EXPERIMENTAL METHOD

Question 1

define experimental method

Answer 1

the manipulation of an INDEPENDENT variable to MEASURE EFFECT on the DEPENDENT variable - can be lab, field, natural or quasi

Question 2

what is an aim?

Answer 2

a general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate - the PURPOSE of the study

Question 3

what is a hypothesis?

Answer 3

a CLEAR and PRECISE TESTABLE statement that states the relationship between the variables that are going to be investigated, stated at the outset of any study

Question 4

what is the difference between a directional and a non-directional hypothesis?

Answer 4

in a directional hypothesis, the experimenter makes clear the sort of difference expected to be produced, includes words like HIGHER/LOWER. a non-directional hypothesis only states that there will be a difference, without specifying nature or direction
directional hypothesis tend to be used when previous research studies indicate there will be a particular outcome

Question 5

what is operationalisation?

Answer 5

clearly defining variables in terms of how they will be measured

Question 6

WRITING A GOOD HYPOTHESIS

Answer 6

IV AND DV OPERATIONALISED
STATE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE VARIABLES (not the aim)
SPECIFIED DIRECTIONAL / NON-DIRECTIONAL

Question 7

what is independent groups design?

Answer 7

when two separate groups experience two separate conditions of the experiment, and performance is then compared

Question 8

advantages of IG design?

Answer 8

order effects aren’t a problem

ppts likely to guess aims

Question 9

disadvantages of IG

Answer 9

ppt variables (individual differences) - researchers use random allocation for this
they are less economical because each ppt only contributes one set of results - you need 2x the ppts!

Question 10

what is a repeated measures design?

Answer 10

all ppts take part in all conditions of the experiment. the two sets of data are then compare ‘like-with-like’

Question 11

advantages of repeated measures

Answer 11

cheaper - need less ppts

ppts variables are controlled

Question 12

disadvantages of repeated measures

Answer 12

order effects - could be a continuing effect from whatever condition is done first, could be boredom/fatigue, could be practice and improvement = a CONFOUNDING EFFECT
ppts more likely to work out the aims of the study when they experience all conditions - DEMAND CHARACTERISTICS are more likely

Question 13

what is matched pairs design

Answer 13

ppts are matched in pairs according to some variables that might affect the DV, and then separated to one condition each
EG - in a memory study ppts could be matched on their IQ

Question 14

PROS of matched pairs

Answer 14

order effects not a problem
demand characteristics reduced
attempts to control ppt variables

Question 15

main disadvantage of matched pairs

Answer 15

time-consuming to match ppts = less economical (especially when a pre-matching test is required)… also ppts can never be matched exactly

Question 16

name two advantages of lab experiments

Answer 16

1. high control over extraneous variables - can ensure that any change in the DV is due to manipulation of the IV - cause and effect increases validity
2. high control makes it easier to replicate

Question 17

three limitations of lab experiments

Answer 17

LACK GENERALISABILITY = artificial
DEMAND CHARACTERISTICS
LOW MUNDANE REALISM