Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Psychology > Experiments > Flashcards

Experiments Flashcards

1
Q

What is an independent variable

A

The aspect which’s changed in an experiment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is a dependent variable

A

What is measured within an experiment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is a control

A

Something which is kept the same for all participants

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is an experimental condition

A

The group who experience the manipulation of the independent variable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is a control condition

A

The group who do not experience manipulation of the independent variable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is a laboratory experiment

A

One which takes place in a controlled setting

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is a field experiment

A

One which takes place in a naturalistic setting

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is a quasi experiment

A

One which has an IV that is not manipulated by the experimenter (race or age)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are strengths of laboratory experiments

A

Controlled setting reduces effects of extraneous variables (high construct validity)
Increases internal re,inability as has high level of controls

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are weaknesses of laboratory experiments

A

Low ecological validity (cannot generalise to real life)
More effort to conduct
People may not act natural (lowers construct validity)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are strengths of field experiments

A

High ecological validity as takes place in natural setting
High construct validity (more at ease due to natural environment)
Less effort to conduct People may

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are weaknesses of field experiments

A

Higher chance of extraneous variables (lowers construct validity)
Participants may have different experiences

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are strengths of quasi experiments

A

High ecological validity as IV is not manipulated
Helps to study variables that cannot be manipulated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are weaknesses of quasi experiments

A

Difficult to conduct
Cannot control some participant variables (lowers construct validity)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is an extraneous variable

A

A factor which can influence your dependent variable that are not the IV
They lower construct validity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are examples of extraneous variables

A

Situational
Environmental
Participant
Order effects
Demand characteristics
Social desirability bias

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are situational variables

A

When a feature if the research scenario influenced results

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are environmental variables

A

When a feature of the research environment influences results (noise or light)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are participant variables

A

When the diversity of participants influences results

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What are order effects

A

When participants do better or worse in the second condition due to practice or fatigue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are demand characteristics

A

When participants try to work out the sun of the study and as a result, change their behaviour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is social desirability bias

A

When participants change their behaviour to look better to others (concealing true behaviour)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is independent measures

A

When different people are used in each condition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What are repeated measures

A

When the same people are used in each condition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What has matched participants design
When similar people are used in each condition of the experiment
26
What are strengths of repeated measures
Remove effects of any participant variables Easier to obtain sample as fewer participants needed
27
What are weaknesses of repeated measures design
Demand characteristics - lowers construct validity Order effects may influence results unless counterbalanced
28
What are the strengths of independent measures
Less likely to show demand characteristics as unaware of study’s aim No order effects as only take part in one condition
29
What are the weaknesses of independent measures design
Effort to collect more participants Findings may be influenced by participants variables
30
What are order effects
When participants do better or worse in the second condition due to practice or fatigue
31
What are strengths of matched participants
Reduced effects of participant variables No order effects as different participants for conditions Lower chance of demand characteristics Social desirability
32
What are the weaknesses of matched participants
Effort to conduct a protest and match all participants Cannot control all extraneous variables
33
What are demand characteristics
When participants try to guess the aim of the study and as a result, change their behaviour to look
34
What is researcher bias
When the researcher influences the participants behaviour or responses
35
What is a single blind procedure
Participants are unaware what condition they are in
36
What is a double blind procedure
Both the participants and researchers are unaware what condition everyone is in
37
What is an alternative hypothesis
There will be a significant difference in the DV between the IV groups
38
What is a null hypothesis
There will be no significant difference in the DV between the IV groups. Any difference will be due to chance factors
39
What is a one tailed hypothesis
The XX group will be significantly better than the XXX group at the DV Predicts difference and direction
40
What is a two tailed hypothesis
There will be significant difference in the DV between IV groups Predicts a significant difference only
41
What does it mean to operationalise something
Decide how you wish to measure the variables within psychological research
42
What is self selecting sampling
Participants volunteer to take part in the study
43
What is opportunity sampling
Participants are obtained at the same time and place of the research
44
What is snowball sampling
Participants suggest other people to take part in the
45
What is random sampling
Every member of target population has an equal chance of being selected as a participant
46
What are strengths of self selecting sampling
Easy to obtain Already given consent and more likely to continue No researcher bias
47
What are the weaknesses of self selecting sampling
Unrepresentative sample Expensive if there is a money incentive Could lead to a small sample if lack of volunteers
48
What are strengths of opportunity sampling
Easy to obtain at time of study Can obtain target population (depending when and where)
49
What are weaknesses of opportunity sampling
Unrepresentative sample so low population validity Researcher bias as they choose who to approach
50
What are strengths of random sampling
Everyone has an equal chance of being selected Representative of target population
51
What are weaknesses of random sampling
Everyone has an equal chance of being selected which can lead to outliers Sometimes hard to ensure all have an equal chance Selected people may not being willing to take part Effort
52
What are the strengths of snowball sampling
Easy to obtain sample especially if difficult target population
53
What are the weaknesses of snowball sampling
Not able to generalise sample - family and friends often have similar characteristics
54
What is primary data
Data obtained by the researchers directly
55
What is secondary data
Data that is obtained using another source
56
What is quantitative data
Data represented by numbers such as scores or ratings
57
What is qualitative data
Data represented by words such as quotes or observations
58
What are strengths of quantitate data
Easy to compare No researcher bias Easy to summarise Easier to establish reliability of results
59
What are weaknesses of quantitative data
May not be representative of participants everyday behaviour - low ecological validity Doesn’t show finer details such as why people behave or feel a certain way
60
What are strengths of qualitative data
More detail about participant experience Richer data to improve validity
61
What are the weaknesses of qualitative data
Harder to compare participants and conditions Cannot present in a graph Harder to analyse Can have researcher bias due to being interpreted multiple ways
62
What is raw data
The data collected in a study before analysis takes place
63
What are descriptive statistics
Ways to summarise the findings of a study
64
What are inferential statistics
Statistical tests to find out the significance of the results
65
Strengths of the mean
Involves all data which means more representative findings
66
What are weaknesses of the mean
Includes outliers Can give decimal figures
67
What are strengths of the median
Discounts outliers so not skewed
68
What are weaknesses of the median
Does not include all data collected May be a decimal figure
69
What are strengths of the mode
Easy to calculate A,ways a whole value Can be done with qualitative data
70
What are weaknesses of the mode
May be more than one mode Doesn’t include all data points
71
What does variance tell you
The spread of each value from the mean
72
What does standard deviation tell you
The spread of data in relation to the mean
73
How do you calculate variance
Find differences between scores and mean Square them Add them up Divide by the number of participants minus 1
74
How to calculate standard deviation
Square root the variance
75
What are strengths of range
Easy to calculate Does show the spread between minimum and maximum
76
What are weaknesses of range
Does not show spread is even Can be skewed by outliers Does not include all data
77
What are strengths of variance
Takes into account all values in data set Less likely to be affected by outliers Does not
78
What are weaknesses of variance
More time consuming to calculate Not in the same units as original measure
79
What are strengths of standard deviation
Same units as original measure Easy to calculate if variance is already done
80
What are weaknesses of standard deviation
Takes into account extreme outliers

Psychology (22 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions