experiments

Question 1

define independent variable

Answer 1

what the researcher wants to compare/manipulate/change

Question 2

define dependent variable

Answer 2

what the researcher measures

Question 3

define extraneous variables

Answer 3

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

Question 4

define confounding variables

Answer 4

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

Question 5

what is a laboratory experiment?

Answer 5

conducted in a controlled/artificial environment with a manipulated IV

Question 6

what are the strengths of a lab experiment?

Answer 6

• 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

Question 7

what are the weaknesses of lab experiments?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

what is a field experiment?

Answer 8

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

Question 9

what are the strengths and weaknesses of field experiments?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

what is a quasi experiment?

Answer 10

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

Question 11

what are the strengths and weaknesses of quasi experiments?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

what is an independent measures design?

Answer 12

where different participants take part in each condition

Question 13

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

Answer 13

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

Question 14

what is a repeated measures design?

Answer 14

the same participants take part in each condition

Question 15

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

Answer 15

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

Question 16

what is a matched pairs design?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

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

Answer 17

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

Question 18

how would you write an alternate two-tailed hypothesis?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

how would you write a null hypothesis?

Answer 19

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

Question 20

what is a one tailed hypothesis?

Answer 20

these state the (predicted) direction of the experiment

Question 21

what is a confederate?

Answer 21

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

Question 22

what is counterbalancing?

Answer 22

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

Question 23

what is ecological validity?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

what are order effects?

Answer 24

when a previous condition affects the performance in the next condition

Question 25

define social desirability bias

Answer 25

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