Experiments

Question 1

What is an IV?

Answer 1

It is the ‘independent variable’ and is manipulated by the experimenter

Question 2

What is a DV?

Answer 2

Is it the ‘dependent variable’ and is measured by the experimenter

Question 3

Why do experimenters control extraneous variables?

Answer 3

To demonstrate a causal relationship / to show that changes in the DV are caused by the manipulation of the IV

Question 4

Name three types of experiment

Answer 4

Laboratory, field and natural experiments

Question 5

Which type of experiment makes use of existing IV’s (i.e. they cannot be manipulated)

Answer 5

Natural experiment

Question 6

Which type of experiment does not randomly allocate participants to conditions?

Answer 6

Natural experiment

Question 7

Which type of experiment does not allow causal conclusions to be drawn?

Answer 7

Natural experiment

Question 8

Sometimes participants are not aware that they are taking part in a study - what can this reduce?

Answer 8

Experimenter effects

Question 9

The way the IV is operationalised may convey the experimental hypothesis to participants - what can this lead to?

Answer 9

Demand characteristics

Question 10

Which type of experiment has the highest control over extraneous variables?

Answer 10

Lab experiment

Question 11

Which type of experiment is the most easily replicated?

Answer 11

Lab experiment

Question 12

Which type of experiment tends to be high in internal validity?

Answer 12

Lab experiment

Question 13

Which type of experiment tends to be low in external validity?

Answer 13

Lab experiment

Question 14

Which type of experiment tends to be low in external validity?

Answer 14

Lab experiment

Question 15

Apart from the level of control, what else can reduce internal validity?

Answer 15

Experimenter effects and demand characteristics

Question 16

What is internal validity?

Answer 16

Concerns what goes on inside the study - Are we accurately measuring what we intend to measure?

Question 17

What is external validity?

Answer 17

Concerns things outside the study - The extent to which results can be generalised to other situations and people

Question 18

What is external validity?

Answer 18

Concerns things outside the study - The extent to which results can be generalised to other situations and people

Question 19

What is reliability?

Answer 19

The ability to repeat a study and obtain the same results. It is essential that all conditions remain the same.

Question 20

Name three experimental designs

Answer 20

Repeated measures, independent groups and matched pairs

Question 21

What is a repeated measures design?

Answer 21

When each participant is tested on all of the IV’s

Question 22

What is an independent groups design?

Answer 22

Separate groups for each IV

Question 23

What is a matched pairs design?

Answer 23

Participants in each independent group are matched on key variables (e.g. age and IQ)