Experiments Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the purpose of an experiment

A

To establish a cause and effect relationship between two variables

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2
Q

What are the 3 types of varbiles that you should consider

A

-independent variable
-dependent variables
-extraneous variables

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3
Q

What is a independent variable

A

It’s manipulated by the researcher. We can identify it as it creates different conditions

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4
Q

What is the dependent variable

A

It’s the variable that is measured. The do and in will be measured the same way in all iv conditions

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5
Q

What is the extraneous variable

A

If it isn’t controlled then it can effect the results

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6
Q

How do you operationalise the independent variable

A

Knowing precisely how the variable was manipulated and stating the conditions

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7
Q

How do you operationalise the dependent variable

A

Measure it accurately and give the units used

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8
Q

What are control conditions

A

Is where no manipulations have been made and is usually used to gain a baseline measure

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9
Q

What is an experimental condition

A

A condition where the IV has been manipulated to suggest a cause and effect

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10
Q

What are the 3 types of experimental methods

A

-lab experiments
-field experiments
-quasi experiment

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11
Q

What is a lab experiment

A

An experiment that is conducted in a highly controlled environment which is artificial. The researcher directly manipulates the IV while keeping any other factors under close control. This allows them to observe a change in do as a direct cause of the IV

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12
Q

What is a field experiment

A

It is conducted in a natural environment. The IV is still manipulated but in a naturally occurring environment. The participants are unaware that the study is taking place

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13
Q

What is a quasi experiment

A

The researcher makes use of an existing IV and therefore doesn’t manipulate the IV. Research can’t randomly assign participants to a condition

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14
Q

What are the strengths of a lab experiment

A
  • high levels of control mean there are no extraneous variables. Therefore clear cause and effect relationship between iv and even can be found
  • high levels of controlling also mean the study can be easily manipulated, increasing internal reliability
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15
Q

What are the weaknesses of a lab experiment

A

-artificial setting bears little resemblance to real life. Therefor lacking ecological validity meaning the findings can’t be generalised
-participant are brought into a lab experiment purposefully which could lead to demand characteristics or evaluation apprehension. Decreasing internal validity

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16
Q

What are the strengths of field experiments

A
  • likely to get behaviours which resemble real life and therefore can be generalised and this leads to high ecological validity
  • low chance of demand characteristics. Therefore increased ability to determine cause and effect and suggesting high internal validity
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17
Q

What is a weakness of field experiments

A
  • low levels of control means lots of extraneous variables. This means that cause and effect is difficult to establish reducing internal validity
  • difficult to replicate so can’t confirm that findings are reliable
18
Q

What is the strengths of quasi experiment

A
  • the researcher can use a IV that would otherwise be unethical to manipulate . This allows use to gather more insight which leads to develop practical applications
  • often done in a lab environment which allows high control over extraneous variables. Therefore you are able to determine the cause and effect
19
Q

What are the weaknesses of a quasi experiment

A
  • the if is naturally occurring as participants will naturally belong to one condition or another. Therefore research can’t randomly allocate conditions to people.
  • some Ivs are not frequently occurring. Therefore it can take time to fully test the effects of something
20
Q

What are the three types of experimental designs.

A

D stand for divide the participants
- independent measures
- repeated measures
- matched pairs /participants

21
Q

What are independent measures

A

Participants are randomly allocated one of the experimental conditions

22
Q

What is the strength of independent measures

A

No risk of order effect

23
Q

What is the weakness of independent measures

A
  • high risk of individual measures
  • inefficient use of participants as each person is only used once
24
Q

What are repeated measures

A

Participants take part in all the experimental conditions

25
Q

What are the strengths of repeated measures

A

-no risk of individual differences
- efficient use of participants as the same people are used more than once

26
Q

What are the weaknesses of repeated measures

A

-high risk of order effects
-more prone to demand characteristics

27
Q

What is matched pairs/ participants

A

Researcher allocates participants to each group carefully to ensure that the groups match in terms of key characteristics

28
Q

What are the strengths of matched pairs / participants

A
  • reduced risk of Individual differences
    -no risk of order effects
29
Q

What is the weakness of matched pairs/ participants

A

-very difficult to put in place, having to measure and identify suitable criteria

30
Q

What is an order effect

A

Can occur when participants experience multiple conditions and their performance beyond the first condition is influenced as they have done it before . They could either perform better due to practice or become bored or fatigued so score lower

31
Q

What is counterbalancing

A

When tasks are presented in different orders to prevent order effects influencing the results

32
Q

What are the four types of extraneous variables

A

-situational variables
-participant variables
-experimenter variable
- expectation effect

33
Q

What are situational variables

A

Anything environmental that could affect participants behaviour

34
Q

How do you control situational variables

A

Keep the environment as similar as possible for all participants

35
Q

What are participant variables

A

Any differences between the participants that isn’t accounted for in the iv

36
Q

How do you control participât variables

A
  • large sample size to minimise participant variables
  • random allocation of group
  • use repeated measures however this can lead to order effects so counterbalancing may have to be used
  • matched pairs
37
Q

What are experimental variables

A

The research may unconsciously convey to the participants how they should behave. This can lead to demand characteristics such as changing behaviour to please the experimenter. Wanting to appear as normal or they may be Adair’s or being assessed so they may be affected by evaluation apprehension

38
Q

What is the expectation effect

A

When the researcher is so deeply committed to achieving a particular outcome they lead to a self- fulling prophecy.

39
Q

How do you control the expectation effect

A

Give the same standardised instructions so there is less possibility that the investigator can communicate expectations. Also it means that the only difference in the study is the iv

40
Q

What is a pilot study and what is the purpose of conducting them

A

A small scale trial of the research that is run before the real thing. It helps the researcher to identify potential problems in the study that could lead to extraneous variables.