Experimental Research Methods

Question 1

What is a scientific hypothesis?

Answer 1

Clear statement articulating plausible candidate explanation for observations
Collect data to confirm/ refute

Question 2

What is an observation?

Answer 2

Observe a trend, pattern or relationship in nature - lead to questions

Question 3

What are qualities of hypotheses?

Answer 3

Testable and falsifiable
Ad-hoc explanation

Question 4

What is a paradigm change?

Answer 4

Theory conflicting with observations

Question 5

What is a pilot study?

Answer 5

Running an experiment on limited scale before main study to refine the aim and data collection techniques
Can also replicate existing study you are trying to extend

Question 6

What is reliability?

Answer 6

Relating to a measure - extent to which it gives consistent measurements
Relating to findings - reliability is extent to which same results would be achieved on another occasion

Question 7

What is internal validity?

Answer 7

Are the variables related?

Question 8

What is construct validity?

Answer 8

Are we measuring what we think we are?

Question 9

What is statistical validity?

Answer 9

Are the statistics correct?

Question 10

What are some threats to internal validity?

Answer 10

Allowing factors other than manipulation to vary
Selection bias
Experimenter bias

Question 11

What is a confounding variable?

Answer 11

Unaccounted for variable which cannot be separated from causal variable - common in correlational research
Systematically varies with IV

Question 12

What are demand characteristics and response biases?

Answer 12

Extreme response bias - preference for extremes
Acquiescence bias - preference for agreeing
Disacquiescence bias - preference for disagreement
Social desirability - describe self positively in accordance with social norms
Careless responding
Demand characteristics - defensive and defiant

Question 13

How can we test for and minimise demand characteristics?

Answer 13

Both positive and negative questions
Debrief
Neutral questions
Blind and double blind
Naturalistic observations

Question 14

What is control?

Answer 14

Standard against which the effect of the experimental manipulation can be compared to
Restrain sources of variability in research
Control extraneous variables

Question 15

What are some control strategies?

Answer 15

Repeated measures design
Between subjects design using random allocation
Matched design

Question 16

What is the difference between experimental and statistical control?

Answer 16

Experimental - IVs helping to explain variation in DVs, structured before research, random allocation
Statistical - difficult/ impossible experimental control, 1+ variables in addition to IVs and control variation through analysis

Question 17

What are issues in control in repeated measures experiments?

Answer 17

Accumulated effect
Carry-over effects

Question 18

What is counterbalancing?

Answer 18

Different participants experience conditions in different order to average out order effects

Question 19

What are the types of error?

Answer 19

Random error - increase variability systematically of scores (reduce accuracy & sensitivity, affects reliability)
Systematic error - compromise validity , spurious difference between groups

Question 20

What are threats to construct validity?

Answer 20

Misinterpret behaviour
Faulty measures

Question 21

What are types of counterbalancing?

Answer 21

Randomisation - block randomisation
Incomplete design - Latin Square