experimental design

Question 1

What are the three types of experimental design?

Answer 1

-repeated measures
-independent measures
-matched pairs

Question 2

What are repeated measures?

Answer 2

-same participants take part in each condition of the experiment
-data is then compared for each participant to see if there was a difference

Question 3

Strengths of repeated measures?

Answer 3

-fewer participants required so less costly and time consuming
- reduces possibility of participant variables

Question 4

Weaknesses of repeated measures? How can they be solved?

Answer 4

order effects:
-practice effects
-fatigue

can be solved with counterbalancing (one half does condition A, then B, and another group does the other way round)

Question 5

What are the strengths of independent groups?

Answer 5

-avoids order effects
-reduces demand characteristics

Question 6

What are the weaknesses of independent groups?

Answer 6

• more participants required meaning that it is more expensive and time consuming
  -participant variables

Question 7

What are independent measures?

Answer 7

-two separate groups of randomly allocated participants used

Question 8

What are matched pairs?

Answer 8

Pairs of participants are matched from the simple based on key variables/ characteristics such as age or IQ. Then one of each is placed in each group.

Question 9

What are the advantages of matched pairs?

Answer 9

-reduces participant variables
-reduced/no order effects

Question 9

What are the limitations of matched pairs?

Answer 9

-More participants required, making it more expensive and time consuming
-difficult to find close/ exactly matched pairs, so individual differences may still play a role