

Answer 4

An uncontrolled variable that influences the DV and needs to be controlled otherwise results can be caused by the confounding variable compared to the IV preventing a causal IV/DV relationship to be estabilished

Question 5

What is a between-participants design?

Answer 5

> Independent samples
Participants are allocated to only one condition of the experiment

Question 6

What is a within-participants design?

Answer 6

> Repeated measures
Participants experience all conditions

Question 7

What is a non-experiment design and give 2 examples

Answer 7

> No manipulation or random allocation, quasi-experiment
No IV/DV, correlational design

Question 8

Limitations of within-participants designs

Answer 8

> Order effects

Question 9

What are the 2 types of data that can be used

Answer 9

> Qualitative - analysing language
Quantitative - analysing numbers and statistics

Question 10

What are 4 features of the scientific method

Answer 10

> Standardised procedure of investigation (all sciences)
Aim to develop robust theories that can explain phenomena
Requires objective observation and experimentation
Knowledge from testing theoretical predictions

Question 11

What are the 3 conditions for a true experiment

Answer 11

> At least one DV
Manipulation of a true independent variable
Random allocation of ppts to conditions

Question 12

Name 2 other experimental designs and a strength and limitation for both

Answer 12

> Matched pairs
+No order/practice effects
+Group differences diminished
-Matching = imperfect
Case study
+Rich, detailed qualitative data
-Limited generalisability

Question 13

What are 3 strengths of experiments

Answer 13

+Complete control of extraneous variables
+Determine c&e
+Use complex equipment

Question 14

What are 2 limitations of experiments

Answer 14

-Will participants behave ‘normally’ - artificial setting?
-Ungeneralisable circumstances to real world

Question 15

Define validty

Question 16

Define reliability

Answer 16

The measure of consistency, if a particular measurement is repeated and the same result s obtained then it is described as being reliable

Question 17

What is test-retest reliability

Answer 17

Assessing the same person over two different occasopms and showing the extent to which the test produces the same answers