Experimental Methods

Question 1

Definition: all attempt to measure the effect of one variable (IV) on another variable (DV).

Answer 1

Experiment

Question 2

Definition: this is the type of experiment Psychologists use in their investigations; lab, field, natural and quasi

Answer 2

Experimental method

Question 3

Definition: This is how Psychologists use participants in their experiments

Answer 3

Experimental design

Question 4

What method?
Environment: Controlled
IV: Manipulated by the researcher
DV:Measured with strict controls of extraneous variables

Answer 4

Laboratory

Question 5

What method?
Environment: Natural
IV: Manipulated by the researcher
DV: Measured

Answer 5

Field

Question 6

What method?
Environment: Natural (real life)
IV: Is not brought about by the researcher - it would happen regardless of the experiment
DV: Decided by the researcher and measured

Answer 6

Natural

Question 7

What method?
A study that is almost an experiment
IV: The IV Is not determined by anyone, it naturally exists
DV: Effect of the DV is recorded by the researcher

Answer 7

Quasi-experiment

Question 8

Participants only take part in ONE condition
The groups’ results in each condition are compared against each other

Answer 8

Independent groups

Question 9

All participants take part in ALL conditions
Their own results in each condition are compared against each other

Answer 9

Repeated measures

Question 10

Each participant is matched with another participant whom they share relevant variables with (e.g. age, gender, IQ).
They are both then placed in different conditions and their results are compared

Answer 10

Matched-pairs

Question 11

Definition: Confounding variable arising from the order in which conditions are presented i.e. practice, boredom, fatigue

Answer 11

Order effects