Experiments + Correlation Definitions

Question 1

Dependent Variable

Answer 1

The variable that is measured in an experiment

Question 2

Independent Variable

Answer 2

The variable that is manipulated in an experiment

Question 3

Manipulated

Answer 3

What is changed within an experiment to create the two levels of the IV

Question 4

Controls

Answer 4

How a person regulates variables or the experiment

Question 5

Independent Measures

Answer 5

Design where there are two different groups doing different conditions of the IV

Question 6

Repeated Measures

Answer 6

Design where the same participants are used in both groups to carry out both conditions of the IV

Question 7

Matched Participants

Answer 7

Design where participants are matched from two different group by a certain characteristic e.g. age, gender, IQ

Question 8

Order Effects

Answer 8

When participants’ results are affected by doing a test more than once

Question 9

Progressive Effects

Answer 9

Reflects changes in participants’ responses that result from their cumulative exposure to prior conditions

Question 10

Practice Effects

Answer 10

A performance improvement due to greater experience with a task

Question 11

Fatigue Effect

Answer 11

A performance decline that results from becoming tired, inattentive, or less motivated to perform well w. repeated exposure to a task

Question 12

Carryover Effect

Answer 12

When participants responses in one condition are uniquely influenced by the particular condition or conditions that preceded it

Question 13

Sensitization

Answer 13

Exposure to multiple conditions increases participants’ awareness of, or sensitivity to the variable that is being experimentally manipulated

Question 14

Counterbalancing

Answer 14

Splitting a condition of participants in half and making them experience all possible orders of the study

Question 15

Operationalized

Answer 15

Turning abstract concepts into measurable observations

Question 16

Demand Characteristics

Answer 16

If a participant finds out the purpose of the experiment they may change their behaviour or not act naturally

Question 17

Experiment

Answer 17

A scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact by investigating the change of an IV and how it has an effect on the DV

Question 18

Lab Experiment

Answer 18

An experiment conducted under highly controlled conditions to investigate the effect that the change of an IV has on the DV

Question 19

Field Experiment

Answer 19

Carried out in the everyday environment of the participants testing the IV’s effect on the DV

Question 20

Quasi Experiment

Answer 20

The IV is naturally occurring within the participant and would most likely be unethical to manipulate e.g. child abuse. Still tests the IV’s effect on the DV. Can be carried out in both artificial or natural settings

Question 21

Random Allocation

Answer 21

Participants are randomly allocated to different conditions of the IV

Question 22

Single Blind

Answer 22

Only the participants don’t know which condition of the IV they’re in

Question 23

Double Blind

Answer 23

Both the experimenters and the participants don’t know what level of the IV they’re in

Question 24

Extraneous Variables

Answer 24

Other variables (not the IV) which could affect the results of the experiment e.g. weather

Question 25

Participant Variables

Answer 25

Differences between participants which are not controlled for within an experiment

Question 26

Situational Variables

Answer 26

Factors in the environment that can unintentionally affect the results of a study

Question 27

Ecological Validity

Answer 27

Refers to the extent to which the findings of a research study are able to be generalised to real-life settings

Question 28

Reliability

Answer 28

The overall consistency of the measure or study

Question 29

Mundane Realism

Answer 29

The degree to which the materials and procedures involved in an experiment are similar to events that occur in the real world

Question 30

Co-Variables

Answer 30

The variables being tested in a correlation

Question 31

Correlation Coefficient

Answer 31

A number between 1 and -1 that tells how strong a relationship is

Question 32

Positive Correlation

Answer 32

As one co-variable increases, the other co-variable also increases

Question 33

Negative Correlation

Answer 33

As one co-variable increases, the other co-variable decreases

Question 34

No correlation

Answer 34

Where there is no trend between the two co-variables

Question 35

Hypothesis

Answer 35

A precise, testable statement of what the researchers predict(s) will be the outcome of the study

Question 36

Alternative/Experimental Hypothesis

Answer 36

States there is a relationship between the IV and the DV

Question 37

Null Hypothesis

Answer 37

States there is no relationship between the IV and the DV

Question 38

Directional/One tailed Hypothesis

Answer 38

Predicts the nature/direction of the effect of the IV on the DV

Question 39

Non-Directional/Two tailed Hypothesis

Answer 39

Predicts that the IV will have an effect on the DV, but the direction of the effect is not specified

Question 40

Falsification

Answer 40

To falsify a statement