Experimental Design

Question 1

What is an Experimental design?

Answer 1

it is the different ways in which the testing of participants can
be organised in relation to the conditions of the experiment

Question 2

What is an Independent groups design?

Answer 2

It is where Participants are allocated to different groups where each group represents one experimental condition.
50%=A 50%=B

Question 3

What is the definition for Repeated measures?

Answer 3

It is where all participants take part in all experimental conditions

Question 4

What is the definition for Matched pairs design?

Answer 4

It is where pairs of participants are first matched on some variable/s that may affect the DV. Then one member of the pair is assigned to Condition A and the other to Condition B. (Highest IQ and Second highest IQ may be paired then split)

Question 5

What is Random allocation?

Answer 5

It is an attempt to control participant variables in an independent groups design which ensures what each participant has the same chance of being in one condition as any other.

Question 6

What is Counterbalancing?

Answer 6

it is an attempt to control the effects of order in a repeated measures design; half the participants experience the conditions in one order, and the other half in the opposite order. AB or BA

Question 7

What is a Pilot studies?

Answer 7

a small scale investigation of study that is carried out in
advance of the full research.

Question 8

What is done to the IV in an experiment?

Answer 8

It is manipulated (Amount of caffeine taken )

Question 9

What is done to the dv in an experiment?

Answer 9

It is measured (Like the amount of words per min spoken)

Question 10

What is the order effect?

Answer 10

It is an issue with repeated measure design where some participants may get bored or fatigues after one task which can skew results, participants can also improve/learn or work out the aim of the study and manipulate it.

Question 11

What is a participant variable?

Answer 11

A participant variable is any characteristic or aspect of a participant’s background that could affect study results, even though it’s not the focus of an experiment.

Question 12

What is a directional hypothesis?

Answer 12

Stated the direction of the relationship between two variables, so more or less

Question 13

What is a non-directional hypothesis?

Answer 13

Does not state the direction between to variables, will or won’t be different

Question 14

What is Operationalisation?

Answer 14

Clearly defining variables in terms of how they should be measured.

Question 15

What is a control condition in an experiment?

Answer 15

This is the result that gets compared to.

Question 16

What is a experimental condition in an experiment?

Answer 16

This is the result or variable that is tested which is then compared against the control condition.

Question 17

What is the definition of an aim in a experiment?

Answer 17

A general statement a researcher intends to investigate. The purpose of the study.

Question 18

What is the definition of a hypothesis in a experiment?

Answer 18

A clear and precise statement that states the relationship between the variables being investigated.

Question 19

What are the strengths of individual groups?

Answer 19

They are no order effects as each participants does only one condition

Saves time as both can be done simultaneously

Character does not effect as it will be hard to determine study due to only doing one test

Question 20

What are the limitations of individual groups?

Answer 20

More participants needed as only one per condition

Group differences- as participant variables can affect test (can be minimised by random allocation)

Question 21

What are the strengths of repeated measures?

Answer 21

More data/fewer participants due to all participants experiencing both conditions

No participant variables

Question 22

What are the weaknesses of repeated measures?

Answer 22

Order effects can manipulate results however this can be minimised by counterbalancing

Character will effect as it will be easy to determine study due to multiple test

Time consuming

Question 23

What are the strengths of matching pairs?

Answer 23

No order effect due to participants only experiencing one condition

Demand Characteristics does not effect as it will be hard to determine study due to only doing one test

Less chance of participant variables participants are matched so less chance these will affect the outcome.

Question 24

What are the weaknesses of matching pairs?

Answer 24

More participants

Matching can be difficult as it is impossible to match every characteristic and an unmatched variable might be vitally important

Time consuming as more participants need to be done and needed to be matched.