Experiments Flashcards

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1
Q

Experiment definition

A

An experiment involves the manipulation of an independent variable in order to see its effect on the dependent variable.

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2
Q

What is a Laboratory Experiment?

A

Highly Controlled and Artificial

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3
Q

What is a Field Experiment?

A

Controlled Variables in a natural/realistic environment

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4
Q

What is a Quasi(Natural) Experiment?

A

No control over the independent variable- it’s naturally occurring. e.g gender- no direct control.

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5
Q

Strengths of Lab Experiment…

A

-Ensures that the variable manipulated is the only thing affecting the behaviour
-Easy to replicate
-Can show cause and effect

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6
Q

Weaknesses of Lab Experiment…

A

-Less Ecological Validity
-Demand characteristics
-Ethics

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7
Q

Strengths of Field Experiment….

A

-More Ecological Validity
-Less demand characteristics

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8
Q

Weaknesses of Field Experiment ….

A

-Variable manipulated may be affected by something else like the situation or participants
-Difficult to replicate

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9
Q

Strengths of Quasi Experiment…

A

-Allows the study of the effects of the variables psychologists can’t manipulate or change on behaviour
-Can show cause and effect

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10
Q

Weaknesses of Quasi Experiment…

A

-No control over participants- may be confounding variables which influence behaviour
-Not easy to replicate

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11
Q

What is the Independent Variable…

A

Thing you change

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12
Q

What is the Dependent Variable…

A

Thing you measure

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13
Q

What is Validity?

A

Measure of how well a test measures what it claims to measure

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14
Q

What is a Confounding Variable?

A

Something affecting your results (the DV) that is not spotted by the experimenter

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15
Q

What are Participant Variables?

A

Changes from the people doing the test (tired or bored)

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16
Q

What are Situational Variables?

A

-Something about the situation that affects DV
-Changes in where the test is (noise, temperature, time of day)

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17
Q

What are Experimenter Variables?

A

Changes from the experimenter (tone of voice, body language)

18
Q

What is an Extraneous Variable?

A

A variable that could affect the DV but has been controlled for so it doesn’t become confounding and affect the results (validity)

19
Q

What is Experimental Design?

A

How you put people into groups and run the experiment

20
Q

What is Independent Measures Design?

A

Participants take part in one condition (2 groups)

21
Q

What is Repeated Measures Design?

A

Participants take part in both conditions

22
Q

What is Matched Pairs Design?

A

Participants are matched in each condition for characterstics that may affect their performance- makes it similar

23
Q

What are Individual Differences?

A

Differences between people (participant variables)

24
Q

What are Demand Characteristics?

A

People behave accordingly to the aim

25
Q

What are Order Effects?

A

Caused by repeated tests (situational variable)

26
Q

Strengths of Independent Measures Design?

A

-Only in one condition- fewer situational variables such as demand characteristics- increases validity
- If someone drops out you can find someone else- only one piece of data

27
Q

Weaknesses of Independent Measures Design?

A
  • Participant Variables decrease validity
  • Twice as many people needed
  • One group may be better than the other( individual difference- participant variables)
28
Q

Strengths of Repeated Measures Design?

A
  • Controlling Participant Variables increases validity
    -See a clear difference between participants in both conditions
29
Q

Weaknesses of Repeated Measures Design?

A

-Participants might act accordingly-order effects- this affects validity
- Two tasks must be prepared, equivalent difficulty and may be counterbalanced
-Situational Variables affects validity
-Lose 2 sets of data if someone drops out

30
Q

Strengths of Matched Pairs Design?

A

-Less Individual Differences so less participant variables improving validity as its been controlled
-No Problems with order effects

31
Q

Weaknesses of Matched Pairs Design?

A

-If someone drops out you have to find another mate or you risk losing 2 sets of data
-Requires work to match participants, especially on characteristics like IQ that needs testing.

32
Q

What process is used to deal with Order Effects?

A
  • ABBA counterbalances the study and controls the order of the task, whilst not affecting validity.
    A-B
    B-A
33
Q

What is Operationalising Variables?

A

How you manipulate the Independent Variable

34
Q

How do you write an Alternate Hypothesis ?

A

There will be a significant difference between…
Then the IV and DV needs to be operationalised

35
Q

What is a Null Hypothesis?

A

Hypothesis of no effect (used for statistical testing)

36
Q

How do you write a Null Hypothesis?

A

There will be no significant difference between…
Then the IV and DV needs to be operationalised
Any difference will be due to chance

37
Q

Why do Participant Variables Occur?

A

Not everyone is the same. You can only limit the effect of individual differences.

38
Q

How to Solve Individual Differences…

A
  • Take a large sample so that extreme cases have less effect on the overall result
    -Random Allocation- individuals with very high or low scores may be called Outliers
    -Repeated Measures Design- so you can get the same participants but use them twice
39
Q

How to Solve Situational Variables…

A

-Standardisation-All must follow exactly the same procedure: same order, timings, equipment, surroundings
-Counterbalancing(ABBA)- Half of participants do Task A followed by Task B, the remainder do it the other way round. This increases validity as the differences should balance out

40
Q

How to Solve Experimenter Variables…

A

-Experimenter uses Standardised Instructions
-Single Blind-Participants don’t know what the study is about- increases validity but because of ethics they have to give informed consent, so lowers ethics
-Double Blind- Participants and Investigator don’t know what the study is about

41
Q

What is Conformation Bias…

A

When the experimenter has already made their mind up. Body language or tone of voice alters their response towards participants