*Experimental Designs Flashcards
What are independent groups in experimental design?
2 separate groups experience two different conditions and performance between the two groups is then compared.
What is a strength of using independent groups?
Order effects aren’t a problem.
What is a weakness of independent groups?
Any difference in group scores could be due to participant variables rather than the IV.
What are confounding variables?
Differences that may act as confounding variables can reduce the validity of the findings.
How do researchers deal with participant variables in independent groups?
Using random allocation.
What is a disadvantage of independent groups regarding participant numbers?
Less economical: each participant only yields one result.
What is random allocation in the context of independent groups?
Participants should be randomly allocated to different conditions to evenly distribute participant characteristics.
List three methods of random allocation.
- Coin flip
- Dice roll
- Random number generator
What are repeated measures in experimental design?
All participants experience both conditions of the experiment and mean scores are compared from both conditions.
What is a strength of using repeated measures?
Participant variables are controlled for.
What is a weakness of repeated measures?
Participant fatigue can occur as each participant has to do at least 2 tasks.
What are order effects in repeated measures?
Order effects arise because repeating tasks can create boredom or fatigue.
What is counterbalancing?
An attempt to control order effects in a repeated measures design.
How does counterbalancing work?
Half the participants take part in condition A and then B; the other half take part in condition B and then A.
What are matched pairs in experimental design?
Participants are paired together on a variable that is relevant to the experiment.
