Experimental Method and Quasi Experiments

Question 1

What is an experimental method?

Answer 1

• trying to establish cause and effect

- looking at a link between the IV and DV

Question 2

What are the key features of the experimental method?

Answer 2

• manipulating the IV
• controlling extraneous variables
• measuring dependent variables

Question 3

What is the IV?

Answer 3

• what the experimenter systematically varies/manipulates
• normally need at least 2 levels
• sometimes can’t manipulate directly so manipulate theoretical variables indirectly and then check IV was done successfully

Question 4

What is the DV?

Answer 4

• the result/outcome

- variable that’s measured

Question 5

What are the different types of independent variables?

Answer 5

• situational variables
• task variables
• instructional variables

Question 6

What is control group/condition?

Answer 6

-where there’s an absence of manipulation

Question 7

What is experimental group/condition?

Answer 7

-where manipulation is administered

Question 8

What is an extraneous variable?

Answer 8

• any variable that isn’t of immediate interest to a researcher but may pose a threat to validity as it compromises interpretation
• usually obscures the measurement of processes of interest

Question 9

What is a confounding variable?

Answer 9

• unintended or accidental manipulation of an extraneous variable that occurs because the variable is associated with an independent variable in an experiment
• systematic effect of extraneous variable may be mistaken for effect of IV

Question 10

What is a confounding result?

Answer 10

-situation where extraneous variables co-varies with the IV and provide alternative interpretation of the results

Question 11

What is systematic effect?

Answer 11

-affects one of the conditions more than it affects the control condition

Question 12

How to decide on how to measure dependent variables?

Answer 12

• could refer to previous research

- run a pilot study

Question 13

What is a pilot study?

Answer 13

• small number of participants

- can identify phenomena that may interfere with ability to detect cause and effect

Question 14

Definition of ceiling effect?

Answer 14

• task is too easy

- scores are all very high so differences between participants will be disguised

Question 15

Definition of floor effect?

Answer 15

• task is too difficult

- scores are all very low so the differences between the participants will be disguised

Question 16

What is a relevance-sensitivity trade off?

Answer 16

-the more sensitive a DV is to changes made in the IV the less relevant it may become to real-world phenomena

Question 17

What conclusions can be made from experimental studies?

Answer 17

• extraneous variables can be controlled for
• casual inference can be made
• can conclude that changes in the IV cause changes in the DV

Question 18

What conclusions can be made from quasi-experimental studies?

Answer 18

• extraneous variables can’t be controlled
• casual inference can’t be established
• can’t say IV is cause of DV
• can say groups performed differently on the DV

Question 19

What are quasi-experimental variables?

Answer 19

• where differences between IVs already exist without manipulation from the researcher
• can’‘t be manipulated really

Question 20

Examples of quasi-experimental variables?

Answer 20

• gender
• age
• cultural group
• intelligence
• personality traits

Question 21

Definition of spurious associations?

Answer 21

-have no direct relationship between one variable and the other