Experimental Designs - Research Methods

Question 1

what is are experimental designs?

Answer 1

how participants are allocated into the conditions of an experiment.

Question 2

what can happen if different participants are used in each condition?

Answer 2

the groups vary due to participant variables, leading to unreliable results

Question 3

what is independent measures design?

Answer 3

an experimental design where different participants are used in each condition of the independent variable. This means that each condition of the experiment includes a different group of participants.

Question 4

what is repeated measures design?

Answer 4

an experimental design where the same participants take part in each condition of the independent variable. This means that each condition of the experiment includes the same group of participants.

Question 5

what is matched pairs design?

Answer 5

an experimental design where pairs of participants are matched in terms of key variables, such as age or socioeconomic status. One member of each pair is then placed into the experimental group and the other member into the control group.

Question 6

what are the strengths of independent measures design?

Answer 6

no order effects; less time/money involved than a matched pairs design; increased external validity because more participants are used

Question 7

what are the weaknesses of independent measures design?

Answer 7

more participants needed than in repeated measures; may be individual differences between groups

Question 8

how can participant variables in independent measures designs be controlled?

Answer 8

random sampling and randomisation

Question 9

what are the strengths of repeated measures design?

Answer 9

fewer participants needed - more economical; no individual differences between groups;

Question 10

what are the weaknesses of repeated measures design?

Answer 10

demand characteristics more likely; order effects likely

Question 11

how can order effects in repeated measures designs be controlled?

Answer 11

counterbalancing

Question 12

what are the strengths of matched pairs design?

Answer 12

fair comparisons of groups can be made as they are equally matched - fewer participant variables; lower risk of demand characteristics

Question 13

what are the weaknesses of matched pairs design?

Answer 13

time, money, effort; not all characteristics can be equally matched; if one participant drops out you lose 2 people’s data