Experimental Methods

Question 1

What’s the independent variable

Answer 1

the variable that the researcher manipulates in order to determine its effect on the dependent variable

Question 2

What’s the dependent variable

Answer 2

the variable that is being measured

Question 3

What are extraneous variables

Answer 3

any variables other than the IV that could affect the DV

Question 4

What are confounding variables

Answer 4

Any variables other than the IV that have affected the DV

Question 5

Define the term operationalisation

Answer 5

clear definition of the observable actions/behaviours to be recorded
-> this enables the behaviour under review to be measured objectively using a count of actions

Question 6

Characteristics of Labratory experiments

Answer 6

-> in a controlled environment so the researcher can control variables
-> participants randomly allocated to a condition
-> conducted in an artificial setting

Question 7

Advantages of lab experiments

Answer 7

-> high level of control over variables therefore can prevent any extraneous variables
-> researcher can manipulate the IV and establish a cause and effect relationship
-> can easily be replicated by other researchers, therefore making results more reliable

Question 8

Disadvantages of lab experiments

Answer 8

-> risk of demand characteristics e.g social desirability bias
-> experimental situation in lab experiments can lack mundane realism, and therefore the lab study won’t have ecological validity

Question 9

What are demand characteristics

Answer 9

When participants in a study might try guess the aim of the study and change their behaviour accordingly, therefore making data invalid

Question 10

What is mundane realism

Answer 10

The extent to which an experiment reflects real life

Question 11

What is ecological validity

Answer 11

The ability to generalise the findings of a piece of research to real life situations / other contexts

Question 12

Characteristics of field experiments

Answer 12

• experiments carried out in a natural setting / the real world
• IV still manipulated by researcher to see the effect on the DV

Question 13

Advantages of field experiments

Answer 13

-> more mundane realism + ecological validity than a lab experiment
-> cause and effect relationship can be established because the researcher can manipulate the independent variable
-> less chance of demand characteristics as people might not even be aware that they’re being observed

Question 14

Disadvantages of field experiments

Answer 14

-> less control over extraneous variables than in lab experiments
-> less control over the sample (who takes part) so it might not be representative of the target population
-> might be difficult to replicate and therefore unreliable

Question 15

Characteristics of natural experiments

Answer 15

• the researcher takes advantage of a naturally occurring IV to see its effect on the DV
• a study that measures variables that aren’t directly manipulated by the experimenter
• using participants who already meet the conditions of the experiment, rather than allocating participants to conditions themselves

Question 16

Advantages of natural experiments

Answer 16

-> high level of mundane realism + ecological validity
-> useful when it’s impossible or unethical to manipulate the IV e.g. a group of naturally stressed men with high levels of cholesterol

Question 17

Disadvantages of natural experiments

Answer 17

-> low control over extraneous variables
-> very difficult to replicate and therefore unreliable
-> difficult to determine cause and effect due to low control

Question 18

Characteristics of quasi experiments

Answer 18

-> a naturally occurring independent variable (but in this it’s a difference between people that already exists e.g gender)
-> the researcher examines the effect of this variable on the DV
-> usually take place in a laboratory setting

e.g how men have > testosterone than females so we study the natural difference between the two
genders + the effect onaggression levels [the DV]

Question 19

Advantages of quasi experiments

Answer 19

-> high control level and effects of extraneous variables minimised
-> replication likely and easy as there’s stricter controls therefore high reliable

Question 20

Disadvantages of quasi experiments

Answer 20

-> lacks ecological validity because it’s an artificial setting
-> risk of demand characteristics, therefore making the results invalid

Question 21

What is a pilot study

Answer 21

A small scale investigation conducted before research

Question 22

Why do a pilot study

Answer 22

To identify whether there needed to be any modifications in the design e.g. whether the interview questions were sufficiently relevant to it e.

To identify whether it would be feasible to conduct a study on the differences in dream themes across gender