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experiments Flashcards

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1
Q

what is an experiment and what are the three types

A

an experiment is used to test a hypothesis- we have a variable that is being tested across the conditions, it can be either naturally occurring or directly manipulated. everything else is kept the same. if groups think/ behave differently then you know it is the thing you have changed that caused the different result as everything else was standardised

the three types are: lab, field and quasi

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2
Q

what is the IV and what is the DV

A

the independent variable (IV) is the one we manipulate and change across conditions to see how it affects the dependent variable (DV), which is the one we measure

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3
Q

what are extraneous variables

A

extraneous variables are extra variables which may affect the DV. they need to be standardised so they don’t affect the DV as this would invalidate the experiment e.g. ensuring all participants ate breakfast before completing the experiment so hunger levels do not affect performance

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4
Q

what are cofounding variables

A

cofounding variables are variables we cant or didn’t control. they reduce the validity of the experiment meaning we may not be measuring what we need to be measuring.

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5
Q

what does it mean to operationalise

A

operationalising is stating clearly how a variable will be manipulated or measured e.g you cant say someone is smarter than someone else but you can say someone has a higher IQ than someone else

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6
Q

what are overall strengths of experiments

A

experiments are the only way to establish cause and effect in psychology, making it a science

they are all highly standardised to ensure cause and effect to be established

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7
Q

what are overall weaknesses of experiments

A

experiments are difficult to make generalisable to the whole wider population as they can only test a relatively smaller range of people

experiments are open to human error which could make results less reliable as we may not be testing what we want to be testing

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8
Q

what is a lab experiment

A

lab experiments are conducted in artificial environments. a lab is any controlled environment where the researcher can keep the conditions the same across all conditions for all participants. we are still manipulating one variable (IV) and measuring another (DV)

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9
Q

evaluate the use of lab experiments

A

+ experimenters are in full control of the environment which reduces extraneous variables
+ easier to replicate the study, making it more reliable
+its easy to establish cause and effect

-lacks ecological validity
-higher chance of demand characteristics
-chances for experimenter bias

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10
Q

what is a field experiment

A

field experiments are conducted in the participants natural environment in real life, still manipulating the IV and measuring the DV

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11
Q

evaluate the use of field experiments

A

+ reduced demand characteristics
+ high in ecological validity

-difficult to replicate
-harder to control extraneous variables
-harder to establish cause and effect
-chances for experimenter bias

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12
Q

what is a quasi experiment

A

quasi experiments have a naturally occurring IV, which cannot be manipulated

can be either a lab or field ex[eriment

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13
Q

evaluate the use of quasi experiments

A

+allows us to look at variables it would be impossible or unethical to look at otherwise

-sample can be bias as the researcher has little control over the IV

can be carried out in either a field or lab so has the same strengths/weaknesses of those

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14
Q

describe the three experimental designs

A

repeated measures: using all participants in all conditions

independent measures: using different participants in each condition of the IV

matched pairs: participants are matched for variables that could affect results, then each participant only takes part in one condition of the IV

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15
Q

evaluate the repeated measures design

A

+ reduction in individual differences since participants see all conditions so their results can be compared to establish cause and effect

  • open to order effects as the participant can become practiced at the task after seeing the first condition which may improve their performance of the second condition
  • the aim is easier to guess since the participants can see what has changed across conditions, this could increase the chance of demand characteristics
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16
Q

evaluate the matched pairs design

A

+ reduced individual differences as participants only see one condition
+no order effects

-difficult and time consuming to prepare
-impossible to fully match people so we cannot fully eliminate individual differences

17
Q

evaluate the independent measures design

A

+ order effects is reduced as participants only see one condition so do not become practiced
+ demand characteristics are reduced since the aim will be harder to guess

-open to individual differences, perhaps one condition is better at the task by chance, not because of the IV which would invalidate results

18
Q

what are the two types of hypothesis

A

alternate (alternative/ experimental) hypothesis: predicting that the independent variable will have an effect on the dependent variable

null hypothesis: predicting that the independent variable will have no effect on the dependent variable

19
Q

how can we describe the way results are predicted to go

A

one tailed hypothesis: predicting how the independent variable will effect the dependent variable

two tailed\; simply stating that there will be a difference but does not say which direction it will go

20
Q

what is standardisation

A

standardisation is keeping all procedures used in an experiment the same apart from the IV, therefore cause and effect can be established

21
Q

how can an experiment be/ not be valid

A

we know an experiment is valid when it measures what it is meant to be measuring accurately, this can be internally or externally

22
Q

how can an experiment be/ not be reliable

A

experiments are reliable when results are consistent and easily replicable, this can be either internally or externally

23
Q

what are demand characteristics

A

when participants try to guess the aim of the experiment and change their behaviour to align with this

24
Q

what is meant by the experimenter effect

A

when participants consciously or unconsciously changes their behaviour to fit the way they think the experimenter wants the experiment to go which can influence results

25
Q

what is meant by experimenter bias

A

when the experimenter accidentally or purposely changes behaviour or data or misinterprets data to get the results they want

psychology (8 decks)

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