experiments Flashcards

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1
Q

define independent variable

A

what the researcher wants to compare/manipulate/change

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2
Q

define dependent variable

A

what the researcher measures

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3
Q

define extraneous variables

A

factors which may influence your DV and aren’t your IV, but that can be controlled to minimise their effects

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4
Q

define confounding variables

A

factors which may influence your DV and aren’t your IV but are outside your control

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5
Q

what is a laboratory experiment?

A

conducted in a controlled/artificial environment with a manipulated IV

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6
Q

what are the strengths of a lab experiment?

A
  • high level of control, increasing replicability
  • easier to establish causal relationship as we are manipulating the IV
  • most scientific type of experiment and often uses objective equipment
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7
Q

what are the weaknesses of lab experiments?

A
  • increased chance of demand characteristics
  • low in ecological validity due to high level of control
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8
Q

what is a field experiment?

A
  • manipulated IV
  • environment is where you would expect to see that behaviour occur or in a natural environment
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9
Q

what are the strengths and weaknesses of field experiments?

A

STRENGTHS:

  • higher ecological validity
  • easier to establish causal relationship as we are manipulating the IV

WEAKNESSES:

  • reduced level of control
  • lower replicability
  • less scientific due to lower levels of control
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10
Q

what is a quasi experiment?

A
  • naturally occuring IV
  • can be conducted in either controlled or naturally occuring environments
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11
Q

what are the strengths and weaknesses of quasi experiments?

A

STRENGTHS:

  • allows us to investigate variables it would be impossible/unethical to investigate otherwise
  • can be carried out in a lab or in the field so may have the same strengths as those types

WEAKNESSES:

  • difficult to establish causal relationships because the IV is not controlled/manipulated
  • sampling bias as the researchers cannot control who takes part in each condition
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12
Q

what is an independent measures design?

A

where different participants take part in each condition

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13
Q

what are the strengths and weaknesses of an independent measures design?

A

STRENGTHS:

  • no chance of order effects
  • reduced risk of demand characteristics (les likely to guess aim)

WEAKNESSES:

  • any difference between conditions may be down to individual differences
  • need to recruit a larger number of participants
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14
Q

what is a repeated measures design?

A

the same participants take part in each condition

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15
Q

what are the strengths and weaknesses of a repeated measures design?

A

STRENGTHS:

  • only have to recruit half as many participants
  • no individual differences (using the same people)

WEAKNESSES:

  • possible order effects
  • higher risk of demand characteristics
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16
Q

what is a matched pairs design?

A

the same participants only complete one condition but they are matched with someone in the other condition based on a characteristic

17
Q

what are the strengths and weaknesses of a matched pairs design?

A

STRENGTHS:

  • avoids order effects
  • reduces risk of demand characteristics
  • attempts to reduce individual differences

WEAKNESSES:

  • does not account for all individual differences
  • higher number of participants needed
18
Q

how would you write an alternate two-tailed hypothesis?

A

‘there will be a significant difference in [DV] between [condition one] and [condition two].’

19
Q

how would you write a null hypothesis?

A

‘there will be no significant difference in [DV] between [condition one] and [condition two].’

20
Q

what is a one tailed hypothesis?

A

these state the (predicted) direction of the experiment

21
Q

what is a confederate?

A

an actor who takes part in the research and behaves in the way the researcher asks

22
Q

what is counterbalancing?

A

a technique to reduce order effects: half the participants do Condition A, then B, and the rest do it vice versa

23
Q

what is ecological validity?

A

the extent to which the findings of a study can be generalised to the real world

24
Q

define individual differences?

A

any differences between individuals

25
Q

what are order effects?

A

when a previous condition affects the performance in the next condition

26
Q

define social desirability bias

A

participants change their behaviour/ responses to fit with social norms and expectations