Experimental Designs Flashcards
What is an experimental design?
The different ways in which participants can be organised in relation to experimental conditions
What is ABBA?
A design where two different responses are carried out to two different stimuli
What is the boredom effect?
Where participant’s responses are affected due to boredom of the experiment
What is counterbalancing?
Where the sample is split in half and each group completes the conditions in a different order
What does counterbalancing do?
Eliminates order effects
What are order effects?
Where participant’s responses are affected due to the order of conditions
What is the fatigue effect?
Where participant’s responses are affected due to fatigue of the task
What is the practise effect?
Where participants perform a task better in later conditions as they’ve practised it
What are independent groups?
A design where different participants are used in each condition of the IV
What are matched pairs?
A design where participants are matched based on similar qualities relevant to the experiment
What are repeated measures?
A design where each condition is participated in by the same group of participants
What is a pilot study?
A small scale study that tests procedures and methodology before the main experiment
What is random allocation?
A technique that chooses participants for conditions entirely by chance
What are the strengths and weaknesses of repeated measures?
Strengths:
Participant variables are eliminated
Uses fewer participants
Weaknesses:
Order effects may occur
Increased chance of demand characteristics
What are the strengths and weaknesses of independent groups?
Strengths:
No order effects
Reduced chance of demand characteristics
Can use the same stimulus materials
Weaknesses:
Not effective for controlling participant variables
More participants required
